The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk '40 Chev pickup?'s

I've registered on this forum because I'm eyeballing a complete '40 Chev pickup still sitting in the same field it has resided in for the last 21 years,...that I know of! It's a Colorado truck and has no more than surface rust. I hope to speak to the owner very soon, now that I've secured the finances necessary. I inspected the vehicle last summer with the owner's sister, and she told me that he wanted $2000 for it. It's had a minor sloppy farming alteration done for towing at one point, and some fender repairs where the weld was never smoothed, but it is all there, including the drive train. I'd swear that with air in the tires, it would look like it'd start and drive as is!! I WOULD attempt to tow it the 1.5 miles to my home from it's "spot" after ensuring it had reliable rubber to roll on. I then intend on disassembling the engine and rebuilding it. Lube tranny and diff., check brake function and condition, and off, down the county road it'll go for a short!! Guess my point is that this truck is only one step below a good used vehicle in outward appearance. The sister of the owner learned to drive in it.
Very difficult questions at best, but guess for me; how much might this truck be worth as is, and after I refurbish/rebuild the truck, and put it back on the road with paint and bodywork done? I would re-use all the origonal parts that could be refurbished, repaired, or rebuilt. I sure appreciate your input, and hope to have a truck to discuss on this forum very soon!
I do this as a hobby,...I have eight vehicles I've collected,....most of which I've done ALL the refurbish/rebuild work myself. My '42 JD B tractor is my oldest at this time, and I have a '68 Mustang, '69 F150, '76 Camaro/Z, '72 Superbeetle, '79 Spider conv., '88 RX-7 conv., and a turbo Subaru. I just like putting nice machinery back on the job! But I investigate first, as I'm doing here. Thanks, Todd.

welcome to the bolt, hard to decide what it is worth,,probably what ever some one is willing to pay, $2,000 seems a little high but.........I am sure others will chime in..........good luck..

Welcome to the Stovebolt! I'm with Joker, $2k sounds high to me for one that's been sitting that long. Since you've done a few before you are no doubt aware of the cost of parts. I'd be willing to pay more than the "going price" though if it was exactly what I'd been looking for.

Thanks, joker! Just that piece of info helps. I'm just suprised the truck wouldn't be worth more than that! darn thing is nearly 67 years old!! Todd.

Todd, it might be........hard to say.. you might consider looking into our stovebolt gallery for the 40's.. we have a good selection of pix.. someone may have indicated what they paid for theirs ...

It really baffles me how the musclecars I build, and drive, can be worth so much more than the quality of age in a piece of machinery! I've watched the pre-twenties vehicles loose their value many years back,...and demand has been directed toward the performance aspect of cars, primarily, despite age. Personally, I base my fascination in machinery upon age, and running status! Todd.

Gosh, waldo,...NONE of the cars I have are exactly what I was looking for! Sustitutes,...for the '68 KR500 Shelby, the '67 Stingray flat back window, Jag XKE, tractor with FOUR wheels! But they'll sure supplement my retirement (if THAT ever comes!!)!
I've driven past this truck twice a day for 21 years,...now I feel responsible! And the darn thing just WON"T require that much expense to make it nice (not restored) and on the road. I just know how good this truck could look!
I do ALL my own work,...mechanics, interior, body and paint. Besides a phenominal amount of my time, none of the vehicles I've returned to the road have cost me more than $6000,...and I drive that one, a 350hp/410ftlb '76 Camaro/"Z". I expect this one to be a welcome challange due to the lack of availability of parts for a GM that old. But since I can reuse nearly everything, I'll just play the "waiting game" on the "impossible" items. I can at least have the truck functional, sealed from the elements, and proudly displayed on all fours as should be! I don't intend on buying this truck to "turn it over" for profit. It will be built over many years, once on the road, and reserved for last of the sales from my "collection". I think I'll talk $1500 to the fellow. Thanks! Anyone else? Todd

Good perception! I like originality too, but thats why Im gonna have several vehicles.

The thing Id look at is he wants 2K for it but its sat for 20+ years? Doesnt seem like he wants to sell it that bad??? Its worth what you want to pay if its what you want. Can you get us some pics?

Jeff

I would love to see some pictures of it.

2000 $ is OK if your willin to pay it...but you dont know if its gonna run that easy either..could be froze up..could have rusted through floor boards..we need pictures...

a 1940 truck is one good lookin truck...

No Rusted floorboards, but I EXPECT it to be froze up! Hell if it'll turn smooth by hand, I'll be willing to start it! I'll see. Just got my first digital camera,...8.1MP Sony DSC-N1, so I'll try to get some pics ASAP and post 'em. It'd do me good to have some on my computer anyway,...for close inspection. darn snow is gonna be two to three feet deep! Thanks, Todd.

I'd show up with about $500 cash and offer to tow it out of the field for $400. Right now it's just keeping the weeds beneath it in check, and it sure hasn't been driving Miss Daisey. It's only worth what someone will pay so what do you have to lose by making an offer of 400 bucks? The scrap value is less than half of that. A few pictures for us to look at would help.

Good luck!

I payed $3000 for this 1938

[img]http://thumb5.webshots.net/t/59/159/5/32/23/2435532230085718485dsQeUW_th.jpg[/img]


[img]http://thumb5.webshots.net/t/58/58/2/53/50/2141253500085718485abdvYL_th.jpg[/img]

And I drove it home after buying it. Why it's on the trailer is that I took it to a show 40 miles away

The truck is part of the farm's accumulated junk pile,...the guy's sister said he's kinda an alcoholic who never fixes any of the things he claims he will,...but the place came up for sale (I can only guess why!) this last fall, and that worries me into being wiling to spend a bit more. This guy doesn't even have the truck up for sale as far as I know, but I sure don't want somebody to figure out what they've got and NOT sell it. Todd.

Quick question for Highwayman: If the show was only 40 miles away, why didn't you drive it? Just wonderin'.

Seems like $2000.00 is way to much espically after sitting all those years. Sometimes people think that a vehicle is worth more than it is worth. I guess if it is something you have always wanted then go for it and good luck. Pictures sure would be great. 41-46 chevy trucks are the best.

Pablos49 The trucks top end is about 45mph and it's revving pretty good. it's not registered and the brakes need bleeding.

If the cab is solid, with only surface rust,grille is there,sounds like a decent buy.
What would someone pay for a 39-46 cab? Griile?, running boards? etc. And if you do most of the work, That sounds good to me.But of course $500 sounds better. Sounds like you've done some work on other cars.I say go for it and show of some before and after pics.
Perro

IMHO you have a personal connection with this truck and you have been thinking of doing this for some time. I'd take a bottle of Jack Daniels or Case of Beer to close the deal along with your $1500. The parts are probably not as hard as you think to find. A finished 40 Chevy pickup is a very handsome truck.

highwayman, that's one nice looking truck at a great price!

For what it's worth, I'd say it's worth whatever you are willing to pay for it. 2k for a vehicle that has sat so long? Maybe yes, maybe no. I've never looked into my 39 as much of an investment because I'd have to sell it first.

As far as style, I love the 39/40. The mostly modern vehicles with the old bullfrog headlamps are a great combination. The parts are pretty available.

Of course I would make as good a deal as you can per the other comments posted.

Good luck!

Yea, $2,000 os way too much money for a truck in Colorado.. even if you could hop in and drive it home the 1.5 miles.

I'm in Nebraska, and the 1.5 40's trucks sell for about $500 to $1000 in drive it home condition, but needing things like new tires, paint, you know, small stuff.

I've seen some really nice looking garage/barn kept 1.5 ton '41 thru '46 trucks sell on eBay from the Colorado area that were in drive 1,000 miles home kind of condition sell for less than $1500.

Heck, I just sold a '47 International KB6 that was fully restored, and I mean frame off fully restored, that I wouldn't be afraid to drive cross country (aside from the whole comfort thing) and it didn't bring but $3500 or so.

The 1.5 ton trucks just aren't in demand.. it's the 1/2 tons that bring the money.

But from the way you described it.. you might be hard pressed to get $2000 for it even if it were a 1/2 ton.

No doubt if it were parted out you could pile up some money for it, running boards will fetch 250-300-- windshield frame another 250-300, --front fenders 350-450, rear fenders 350-450, headlights for them sell like 250 as well...might be worth it...

All trucks that sat in a field and snow and rain that long have far more problems than you are likely seeing (especially since you want it). Bring $1,200 and someone who is brutally honest. Get their opinion after the look it over then base you cash offer on that. Don't let him see the pile of money.....a little in each pocket vs. a big stack. Good luck. The real cost is not getting the truck...it's only the start!

$400 and two bottles of Jack Red (Black if he insist). Don't get too attached to the truck before you own it. Try the low offer and perhaps have some hip pocket change if you really want it. I wouldn't worry too much about it going anywhere too soon if its been parked in the mud for 20 years already.

I paid $2500 for a 39 longbed 3/4 ton 6 years ago, in probably similiar condition... and i've got a total of $9500+ into it (including the trip to get it)

I'd offer them $900 and see what they say.

If it's a 1 1/2 ton then $1,000 is about right.

If it's a 1/2 or 3/4 ton then it might be worth the $2,000. I bought a 1940 1/2 ton for $1,000 that was beat more than a red headed step child. Original sheet metal on a 40 is getting hard to find, and a complete original even harder to come by especially if it's strait.

It's your money, the rest of us only have opinions left after buying our trucks.

As far as sitting, I bought a 46 1 ton last summer that had been sitting that long. Cleaned it up, changed the oil, and it fired right up.

OK y'all! Got the idea now,...sounds like I've gotta get over this "must be worth $'s 'cause it's old, and the steel's solid" crap! Yes, I'm emotionally attached to the idea of saving this truck, but I'll not be too stupid about it, especially since I'm approaching him. Never a good strategy, but salvagable. I always do deals with crisp $100 bills, so I'll start small,...you all helped to give me an idea of where I should start from! Thanks! I'll keep you informed of my progress, or lack there of. Pics ASAP. Todd.

Yo! InMy40s! Yeah! It's a 1/2 ton, and could easily do just that,...change the oil and fire that mother up! My '42 tractor was being pull started because the equipment sales place didn't want to take the time to clean up the ignition components, and tune it! I think this truck was parked because newer vehicles took over it's chores. As I stated, the lady that allowed me to look at her brother's truck learned to drive in it! And no body can screw up a truck that is just sitting. Colorado is a great environment for vehicles, due to our dry climate. This one's been sitting on it's own rims protected from moisture for all that time! My Camaro sat for at least six years, and my Mustang for twelve! Those are vehicles far less adapted to that kind of mistreatment! Todd.

Not a chance.

The 1.5 ton trucks don't have full length running boards and don't fetch much at all. Front fenders on the 1.5 ton trucks are way bigger than the 1/2 ton thru 1 ton trucks, and don't bring anything, either. No rear fenders on a 1.5 ton truck.

What's worth something on those 1.5 ton trucks, and I know because i've bought over a dozen of them and sold the parts, is the stuff that DOES fit on the 1/2 ton trucks.

That's pretty much the hood, grill, headlight buckets, and the cab stuff.. aside from the doors, for whatever reason.. never had any luck selling doors, so I usually just sell off the door hardware and then sell the doors along with the stripped cab.

Assuming the parts are in excellent dent and rot free condition, the price breakdown is about like this:

Grill (top & bottom) $300
Chrome off the dash $75
Cab floor $75
Gas Tank $175
Headlight buckets w/ excellent chrome $200
Exterior door handles $30 each
Interior door handles $20 each
Windshield frame $250
Grill crank hole cover $50
Seat springs $75
Windshield interior header assembly w/ covers $100
Solid, non modified dash $150
Instrument cluster $50
Solid, rot free cab & doors $300
Windshield crank mech $100

I may be forgetting a part here or there, but those are the average prices i've gotten for those parts.. and i've sold lots of them.

So provided all that stuff is actually there, and in good to excellent condition, those are the average eBay prices.. right around $2,000 worth of stuff.

Now once you calculate eBay and PayPal fees, your time and costs getting the truck in your yard and yanking off all those pieces, taking photos, doing the listings, and your time for hunting down boxes and packing stuff up to ship it.. you ain't clearing $2,000 by a long shot.

If the truck has been sitting for any length of time.. especially outside in a junk pile or pasture, you can expect a whole lot of mouse debris and nastiness to contend with, too.

Gas tanks are often found to have rust holes in the bottom of the tank. Grills, especially in the big trucks, are rarely found to be in good or excellent condition, and windshield frames are almost always rotted out in the bottom center.. many times they look fine from a brief inspection, but once you get the glass out you find rotsville.

Maybe if you were in L.A. or in a place with high demand and low supply due to atmospheric conditions, a truck like that might fetch close to the $2,000 range if you sat on it long enough and waited for the right buyer.. but out in Colorado, Wyoming, and Western Nebraska where the higher elevations and dry air keep this stuff from rusting much at all, it really is pretty commonplace stuff.

Here\'s a \'42 that was in the local paper for $500obo

I passed on it because the grill was missing some bars and the windshield frame was 'iffy'.

A guy down the road from me bought it for $300 and put a battery and gas in it and it started right up.

The way you describe it...sounds like fun..so 2000.00..it is alot of money but just think how much fun you will have towing it home...tearing it apart and then putting it back on the road....

Thanks, Fumblin46! Great info on the value of the items on the truck. It IS a 1/2 ton pickup. Sounds like it's the most desirable of the truck types, and it sounds like late 30's to early 40's is valued also. Todd.

Holcomb says it all! Thanks, Todd.

Sorry if I sounded like I was popping your bubble.. I just hate to see somebody pay too much for something, that's all.. especially in a hobby like old trucks where it's easy to end up way over your head in costs.

What you should do first and formost, is go out to the truck, and cop the SERIAL NUMBER off the truck.

On a '30's or '40's truck, that number will be on a metal plate under the passenger side hood, right on the 'cowl' area.

Write that number down, and then plug it into VIN Buster

That will tell you exactly what year and model truck you're looking at.. it'll even tell you what month it was made and at what plant.

Once you know for sure what year truck we're talking about, we can get a better fix on what the truck should be worth.

1/2 tons are always more valuable than the 'big bolts'.. just because there is greater demand, and a lower supply.

I'm in about the same position as rusty rod. I payed about 2500 for my 40 gmc. More to have the 302 6 cylinder rebuilt... more for the 5 2bbls... more for the 5 speed transmission, new rear end, disc brake conversion for the front...

I've collected quite a few parts for an entire rodstoration which will include a total driveline swap/ rebuild down to the springs and shackles.

It ain't cheap, but if that's the hunk of junk you want... go for it!

Depends on what part of the country your in.$2000.sounds like a pretty good deal to me if it is really solid.Not likely you are gonna stumble onto a soild truck for a few hundred dollars.Even these people who are not collectors realize they are very much in demand.If you like the truck and think its restorable or streetroddable go for it.Naturally start out with a lowball offer,ya just might get it a little cheaper.

Yo! Thanks all! I DO feel like this truck can be had for cheap, returned to the road for cheap, and made pretty for cheap! All relative, of course. Since the owner has no interest in the truck,...I'll tow it the mile and a half on county roads to get it home,...and I can do ALL my own work, I should be able to buy, and make this truck roadable, for less than the $2000 I heard that he'd sell it for! I'll get that VIN number and pics this weekend,...and place a note as to my intent in his mailbox at the same time. I cannot emphasize what good condition this 1/2 ton P/U is in, considering sitting for 21 years on flats. Chassis has no more than surface rust and interior is dry,...fabric still on the seats. Never been pilfered from either. I'll have some nice pics for y'all,...it sure looks alot better than several of the trucks in the forum's gallery! Todd.

The fact that it's a '40 and a 1/2 ton gives it more value in my opinion. They're more rare than the '41 thru '46s. If it is as good as described, it might not be too overly priced. If it is mostly complete and unmolested, you will be money ahead, than if you find a cheaper (but rougher or less complete) one, and have to buy and pay shipping on a lot of parts.

Be sure that it comes with a title!

Very anxious to see pictures.

Good Luck

John

In 03 I bought a 46 in Colorado Springs for $500. It was decent body with typical booger welds on fender cracks and bed floor rotted away. It didn't run, but was all there. I hauled it home and didn't do anything to it and resold it for $2000. It's worth what ever you are willing to pay. I am cheap. I wouldn't go over $900. The most I ever paid for a bolt project was $1000.

I often mention that LOCATION dictates price, and did so in this thread..

He mentions he's in Ault, CO.. which is exactly 142.9 miles away from me.. or less than a 300 mile round trip.

Local supply and demand do dictate the price.. but in places like where we live, where the trucks are common and demand is very low.. well.. that means low price.