The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk What did you fork over for your 'bolt?

I feel more than foolish even admitting what I paid after reading all the steals you guys have made in acquiring your trucks.
I spent a lot of time looking for my old truck and was happy to find it for $15K. I have put that much into it since then but, don't regret it. The enjoyment and satisfaction it has brought me is worth ever penny.

I was looking for a 47 IHC when I found my 46 GMC . No engine or transmission , but the body is complete and in reasonable shape very little rust perforation . All the chrome and stainless steel trim is present . It live its life on a farm in central Saskatchewan . I spent a lovely summer day going to get it and trailer it home 800 miles round trip . Purchase price $1100.00

I found a '38 1 1/2 ton dump on the bulletin board at work. Paid $3500. It had previously been restored, a good 50 footer now.....Drove it home, and am re-powering it as we speak.

I paid $2,000.00 for my '55 T.F. 6500. It needed some work to get it running satisfactory. It suffered from 3 stuck valves,after the initial start-up. I didn't have a computer at the time of purchase,and had no educated guidelines,so I removed the head,and had it boiled,magnafluxed, and new hardened seats installed. That was the most expensive part of the project,so far. I've got more than $6,000.00 in parts,so far,and I still need to detail the interior,and the engine bay. I installed new door gaskets,but the window gaskets/trim need work. Brakes work GREAT,but to be on the safe side,I NEED to install a dual-reservoir master-cylinder,as well as re-build the 4 rear wheel cylinders. Not sure if I'm going to re-build the hydro-vac,or go with an after-market power-booster? "'Tater's" a work-in progress,but I LOVE every minute of it-ESPECIALLY the 60-mile round trips,1-2 times a week. runs like a new truck,just not quite as fast,but fast enough,considering the age of the vehicle,with bias-ply 9:00X20:00's. hope you guys enjoy your project(s),as much as I do!

I thought I was getting a good deal at $3200.00 for my '59. It was supposed to be road ready minus the bed as I was putting a flatbed on it. He said it would be ready for me to drive as my main source of transportation. In the last year I have replaced the running gear from and including the radiator to the rear end. I also put a heater and a wiring harness in it. I didn't keep track of the cost because it would be too embarrassing. It is pretty dependable now and I am a pretty good mechanic (on a '59 Chevy)but I was stuck riding my motorcycle in less than favorable conditions several times. They say "If your gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough".

I got my '56 3600 off craigslist for $4300. Only rust was in the floor pans, it 'runs and drives' but needs just about every wearable part from the tires to the radiator to the bed. But that is to be expected on a 57 year old truck.

The truck has lived it's entire life in Texas and I'm proud of that.

I bought my '63 C30 for $1000. It had a bad rear end and the usual problems from sitting - electrical problems, needed carb rebuild, sediment in gas tank, just lots of little things. It's a southern truck so it has hardly any rust to speak of.

Sure wish I could find ONE great deal like others have posted here.

Great thread!!

I got my '46 at a local auction for $300. It was a really good deal. All the stuff at the auction that was early 30's and Ford was going for crazy money (4-5K for a rusty body), but everything else was dirt cheap!

I paid $1500 for my 57 GMC 370 LCF, delivered. (see my photobucket) It was running and driving great, but no brakes. I have spent $1000 to have great brakes now. I am guessing when I am finished with it I will have about $6000 in it. Then it will not be a "show" truck, but a daily driver that I can have fun with and it still look pretty good and be in good mechanical condition. I have plans for it to be a farm tractor/car hauler. Also we re talking about a 2 1/2 ton truck here, not a pickup.

I paid $4300 on my 54 3100. It ran and drove, brakes worked fantastically. Had a 73-87 bed on it, but came with a 47-53 bed to put on it (needs restored). I think I overpaid, but its my first old truck, and the first car I've ever bought by myself. I did talk him down about $500 though.

TOO MUCH !!!!!! But I don't care, I still love it. 55.2 3100.

Bought a 54 pu in 1978 for 300.00 us $ 355.00 cnd. Got truck from nevada replaced a burnt intake valve did a tuneup and drove it home toB.C Canada.still have it and drive it daily from april to october.

I distinctly remember driving my Mom home from church in Bowling Green KY one spring (1971) Sunday morning. Taking a seldom used side street, I noticed the previous owner putting a sign in the window of my 1953 3100 - FOR SALE. I stopped and in 5 minutes and $300 later, was driving it home. I was the 3rd owner of the 1018th truck off of the Norwood Ohio assembly line in September 1952.

I think my Dad bought my '46 when I was still in diapers, and it's been in the family ever since. I learned how to drive in it at the age of 10 or 11 on the farm. Anyway, it was eventually a freebie from my older brother who had it for 10 yrs and never had the time, money, or want to get it back on the road.

I bought my 58 3100 in 1992 from a junk yard for $100.00. Earlier this year I dragged it into my garage and began the restoration with a "youngster" mechanic - Reggie is 68, I am 76. We rebuilt a 58 3100 engine from a friends 58 (he wanted a V8) and have started on the body.

I traded a Smith & Wesson 44 Magnum for my '50 Suburban

This zombie thread was resurrected after 5 years of inactivity... wow, should be a record.

I found my entry from Dec. 2008 (9 years, 5 months):

1955-1st 3600 - basket case - $250 - 1989-92
1950 3600 - decent old truck, 307 V8 conversion - $900 - 1999-01
1950 3600 - basket case - $450 - 2003-current (Edit: 2003-2011)

I'm not adding up all I spent on parts and service.

My 53 3800 was given to me for free with no engine in 1978. I dropped in a used 63 235, changed it over to 12 volt, and drove it fully loaded with all my possessions from central Illinois to central Missouri, then drove it around here for several years. Then parked it for 20 years before deciding to restore it. I figure I'll have about $10 - 12,000 in it when I'm finished, which is not bad considering what a new one ton sells for!

Tim

I traded a 1939 allis Chalmers model B for a 1951 3800 straight across a week ago

I paid $550 for my 3100 in 1980 in so-cal and it was my construction work truck and only vehicle for 9 years with minor repairs along the way.

Hummm!
The real price or the one I told the wife? Lol.
Paid more for shipping than the truck. I paid 1500$ for the truck ( two ton, not running, no rust), 1600$ for shipping from Eston Saskatchewan to East Hawkesbury Ontario plus a 200$ of towing over there to pick the truck up and put it on the flatbed for the voyage. Not the cheapest, but I'm happy, around here, the are rusted out and non existent in this condition.

Paid 10,000 and I think it is priceless now all the good people I have met since owning the truck

Paid 1000.00 in November 2016--almost done

$4000 and now I'm about to sink 4-5 grand more in the restomod project. It's only money, right?

I found my truck on ebay back in 2010 and couldn't believe the shape it was in for $3k. The downfall was that it was over 8 hours away in Memphis, Tennessee. I messaged the seller and he removed the listing for my brother and me to drive 8 hours to come take a look at it. It had been kept in his family and in the dry for 20+ years. The truck was unmodified but the engine and tranny were out of it and laying in the bed of the truck. I drove 10 minutes down the road and rented a uhaul car hauler. We put the truck onto the trailer nose first without much trouble for 3 grown men and a come along. When we got out on the interstate, and had all that weight of the engine and tranny in the back of the truck, and behind the axle of the trailer, when we'd get to about 55 mph the trailer would start swaying back and forth. So we found an abandoned gas station and got in the shade of the gas pump canopy as best we could to avoid the summer heat. About 3 hours and a lot of sweat later we had the truck turned around on the trailer and were back on our merry way to southeastern KY. I've invested a few thousand more over the years but am far from done with it, however I did turn down a 10k offer last summer..so..money in the bank as far as I'm concerned. Funny enough, as I'm typing this I remember he told me before we left, about a site called stovebolt that had a ton of good information, so M.A. from Memphis, if you happen upon this post, shoot me a p.m.

Paid $2500.00 for rusted out piece of junk. Thousands of $$$$ later I'm tooling down the road. I had to have it.

paid scrap metal price for my '38 in 2011. I've put a few thousand into it.

I get thumbs ups, waves and honks every time I drive it.

Not for sale!

Paid $2150 for my '46 1/2 ton in 1985. Running, but with cracked block - paid too much. That said, She's given me a lot of good times.Still have her 33 years (and two ex-wives) later .

Back in 1978 I bought my ‘48 3100 from an old guy named Bill in Ava, Illinois. He was a retired welder and it was his fishing truck. It was a mess. Being a welder, h’d welded anything back on that fell off or came loose: the running boards were welded to the fenders; the fenders were welded to the bedsides; the bumpers were welded to the bumper brackets that he’d welded to the frame; etc. He said it burned a little oil and that the brakes only worked on one corner. My road test was in a cloud of blue smoke and once around the block was enough to condemn the brakes. He wanted $200. I offered him $150. He snuffed out his unfiltered Camel between his calloused fingers, looked me square in the eyes, and barked at me something that I’ll never forget: “Sonny, any truck that runs is worth $200. Take or leave it!” I tucked my tail between my legs.....best $200 I ever spent. Still have that truck to this day, albeit somewhat improved....

Last one I bought last fall is a 57 GMC one ton dually with a dump bed and a 327 engine.
Needs brake work, but runs good. 500 bucks.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/149052261@N05/37830216001/in/dateposted-public/

Don

Bought so many I lost track years ago. At one time had 36 AD's split exactly even with 18 5w and 18 3w. Probably built a dozen for customers and through the years cannibalized parts from the remainder till any parts remaining will have to be removed with an air chisel or cutting torch. Price wise I quit buying when they got above $500. One purchase I do remember; bought 3 (52,53's) from a pilot and as I was leaving he said he had some engine parts in the trunk of an old Pontiac that would go with them. Turned out to be the triple side draft carb set up and dual exhaust for a 54 Corvette. ONE super good deal and now as for the bad deals I made---pull up a chair.

I traded a new set of tires for my 1956. I paid 600 for the 1930 and 600 for the 47. I spent more restoring them than I paid for them. The most I ever paid for one was 1000 for the Model A. I gave them all to my kids except for the 1956, that one is mine. My sister had a 1950 Pontiac dumped in my back yard. She told me that I could restore it or sell it. I have never restored a car before. It doesn't have any glass, and I hate doing glass. Its been here for several months and I haven't decided weather I want to restore it or not.

In 1976 I paid $750 for my '39 , it was an original driving farm truck , working but rough. (sold it in 1981 for $750)
In 1996 I paid $7500 for my '40 , it was restored and beautiful. (still have it, daily driver)
In 2018 I paid $8000 for my '37 , it is a rough barn find , driving but needing everything done. Dunno how smart I was there , but this stuff is SO hard to find here now.

In 1976 I bought my 54 3100 in Cobden, IL, about 30 miles from where Flatblu4748 bought his truck. I paid $125 for it - it ran but no brakes. I still have it, 42 years later.
Samantha

1500 for my 55 and I traded a Harley worth about 5k for my 63

In 1976 I paid $100 for a long bed AD (not sure of the year) I had it for about 3 weeks before it was towed and impounded. I had no money to get it back.
In 2016 I paid $6000 for my current 54 3100. I have a running spreadsheet with all the money I have spent on parts and repairs on top of the purchase price. Currently an additional $5800.

My weekend warrior 49 Chevy 3100 all original farm truck cost me $2k. It wasn't running and the interior was a nasty critter motel. It's cleaned up somewhat now and I use it to run my weekend errands, with it's same stock 216 and Huck brakes.

My current project 49 GMC 100 cost me a running 72 Karmann Ghia in a straight up trade. The GMC wasn't running but looked solid with some desirable upgrades (power disc's, 250 bolted to a TH350 and what I think is a 70's era complete Nova rearend) and slammed to a low low rider stance. Ended up swapping the engine and rebuilding the entire brake system but thats alright as the Karmann Ghia needed floor pans and mucho body work....

In March 2008 I was sitting at home burning unused vacation time, and wondering if I would have a job. Seems another company had my company in it’s crosshairs for acquisition. With nothing else to do I was surfing the web and found an all original 1950 Chevy half ton for sale on eBay. It hadn’t been bid on yet, so I quickly fired off an email to the owner saying I wanted to talk about the truck. He replied that it would be impossible because he was deaf. Well, through the help of some telephone operators who communicate with hearing impaired folks, I made an offer for his truck. He agreed to my price and I left the next morning from San Antonio headed to Davenport, Iowa . After inspecting the truck I handed him $4,800 cash, loaded it on a U-Haul transport trailer and pulled it back home. I’ve enjoyed driving it on the weekends ever since. Love my truck!

I bought my 51 3600 from ND and cost me 800 to ship to Michigan. In hindsight maybe I would've opted for 3100 because of the front drum issues . I paid to much probably considering the 235 in it was stuck. Ive got over 3 grand just in parts and its still down to frame with at least another 5k to go just to make her run. Having said that I look in the shed and see my front clip and it puts a smile on my face. Having restored a 76 17 ft. century Arabian runabout with original 351 ive learned to hide the receipts ...most times then not you may invest more then it's worth but having something that's rare and unique to me is worth the price of admission..