Would you trade your glamour truck for a brand new Chevy?

[davepl]

You really can't compare the two, but to play devil's advocate, which would you trust to drive across country?

[Coley]

I can't see trading my '72 for a brand new chevy truck for a variety of reasons.
First....I have no specific need for a brand new truck.
Second...I enjoy watching the value of the '72 rise every year
Third....my wife would not be impressed with me getting rid of the '72 for a generic new vehicle.

All that said, I do have a 'daily/utility' truck which is a 2005 Silverado/Duramax.
This is a really great truck that I bought used 10 years ago...when it was about 3-4 years old.
It was a very good used deal and made good financial sense.
Over time it has made very good transportation sense and done everything I have asked it to do with no complaint.

I could afford to buy a new truck if that is what I wanted to do...but there is no way I can responsibly see my way through to the financial loss that goes with that choice.
If a newer vehicle is needed or wanted....buy a 2-3 year old model off of someone who is in distress and has been losing their shirt trying to pay for it.
Sometimes failure is indeed the best teacher.....lol.

....plus to be quite honest.....I can't tell any of these newer vehicles apart much any more by year, model or any of the other plastic instant model/series/edition badging put on them....they are simply not special or unique despite what the marketing has pushed upon them.

All good
Coley

[jjzepplin]

I drove my truck from Cali to florida.

[bigdog55]

If I could afford a newer truck I would buy it and keep My '70. But if it's a 'either or situation' then I'm keeping my GMC. For the money that a new truck would cost, I could make my truck do what a new one does and keep the cool factor. People still come by wanting to buy the truck and there never been a for sale sign on it.

[B. W.]

Originally Posted by special-K

You need something to drive while the new one is in for warranty work And unless you keep getting new trucks the new one you bought today will need work at some point that you can't perform or takes thousands to have repaired.

This is the new "normal". Computers & smart phones have changed our thinking - everything is disposable, you need to upgrade.

The new rigs are nice with lots of neat features - I love heated seats (which I plan to install in my '70). the new ones are very capable. But, in many cases they are more difficult to work on & expensive to repair.

I refuse to lift the cab off of the frame to work on the motor! (Ford 6.0 diesel - that's when I quit working on Ford diesels)

My "new" rig is a '99. I may upgrade to a mid 2000's but nothing newer. No direct injection for me.

Service writer says "your engine needs new pistons." You say "at 15,000 miles?!" He says "Yeah, bu it's covered under warranty!"

[69SCSS]

I own a 2005 Silverado 1500HD and my '68. The 2005 does all the work, and the '68 will be the daily when I am done with the repaint. They have their places.
My '68 can pull / tow, but I'd hate to dent it up with gravel loads!!

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by davepl

You really can't compare the two, but to play devil's advocate, which would you trust to drive across country?

Looking at it strictly from that viewpoint -- over the past year or so, for various reasons, there have been times I couldn't trust my '72 to drive across town. And I live in a very small town.

[Coley]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Looking at it strictly from that viewpoint -- over the past year or so, for various reasons, there have been times I couldn't trust my '72 to drive across town. And I live in a very small town.

This is a very good question.
My answer would be both....but I would trust the new truck to a higher degree and it would be my preferred choice in most (not all) cross country trips. Particularly if the trip was of a general utility nature vs. a 'cruise' or something along those lines.

There is no way to argue that newer vehicles have never been more reliable, better built, more powerful, last way longer and are more comfortable than they are today and that's just the way it is.
150,000 miles on a GM truck today is almost a break in period. In 1970...that was probably heading into a 2nd or 3rd motor and you were probably in for your 2nd paint job and rust repair truth be told.

I have no problem with new technology in the vehicles today....its great, so long as you aren't trying to be cool or different or impart anything to the general public. I don't confuse the new vehicle thing tho' with the true art, style, uniqueness and fun of what the vintage trucks are...these are two different conversations for me.
New vehicles are incredibly easy to buy or lease....or rent for that matter. The concept that someone has a new vehicle in the driveway meaning or inferring something related to success is.....what a 30-40 year old concept that was relevant when credit was hard to get, etc. These days the average 25 year old has a brand new vehicle....and it their 2nd or 3rd one, lol. So much for 'cachet'...lol

All good
Coley

[GASoline71]

I love my 1972 GMC C15.

I love it's simplicity and it's the engine and transmission combo I learned to wrench on almost 35 years ago. It also still feel like a truck when I drive it, even though it's made to haul a$$.

But I also love my '06 Silverado K2500 HD (6.0L with 4l80E)

I've actually found that working on my late model gas rig has not been all that difficult. It just turned 201,000 miles on the ticker and has had routine maintenance done to keep it moving along.

But, no way no how would I trade my old rig for a new rig. Hell, I wouldn't trade my new rig for a newer rig!

Gary

[tutone]

All my vehicles are based on needs. I like my duramax, because I haul hot rods safely and comfortably. It sits in the garage, mostly unused, and my vehicle of choice is my 98 Silverado Z71 reg cab SB. And, no I would not trade that one for a fleet of new trucks. I priced it to a kid at the Shell station in town last summer. He jumped out of his tree trimming truck and ran over to mine and asked," what's your price"?. Told him it wasn't for sale, he kept on, so I told him a million and a half. he finally figured out I was serious. Needless to say, I still have it, and still love it.

[72c20customcamper]

I would in a heartbeat. I love my 72. But I could by three old trucks and have money to spare even selling the new one wholesale. Now if your were to say my 66 ss396 then I wouldn't since they are pretty even in value since it's a real 138 car. I have every original part including the engine to put it back to stock.

My everyday car is a 07 5.9 SLT dodge Cummins . So I don't have any need for a new truck and it does everything I need it to do.

[Stocker]

Bear with me for a moment and I'll add to my 'reliability' statement regarding new truck vs old truck for a cross-country trip.

As much as I love my K20 for local hauling, it would wear me out on a long trip. It's geared too low for extended highway driving.... inside the cab is noisy as all get-out.... the rough ride is OK for awhile, but hours in the saddle will take its toll..... and its fuel economy is -- well, the word 'economy' just doesn't fit.

[72c20customcamper]

I have to agree with stocker. I have a 02 Springer softail love it around town but if there is more than 50 miles involved I take the goldwing.

[jocko]

This is an interesting question and lots of great points. Perhaps the question should be "if you could only have one or the other"....

That's a bit more difficult. I do need to get to work reliably every day. But I can make my 72 a lot more reliable than than its current state with the $45-55k leftover from not buying a new one...

I think it really comes down to the amount of time one has to tinker and whether or not the tinkering is enjoyable to you.

My "goal" is indeed to drive my 72 all over the country, with camper, and enjoy the road. But it's a lofty goal, because 46 year old trucks aren't exactly reliable without a good amount of care and feeding, and attention. New trucks don't require nearly as much attention to be reliable.

But when one breaks, I'd much rather be fixin the simple old 72 than taking a new one to the dealer to tap into the computer.

So, this is why I've not answered my own question as to "if you could only have one" - the answer is that doesn't normally work out so well. I need both to have something to get to work everyday and the reality is either can and does occasionally need repairs. So I avoided the new truck sticker shock by searching long and hard for the 2nd 2001 I've owned, and was very fortunate to finally find the 11K 2001 that I wish I'd bought new for less than 1/4 the price of its present day equivalent. It's the dd, the 72 is the goal - something to look forward to, to go camping in and travel the countryside if I ever get the time. Long way to go before it's ready or I have the time, so it's all good

[72 tigger]

Interesting responses. I love the simplicity of the old stuff but can appreciate the power,economy and reliability of the new trucks. I have (4) old ones- 1 just looks old, it has a complete 02 dodge chassis under it with a Cummins. Built it 15 years ago and drive it every day- best of both worlds

[72 tigger]

It’s registered as a Chevy. Had a DOT state trooper looking at it once as he was explaining that if my GVW was over 10K, I needed to be registered with the state. He said my truck GVW is probably around 10K GVW. He opened the door to see what it was rated and couldn’t figure out why it was only 5K GVW- l stood there in silence ��

[jjzepplin]

So is it a Chodge or a Devy?

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

So is it a Chodge or a Devy?

Don't matter gross towing capacity of 15k is enough for me

But in reality these trucks with 19 wheels and heavy capacity tires haul almost twice that legally.

[RMBLFSH]

I would trade my 1972 Cheyenne Super for a new one in a Heartbeat.
Exactly the excuse I would need to build a new one.
Lots of new parts and pieces now available, that were not when I built the first one...

[ApacheNick]

Not a chance. I'm not what you would call tech friendly. I find all the computer this and that in modern vehicles to be a source of frustration more than anything.

I got my 72 GM with the intention of using it as a daily/work truck. The body has been butchered up pretty badly so I'm not even worried about driving it in the snow.

[Pearly72]

I would totally do it... Then sell that new truck for $60k and then buy two decent 72's for my twins��

[special-K]

I don't have to drive across the country. But if I did, I'd rent a truck and rack up the miles on that. That's what I did when I went 1,100 miles for a rolling chassis. I rented a new pickup from U-Save and put the 2,500 miles in a few days on somebody else's vehicle.

I just can't imagine not having one of these 67-72s. For me it's an old truck unless I can have both. I can get by without a new truck. I can't get by without a 67-72

[darrellyates]

No, I would not trade for a new truck. Maybe a new truck and a new Camaro, even up, but not for just a truck....

[dmjlambert]

No, I would not trade for a new truck. Maybe an older truck, if it ran as well as my 69 daily driver and was rustier. Gotta have rust. That's how I get my special type of glamour on.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by jocko

But when one breaks, I'd much rather be fixin the simple old 72 than taking a new one to the dealer to tap into the computer.

)

I hear this a lot, but I disagree with it because these new trucks will tell you exactly what's wrong and if you still aren't sure you can watch the repair on YouTube. It amazes me how many threads you'll find about "my truck won't start" in these forums.