The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk '65 Chevy vs. new truck..should I do it?

My father has a 1965 Chevy pickup (I believe it has a V8). I am planning on getting a truck in the next two years anyway, and was toying with the idea of fixing up the '65 as an everyday driver (maybe 20 miles per day). Dad was a mechanic in his early years, bought the truck in late 1960's, has rebuilt the engine and it is in good running shape. Has the usual rust in areas of the back fenders, and we assume rust in the floor board of the cab. Truck has been garaged for most of the past twenty years, except the occasional "once every 2-3 year" neighborhood drive. The idea of fixing it up, repainting it, new wheels, etc. is intriguing me...but I don't want it to end up as a money pit. I know each situation is similar...Any "wild a-- guess/ballpark of what I might be getting myself into? I know my father would love to see this truck fixed up...he has been saying he will do it for all of my 33 years
Neither of us wish to sell it...seems like a cool opportunity to drive something really unique.

Any advice?

Go for the old truck. A $20,000 new truck will be worth less than $5,000 in 5 years. Put $5,000 in the old one and it will be worth more than $5,000 in 5 years. Plus you'll be driving an attention getting old truck not a common everyday piece of plastic.

What do you think we're gonna say? Fix up the Old Iron! If you have a kid or maybe gonna have a kid, He or she's gonna ponder the same things your pondering now. Keep it in the family.

Go for the old truck!

There are not many 20 year-old-trucks worth anywhere near $5,000 today. But a new one will cost at least $20,000!

But if you spend that same $20,000 on the old truck, it may still only be worth the same $5,000 20 years from now, but it will have the memories associated with your dad, and that will be priceless!

If you can do a bunch of the fixin' up yourself, putting $5K into the '65 will get you a pretty nice ride. If you don't know how to do stuff, pick up a wrench and learn! You've always got people here to get you out of a jam. If it's been garaged much of its life, I'd think you could drive it as you go along with the fixing and tinkering.
Learn to be frugal and $5k will go a long way. Get used parts from the swap meet here, still some good deals on ebay, and plenty of repro and remanufactured stuff online and even Autozone, Napa, etc. Parts prices vary considerably depending where you're shopping. Be an educated consumer and you'll have a great truck without breaking the bank.
-David

I say do both, you will most likely need a truck to use while you are restoring the '65 anyway. You do not necessarily need to buy new one though. There are lots of trucks that are coming off of leases, and a lot of people are learning that trucks are harder to park, don't always fit in the garage and use more gas. Besides, with all of them that have been sold over the last few years, there should be a lot of good deals out there in the 3 to 5 year old models. If you do your research, and buy carefully, you should be able to recoup most of your money, if you decide to sell it in a year or two. (Thats if you take care of it).
Once you get the '65 finished, you can then decide on whether to keep them both. Whatever you do, I would advise you to hang on to the '65, even if you do not start the restore right away.

Buying any new vehicle is insane.. they loose 30% of their value as soon as you roll off the lot with it!

I know a guy who bought a new car, made it 1 mile away from the lot and blew thru a red light while he was fiddiling with the new radio.. not only did he get t-boned at the intersection, but he also rear ended a person.. long story short, his full coverage insurance paid the value of the vehicle (less deductable) that was 32% less than he'd paid for it not more than an hour before.

Old trucks (especially the pre '72 trucks) are a solid investment. Take care of them, fix 'em up a bit, and they'll almost always be worth as much or more than you paid for them if you ever decide to sell. (provided you don't get crazy with custom stuff)

Other than body panels and glass, most of the parts are very common, and inexpensive.. a tuneup on one of my '46 trucks is about 1/4 of what a tuneup on the wifes Exploder costs.. a fuel pump for a '46 is $20 and can be replaced by anybody with a basic K-Mart 33 piece tool kit.. a fuel pump on a new Chevy truck alone will set you back well over $100.. and good luck putting it in!

Lots of advantages to driving an old truck, but they're not without their disadvantages..

Things like heat, air conditioning, power anything.. don't expect the same degree of creature comforts as you'd get in a new truck.

Old trucks can be drafty.. old trucks have a manual choke.. you have to let an old truck warm up a bit before you take off.

So before you commit to making the '65 your daily driver, take some time to drive it around a little.. get a taste of the "old truck experience".. it's not for everybody.. and much like any relationship, involves a certian degree of give and take.

Most of us find what those old trucks give, tho is worth far more than what they ask of us.

Welcome to the 'bolt!

Babbott,

I think I speak for all of the others that posted before I got here when I say first and foremost... Welcome to "The Bolt".

That said, it sounds as though you have alot of family memories (history) with this old truck.

I can't tell you how many times, I've heard:

"I (or insert my Dad, Grandpa, Uncle so and so, or ?) had one just like that, sure wish I'd never gotten rid of it!"

I can for sure tell you I've NEVER heard anyone say, "I'm so glad I got rid of that old truck."

I do believe Fumblin makes a good point... I'd also suggest that you drive that truck around for a week or two before deciding you want it as a daily driver. It won't be anything like the new one you're considering.

Good Luck.

Thanks for the feedback guys!!!
Yeah, it's not everyday that you are just handed a classic, and it's good to know that for probably around $5K, I can do some wonderful things with the truck. Obviously spending more $$ will do more. Plus, it does give my dad and I a chance to have SOMETHING in common I currently drive a ten year old Honda Accord which is in great shape, but I expect to have to replace it in a couple of years and have saved a few grand towards that. I figured 2 years was a good length of time to get the ol' beast up to speed..and then have the 65 Chevy as a daily driver. My father knows that truck inside and out, and I know he and I can do a lot of the work on it.

I know it won't quite have the creature comforts, but in you guy's experience, (and this may sound stupid, sorry) but is it possible to come "close"? Mainly retrofitting the A/C for more reliability. Here in Houston, summers are BRUTAL!!!!!!! Sealing the cab for no leaks, etc. Not looking to necessarily "pimp my ride"...but I would love a jet black metallic paint job, nice interior and nice shiny chrome accessories

So you think an old beast like this has potential to become a fairly reliable means of transportation? Tweaking and improving as I go. I have my first child on the way, and want to make sure he is as safe as possible. I know I could have the truck as a secondary vehicle..but if I spend the time and money to fix up the truck, I want to enjoy it everyday.

I'm sure a lot of 'Bolt readers enjoy working on their classics. I look forward to the process, but I'm a little nervous that I may have to spend every weekend, all weekend keeping the beast running. How much do you guys (ballpark...in your experience) spend working on "necessity" repairs (as opposed to say, improvement/fun repairs). That sounded dumb, but I think you get my drift.

Sorry for the silly newbie questions...I'm sure they sound rediculous...No one can predict what will happen in any particular situation. I'm just really trying to find a way to make this work, while making sure I am (mostly) aware of what I am getting into.

Thanks again...this is wonderful info!

buy you a new truck and then make the bolt members a good deal on your old one

My father gave me his 66 GMC pickup that he bought new... I drove it for several years, with the intent on rodstorating it... I eventually gave in to the nagging of my beloved spouse to "get rid of that ugly truck"... on the bright side, I now have The Ox, The New Truck and The Coupe.... of course she is now nagging me to get rid of The Coupe...

Slap an "Earl Sheibe" paint job on it and drive it!!

Welcome.

You needn't worry about spending every weekend in the garage to keep such a truck running. These trucks are quite simple and once running properly they need little attention save for the occassional tune-up.

You will need to spend some time at first checking wheel bearings, the braking system, and things like that, but they need little attention after that. Don't forget to install seatbelts, original or not. You might even want to go shoulder system too.

Should you do it? Check out what it would cost for insurance, taxes, and license plate for one year on a new vehicle, then do the same for the older vehicle.

If air-conditioning break downs worry you, perhaps you should think about having a retro modern system installed. However I would not expect problems from an old system once you get any small refrigerant leaks stopped. Again, simple is good.

If you go the route of the '65 I will bet that in 10-20-30 years you will look back on it as the sweetest ride you ever had. Hopefully you will wind up passing the old iron on to your children, and they to their children.

Best wishes for a great project with dad.

1960-66 Chevy / GMC Truck Buyers Guide

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/buyers_guide_60_66.htm

I bought my first vehicle in 1981 at the age of 16. It was a 1965 C-10, LWB with a factory straight six and three speed on the column. I bought it for $500.00 and spent less than $500 on that truck while driving it for the next two years. I sold it to my neighbor and purchased a 1966, C-10, LWB with a factory straight six and a granny low 4-speed. I had that truck for five years and did a mild restoration, including new paint, wheels, tires, stereo system etc. That truck was stolen and I felt like I lost my best friend.

Long story short, I now have seven Chevy trucks that are 1964, 1965 or 1966 and all in various stages of restoration or completed. Prior to purchasing any of these trucks, I contemplated buying a 2005, Chevy Tahoe ($30,000-$40,000 new off the lot). I decided against the new Tahoe, instead investing in these old trucks. I enjoy them in some way every day. Nothing makes me feel better on a nice, sunny day than getting into one of my trucks and taking a ride around town.

Keep the '65, put some money into it to get it roadworthy, safe and operational. Add some creature features as time and finances allow. If you have a love for these trucks and some family history, you will never regret doing it.

Saw a 1949 5 window 3/4 ton in very nice shape sell for $15,000 this weekend. Wonder how a 2005 truck will fare in 55 years price-wise - or will it still exist? I agree on keeping the old but that is me. Heck my daily drive car is 25 years old and I have my 49 truck!

another Texas bolt on the road, go for it
let us here what you do with it

Tim Winston

New trucks SUCK! :mad: They're over-priced, computerized CRAP. Nobody turns their head for a new truck. Keep Your money in the bank and get the 65 on the road.

Welcome to the 'bolt!
Here's my take on this;
Take what you'd spend to buy just a decent late model truck,spend 1/2 of that amount restoring your '65;paint,seat belts,some patch panels,A/C,stereo,maybe even power steering and disc brakes,and spend the other 1/2 of the money driving and enjoying your REAL truck. Tab has it right-with a late model you'd never hear anybody say"Wow-what a cool truck!!"when they saw it. Even my beat up old rust bucket trucks get more good comments than my friends new Silverado,but I'd rather drive my old paid for beater than a new "belly button" truck any day.
Speed

Welcome aboard babbott, you've come to the right place.

I currently have 180,000 miles on my '89 Suburban. I'm sure I would have 200,000 on it by now had I not bought the '47 a couple years ago. My '89 is in top shape because I spare no effort to make sure it is ready, willing and able to take us anywhere we want to go. Problem is, if I spend the $2500 - $3000 that it would take to cherry the rust out of the body, it would only be worth about $2500! My '47 will never get to that place.

I plan on doing the same thing you are. Modern amenities in an old style body for a daily driver. The '47 is harder to find stuff for than yours. With yours, a trip to the junkyard will get you everything you need for power brakes and steering, air conditioning, overdrive automatic, and even cruise and tilt. If you can't adapt power windows and locks from the junkyard, there are aftermarket kits available.

The old truck is past its major depreciation and can be viewed as a viable investment (if you don't go off the deep end paying others to do it for you...) You will also find that it is a lot easier to learn everything you need to know to maintain the old one yourself. (By the time you get the restore done, you will pretty much be there!) You could probably restore for less than the investment you would need for the specialized tools and diagnostics to do everything yourself on the new one.

Hey, where are these $20,000 new trucks you guys keep referencing??? Man, if you can get a new truck for 20 large I say go for it and fix up the 'Bolt on the side!

Around here, trucks seem to start in the $30-35k range. I'm talking real trucks, though -- 3/4-ton and up. 1/2-tons aren't really trucks -- they're just cars with large trunks :p

John

i'd say go with the old 65 i absoulutely hate new trucks but thats my opinion, and a 1965 chevy is a good truck to wana make it with modern comforts a 1967-1972 would be easier but i under stand the part that this truck was/is your dads, there is plenty of people out there that have done upgrades on these trucks with junkyard parts you could get everything you wanted for this truck out of a 73-87 chevy and from what i can remember its not to hard to swap the parts and there is plenty of the 73-87 models out there so finding parts won't be a headache all i can say is do it once and do it right, but i'm not following that policy very well since i am doing my 1970 chevy cst/10 on a budget and somewhat of a time limit
good luck
OldIronChevy

OK, I read all the of the other responses and I still like mine the best. And that is what this thread is all about, you asked for opinions, and you received many. What I submitted, works best for me and my situation.
You are very fortunate, you have had a lot of good input posted here that should help you come to a logical decision that will be best for you and your family.
In my younger days, I have done a lot. Rebuilt a couple motors, swapped a 6 for a V8, took out a 3 speed and put in a 4 speed etc. I hated car payments, so I only bought what I could pay for with cash. I was programmed early on that a vehicle is your worse investment. So I stuck with cheap in-expensive vehicles that I maintained and kept running on the cheap. That saved me a lot of money early on that I was able to use for things like remodeling my first house, building a garage, etc.
It is true, that if you buy a new vehicle and sell it within a couple years, you will most likely take a big loss. However, if you buy new, and keep it for 6 or more years it starts to go the other way. It is still an overall loss, as most vehicles are, but it does tend to average out with time.
NOW LISTEN CLOSELY!! I said keep for 6 or more years, and not pay for in 6 or more years. A wise man once told me, that if you have to finance a vehicle for more than 3 years, you cannot afford the vehicle.
In my situation, I drive 20,000 or more miles a year. I must drive the interstate to work daily in rush hour traffic, (usually at 65-70 mph or more). In the summer I pull a camper that weighs 5,000 lbs empty, (before the bikes, canoe, 40 gallons of water, and the rest of the gear). Summers in Nebraska can be brutal, routinely having a lot of days that top 90 degrees or more.
When I get in my truck, I need to get from point A to point B period. It has to always start, and it has to get me there. After getting home from work, quite often I will head off again taking or picking up kids. Although I live in the city, we chose to build our home in an area that offers great privacy (and room for Big Bolts) but lacks the best of city services. I am one of a few in this city that really needs 4 wheel drive in the winter. As my truck is our only vehicle with 4 wheel drive, it has to always be ready to go.
I really love the old Chevy trucks, but they are just not pratical (as an everyday driver) for my lifestyle. After about a 15 year span of not owning an old one, I now own 2, and I am very anxious to get started tinkering again. These will be used as weekend and after work drivers. Especially, now that my kids are getting older.
One good thing in your favor, is that you are considering a vehicle, that should be able to handle the interstate speeds and rush hour traffic OK. I had a '63 with a 283 4 speed that worked well in my earlier days, so you could very well have the same luck.
Athough another thing to consider is, that it is just as hard to restore a vehicle that you need to drive daily, as it is to live in a house with your family, that is in the middle of a major remodeling.
And last but not least, if your goal is to have a cherry Stovebolt, it will be hard to keep it that way, if you drive it everyday.
In my case,I just want to get mine running and driving well, and looking respectable, so I can have a little fun driving them, and maybe turn a few heads at the same time.

Nothing wrong with the computers...plenty wrong with the rest of the new trucks. I'm going EFI with my '54 GMC...I'm not afraid of a bit of digital work, and the improved power and economy will be nice.

Go for the '65. I have been using mid 1960's Chevrolet trucks as daily drivers for nearly 20 years, and they are extremely dependable. They are also very easy to maintain. Most of the parts are inexpensive and are not too difficult to find.

Don't waste your money on a NEW truck.

All of the replies here make excellent points. Personally, if given the same situation with the history of the truck, I would love the opportunity to spend some time with dad and his old 'bolt. The things you learn, and memories you create will be priceless. Maybe this is not a "practical" dollars and cents reply, but might be worth some consideration.

I would absolutely go for the old truck. No one will give you a thumbs up on the new truck every day. I am looking for any everday driver as well, and I'll supplement with existing Ford Ranger with 90,000 miles on it and my weekend truck 57 chevy 1/2 ton. Between the 3, I will always have transportation and keep my options open. Good luck,

Bob K

Everyone seems to be in agreement about getting the 65... surprise, surprise!

But Yachtcare touched on something much more important... your Dad is a mechanic and knows the truck. No doubt he'd be thrilled to help you out. And THAT my friend is the best reason why you want to do it!

Case in point, when I got my '56 it needed a bunch of work. I'm fortunate to have an older brother who's an ASE Triple-Master mechanic with a garage... and my Dad who's 84 is a retired mechanic. Me? I'm lost when it comes to mechanics! When I first got the truck here from Colorado, I spent an average of 10-12 hours a week at the garage after work with my brother who helped me out. In the process I learned a lot. But more importantly, I got to spend more time with him then I'd spent over the previous 30 years. And our Dad would come out to the garage and hang out as well. For him it was a treat to see the old engines he was used to. And to hang out with his sons. While I have about $5k into my Bolt (not incl. purchase & transport). She runs well enough to be my confident daily driver.

BUT the connection with my Brother and Dad is worth far more!

Do it man, do it!

I can't stand new stuff, can't work on it w/o a $$$$ scanner for that particular model. I can fix anything that I can see. Can't see electrons. I have nearly 25 yeras of tools as a pro for many, can't do anything for newer than 95-6 here at home, gotta have that box. At Nissan we wouldn't even pull some cars in w/a check engine light, we just carried the box out & cleared CEL codes, go on to the next one, they set codes if car is running while gassing up or incorrect/lost/loose gas cap etc. They set a code that cannot be cleared except w/Nissan Consult box. $50-100 a pop to push a couple buttons. My goal is antique tags on everything I own. Brian

When people say old trucks don't make good daily drivers I find myself confused.

I mean.. what were they built for in the first place? Weekend driving?

Granted, a stock '41 thru '54 truck probably won't keep up the pace with 80MPH traffic in the big city, and if you need to drive that fast then a stock configuration probably isn't for you.

If you live in an area where 4 wheel drive is a requirement, then you need a 4 wheel drive vehicle.. or some weight in the back and some chains.

I have to agree that older is better and cheaper. Personally I'd love to have an old truck for a daily driver, but having three growing children (12-13-14), I need to find a crew cab. If I could find one of those rare 3 door crew cabs with 4 wheel drive I'd have it made LOL. If you can get by with a regular cab then I say go for the '65, it's got style and a family history you just can't get in newer stuff.

ANDYBODY who spends $30,000+ on a truck OR car, has money to burn or they are outa their mind.

You could buy an old truck, make it Autobhan ready, and even put AC in it all for $15,000.. and in 10 years, you'd still have a truck worth $15,000.. maybe more.

Both!! You'll need the '65 to tow the new truck when it breaks down.

I paid $1000 for an old man's 64 a year ago, spent a month & $500-750 on brakes/rubber,clutch, radiator, etc., I have driven it daily almost a year now, 10,000+ miles-only issue was a fuel pump, the rocker pin came out, pushed it back in drove home, replaced pump later. Never fails to start unless I forget to choke it on cold mornings, gets 16+mpg(best has been 18.5!).
Stillookin, put them in the bed! Here its legal for them to ride in the bed of a truck, but they gotta be belted inside. :confused: Brian

fix the 65 i own one and people come up to me of all ages just to talk about it anyone can buy a new truck but you can feel alive in a 65!

Babbott, WELCOME!

I did the later model truck/suburban while owning a couple early 60's Caddys. I like the feel of the older rides. After totaling the burban, I opted for a 64 C10 while doing the minor work to get it road worthy, I stumbled upon a pic of a 65 Crew Cab. I went on hunting for a few years till I found my daily driven 64 C20 Crewie. Will not regret goin with this rig. Rare yes & guys with the NEW truck are always asking questions or making offers to buy it. Its rare and it runs fine with a sb350/th350 combo. Some of the new truck try to tease on the highway. I can keep up with and a times pull away from them!

Stay with the 65! Better to one of a kind than one of a crowd. And you will save yourself a ton of $$$$$

I would just add that you need to remember the 65 truck is a 65 no matter how much you restore it. I have several old vehicles and I like them a lot. I can remember when they were new, and every once in a while when I'm driving one, for a few seconds I flash back to when we were both young. That's what the old car and truck hobby is really about. As much as I like the old ones, I wouldn't want to drive them all the time. They say they "don't build them like they used to" and I say, thank goodness for that. I can remember when a car reached 60 to 70 thousand miles, you began to look for a new one, because the old one had about had it. These days 100 thousand is nothing. Heck, tires now last longer than cars used to last. They are harder to work on, but with decent care, they require less attention. I say, if you want to tinker with the old one in your spare time with your spare money, go for it. You will have a lot of fun, but if you want something to drive, get a good late model used or a bare bones new one. One reason new trucks cost so much is that people buy the ones with every accessory known to man on them. Why do you need leather seats, a stero system wilth God only knows how many speakers, heated seats, power everything, and pretty wheels on a truck. The dealers don't stock many of them because they don't make much on the sale, but if you make it clear you want what they call a work truck, you can get one with power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, and a decent radio fairly reasonably. Granted, you won't impress all the neighbors, but you will enjoy having yours paid for when he is still sending in checks for his now old truck with a big balance still owed on it.

As I mentioned before, I've been driving these mid sixties trucks as daily drivers for 20 years, and they are extremely dependable. I had over 300,000 miles on my first one when the 250 inline six finally needed to be replaced. I was able to get another engine at the boneyard for $200.00, and was back on the road in three days. Try doing that with a newer one.

Fuel pump on the 97 s10 I had was over $300, the one for my 64 was $13. Two bolts held on the 64 pump, had to remove bed & "engineer" special tool to remove the lines on the S10. Folks seem worried I drive a 41 y/o truck long distances, no cell phone & only a minor tool or two. It hasn't let me down except once, the fuel pump rocker pin came loose, I pushed it back in & drove on home. Put some epoxy on the pin on the new pump I installed later. These old trucks are truly amazing machinery, I bought one that had sat for 4+yrs, the 250 still ran on the old fuel. I ran an emery board thru the points & w/a hot battery,she fired right up & IDLED! Brian

If this truck is owned by your dad, you'd be fool not to take it.

Get the 65 running and fixed up. Then calculate your payments on a new truck and stick that money in a savings account every month. Also take into consideration the lost interest on that money for the years that you will be paying off that new truck.

When interest rates rise (and they will, soon) you will be sitting pretty in your head turning 65.