John,
I started much the same way - after looking for a while, I found a 1950
Chevy 1/2 ton that someone else had restored (amateur). The truck was
complete, running, and mostly driveable. I paid $2500 for it. Since
then, I have torn it down to the frame and redone everything, converting
to IFS, 350, 700R4, Trans Am rear end, etc. At this point, I basically
have a rolling chassis with a TON of work still to do to the body and
interior. Right now, I have about $9000 in it, and at the pace I'm
going, I probably won't be driving it for 10 years (but I'm still in the
"working 6 days a week" phase). Even worse, if I would try to sell my
truck now, I'd be lucky to get half of what I have in it, not counting
labor. Working on the old truck can sometimes be it's own reward, and
when I started, I had no choice but to find something fairly inexpensive
with the hope of making it into what I wanted. I've learned more than I
ever imagined that I would, but if I was doing it over again, I am
pretty certain that I would buy a completed truck that was already close
to what I want. For me specifically, in the long run it would have been
cheaper and much faster to buy a completed truck for $15,000 to $20,000,
and given my limited skills, it would probably even be a better finished
product.
There are enough aftermarket parts out there for the most popular models
that you could actually build a truck from scratch - all the parts are
available, including frames and fiberglass cabs. It all comes down to
what you want, what you can do, and what you are willing/able to spend.
I think that nearly anyone will agree - once you buy the truck, it's
going to cost more than you expect to make it what you want. You'll be
replacing the drivetrain, so it's condition doesn't really matter. I
would suggest that you make sure the frame is solid. If you have the
skill to rehabilitate rough body panels or you are willing/able to spend
a lot on reproduction pieces, you can probably find another truck to
start with much cheaper. If you need a truck in good condition because
you'll only be changing the drivetrain, then $2500 doesn't sound too bad.
Good Luck,
Mark
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
|