How does this deal sound?

[Smokin72on20s]

1970 CHEVROLET PICKUP, CST, shortbed, 2wd, 6-cylinder, 97k original miles, 3 speed on the tree, little rust in normal places, decent shape overall, the guy wants $2700. I dont have any pics at the moment, but it is a fairly stock truck painted hugger orange. How hard/expensive is it to convert to a 350/th400 setup? Also, isnt a CST the top of the line truck?

[motocrosschump]

I bought mine pretty much in the same shape and options for $600...FYI

[69Custom]

Doesn't sound too bad, if the rust is minimal. It is not hard to convert to a 350 and th400. You would need to get v8 engine tower mounts and a automatic crossmember.

The one that you are looking at sounds like mine that I had bought for $3000. Mine was a 6vyl, 3spd with 140k original. Here is a pic of what mine looks like.

[86swb]

Yes the CST is top of the line. Still would like to see pictures.

[mplex2000]

Sounds way too high. I paid $1250 for my 69 CST in July. Has a strong 350 and auto. Plenty of "normal" rust. I don't think I would pay $3000 unless it was pretty much rust free.

[VetteVet]

The funny thing about this business is that there are a million factors that go into what we pay for one of these trucks. How much do you want one? How much work can you do on it yourself? How much money in your budget? What do you want the truck for? The list is endless.
You can bet if it has rust in the normal places then there is some in hidden places as well. If you are going to customize the truck then the CST factor don't mean much but if you're restoring it then that has value. What's the availibility of these year trucks in your area? If you have to travel to get one, or have it shipped then that adds to the cost.
$2700 isn't a lot of money but ypu could very well end up with $10,000 in it or more.
The idea is to get one as close to what you want as a final product for as little as you have to pay. In other words if the one you're looking at is pretty close to what you're after then go for it. IF you've seen some of the ones on the boards you can bet they have a ton of money in them. Like I said earlier, It's up to you. I would offer $1500 and go from there.
Sorry for the long spiel and good luck. Give us some pics with as much detail as you can. VV

[724wdcopper]

i thought Cheyenne was the top of the line? and if CST is tops, why the 6 cyl, 3 spd? sounds like a lot of money for basically a work truck. does it have air? am-fm factory? tach? tilt? buckets? i'd say (without seeing pics) $1500. if it was a V8, $2000-2500.

but, if you want it, price is less of an issue (considering you have the money and it's not ear-marked for other things, like, say, oh, bills...... )

[86swb]

I am pretty sure Cheyenne did not come into play till '71.

[FUNMUDDER]

One thing I learned the hard way, these post usually become disasters, FYI.

Some reason I smell a 1970 SWB sleeper around the bend........................

[jlmerie]

I think that is way too much. It looks like your location is Colorado. I live in Colorado also. If you are really interesed in this type of truck, you need to watch craigslist. I regularly see these trucks for about hafl what they want for the truck you asked about. For example, heres a truck that was listed a couple of days ago. I'll bet you can buy it for $1500 or less.

http://denver.craigslist.org/car/100358474.html

[jlmerie]

OK, I am getting carried away, but here is another one from the Denver craigslist. I don't know how many people want a long narrow box. I think that is really unusual. But I'll bet a grand would buy the truck. I have to believe you could part it out for more than that.

http://denver.craigslist.org/car/100314572.html

[Malibu 496]

What is a cst?

[jlmerie]

It is an option. It stands for Custom Sport Truck. On my truck the option code is Z84, but it might be different because mine is a GMC. Depending on the year, it gets you different upgrades on trim and such.

[weasel29gm]

If its clean and little or no rust thats close to whats its worth. Seen em' for more and less. I gave 3k for mine in 86. Offer 2k and go from there.

[shaneschevys]

If the truck is clean & is what you want, than it is worth the 2,750 the seller is asking. But also dont be in a hurry there are other trucks out there.

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by 724wdcopper

i thought Cheyenne was the top of the line? and if CST is tops, why the 6 cyl, 3 spd? sounds like a lot of money for basically a work truck. does it have air? am-fm factory? tach? tilt?

A few things here...
1 CST is the top of the line option package from 67 - 70, the same option package was called Cheyenne later...either way, it is the Z84 option package.

2 6 cylinder and 3 speed on a cst...rare, but totally legit. The CST/Cheyenne package is nothing more than some chrome here, stainless there, and a headliner.... a little more, but not much. There is NO engine requirements for the CST package.

3 am/fm was not avalible in 70... not untill 71.


The comment on cst being of minimal value onless restoring, I'd have to disagree with. I've had 3 trucks, one blane jane, one custom, and one CST...and the CST, even though it is just sparkle, makes a plain workl truck into a nice looking rig. If the plan is going all out and dhchroming and chopping ect...then I'll agree with the statement, however, if the plan is more of a mild modilfied truck, rims, stance, bad ass motor (seems to be the general plan for most old trucks) then the CST is very desirable.

The inline and 3 speed is a pretty rare combo for the CST....that doesn't make it valuable... just rare, freak value more than anything.

Without pics, I can't even guess what the sucker would be worth... usual rust in my neighborhood is seperated trailing arms and missing all sheet metal below the belt molding.
Pics would be awsome.

[pjmoreland]

If it's a fleetside short bed, and the bed is in excellent condition, it's probably worth what they are asking. In my opinion, it's very difficult to find a short wide bed in really good condition.

[Smokin72on20s]

here's the truck:

http://adcache.collectorcartraderonl...7/81064467.htm

[basketcase]

Doesn't look too bad to me. If it's in good condition and runs/drives great as said I think it's worth close to the asking price. You always want to negotiate. I paid $1500. for my short step with a lot of new parts in the bed. It's rust free but was a totally dissasembled basket case. Some work was done and some done incorrectly that Ihad to do over. Also had to build a new engine for it that I wasn't planning on. Looking back I'd gladly pay double what I did to get the same truck in good usable condition and work on it as I go.

Tom

[86swb]

Make sure you check out for rust cover up. They put a lot of salt on Denver roads in the winter months and frame also. Looks good.

[panhandler62]

If there isn't a lot of sneaky rust.. ~2K is not unreasonable. 2700 seems a little stiff, but you always price high since you know the buyer will low ball you. Gives you room to work with.

As much as I can see from the pic and your description -- If you bring it home under about 2400 you won't be doing too bad. Again .. conditional on rust. Rust can be sneaky..

[jlmerie]

Actually 86swb they don't put any salt on the roads in Denver. They have tried to do that several times and the people will not allow it. It is the cheapest way to help deal with the snow and ice, but the general public has time and time again insisted they not use it. They are big on Mag Chloride now.

[86swb]

Mag Chloride? Never heard of it. But I am for it if the Chloride does not eat metal. Did not know that. My wife lived in Denver and use to talk about all the salt they put on the roads but that has been over 40 years ago. Glad to hear it. We do not get all that much snow here but when we do they do put salt and senders down.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I don't know if Magnesium chloride is corrosive, but Calcium Chloride is. Calcium chloride was used as a concrete addative to cure the concrete faster in the Lowe's Motor Speedway walkway. BUT calcium chloride is corrosive to metal and it "ate" the tensile strenght steel rebar in the bottom of the concrete walkway and caused the walkway to collapse.

The truck looks nice, but you'll never know for sure unless you take a peek at it yourself. Asking price is a tad high, but if you could talk him down to about $2,300-$2,400 AND it's as nice as the pics, go for it.

[HuggerCST]

I have to wonder if it is a true CST, because a CST would have upper & lower trim, chrome window trim, headliner, door panels, etc. But still, I don't think that the price is out of line if it's as good as it looks. I paid $3k for my 70 swb CST 350/350 5 years ago with rust in the cab corners, rocker panels, & front fenders, and the engine needed a rebuild. I think that I paid a little too much, but it was exactly what I wanted, so I couldn't pass it up.