The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk How to value truck to sell??

Hey Folks

You may remember me from posting a while ago - I bought a 53 3100 5 window that I have loved like crazy. Unfortunately I've split up with my partner and am going to have to sell the old girl. Just typing that makes me sad.

So I was figuring I'd get some opinions on a value to put on this truck, what to ask etc...

She is a great running, beautiful truck, would take not much work to make it show quality, but is an excellent daily driver.

PICS:
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[IMG]http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/7922/53chevrightmk2.th.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/75/passengersidecloseau5.th.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/4079/interior1jf7.th.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/804/frontviewnn9.th.jpg[/IMG]


1953 5 window, with a 235 engine
3 speed column shifter
Dark red/Maroon color - paint is pretty good, not perfect but was professionally disassembled and painted, so quality is really good.
very good interior
12 volt/alternator conversion

Here's the stuff that has been done very recently or is notable:
*New radiator/hoses
Brand new master cylinder plus new brake shoes/wheel cyls on all 4 wheels, professionally done
*Professionally rebuilt carb - has the glass bowl fuel filter w/ new filter, 2 fuel lines replaced
*Professionaly replaced front brake lines
*Standard tune up (oil change, replaced plugs/ignition wires, set timing)
*replaced the ignition coil (was actually a ford on there) with MSD blaster coil and control unit - control unit hidden on frame to maintain original look.
*Trans/differential oil changed.
*New valve cover gasket
*Has a professionally installed Vintage Air A/C system, it works great and cools well - a little squeal on startup but otherwise fine.
*new temp gauge that works great
*new windshield glass/seals
*lap belts in cab
*has the remote oil filter, but it's not hooked up.

Would come with:
**have a new ammeter/60lb oil pressue gauge that are NOT installed yet
**new gas gauge installed, NOT working, suspect sending unit
**new battery tray - not installed, old one rusty
**new repro front emblem not installed
**set of firewall grommet thingies not installed yet
** all old stuff taken off - heater, etc etc.

Things it needs:
*gas gauge mentioned above not working, sending unit is first suspect
*speedometer not working, not sure why, but the lights on it work
*shift box could use a good rebuild. it has the 'getting stuck' issue
*bed wood should be removed and refinished.
*truck has no emergency brake
*leaks a bit of oil from the driveshaft, as is typical. Also leaks a bit from the differential since I cleaned it out. I can fix this w/ some permatex pretty easy.

I guess that's all. Sigh.

does it have the enclose drive shaft? I did not see it mentioned, but I may have over looked it..

price...........about 10 percent less then you gave for it..

when you decide upon a FIRM price, let me know...

Hey Joker!

Yeah, it's the enclosed drive shaft.

Sarah

with the 4:11 gear or there about?

would you want a trade?? up or down

I believe the gearing is stock, though I can't be completely sure. I've had a question about that, as there were old pinion gears in the box of stuff i got from the previous owner. Sorry its not a more firm answer.

Oh and one thing I missed, she has an after market tach and turn signals that work.

As for a trade - well the reason I have to say goodbye is because I need a highway worthy vehicle...so I haven't even considered that possibility.

I have a highway worthy vehicle... I pm you to speak about that deal........heck, we might both come out a winner.....

you can probably tell if the gearing is stock by how fast you can run on the hiway.........have you not driven it on the hi-way, I know your area well so one might get ran over in it, or stay in the very slow lane.........lol

keep in touch by pm......I dont want to hog your post..

I would think a good price.......in my mind would be a low of somewhere around $6500/7000 to what ever someone wants to pay..

Nice truck .. what have you decided??

Hey Raptor

As for price, you mean? Well I was hoping to get some more opinions on this. I know the 5 windows are in demand but I am not sure what to ask. What do you think? I would like to get 9k, on the low end--that would be throwing some $ away but I would like her to go to someone who would love her like I do. I think that would be a heck of a deal, considering she's in amazing shape with only a few minor peccadillos to work out. But again, I dunno.

I guess if noone has an opinion I could always get it professonally appraised, and probably could put a bit more $ into it to make it very attractive (fixing all gauges, the bed-boards, etc). But then, part of the fun of having these old things is seeing how they respond with a little TLC.

I don't HAVE to sell now, but in the next 6 months would need to do so.

Anyhow, thanks for looking!

If you live in Texas, I am sure that you are aware that the economy is not exactly booming and I don't forsee things getting better in a hurry. I was involved in banking for 35 years and was a director during the boom and the bust of the 80's, but our bank survived. Many people are feeling pinched. Those who aren't pinched yet are afraid. I am not spending much on toys these days and neither are many other people. I am not suggesting a fire sale, but I would entertain the first reasonable offer. If you wait 6 months and have to sell, it would probably be at a fire sale price. I am scaling back my bulk hauling trucking and selling trucks at private treaty. There have been some auctions that were some real blood baths. The bottom line is, the market is getting softer and and softer.

Do your research. See what they are actually selling for vs. what a seller is asking. Lots of internet sites so do a google by year, make and model. Most of all don't get in a rush. Took me two years to find the right buyer for Ol Betsy. Be flexible to a point.

bottom line is, if the right buyer comes along you can get what they are willing to pay...........always works out that way..

good luck with it..........

There is a magazine on the news stands called Old Cars Price Guide. It lists all the current values for classic vehicles. There are categories from 1 to 5 that describe the condition of the vehicle. So for instance an AD 1/2 Ton can be worth anywhere from $500. (parts truck) to $23,000 (museum quality) vehicle. The other part of the equations is demand or interest for the truck and how uirgent it is for you to sell it. Ebay offers the chance to sell to a larger market but you have to be really careful.

Thanks for ya'lls replies. I'm not too worried, really. It's not a dire situation or anything.

Yep _ was thinking of price (seeing if I could afford it). You have a nice truck and it always good not to have to sell right away, be patient .. I would start by asking what you want (within reason) - ... and see the market's reaction. If you want a ball park price do like Bruce suggested, search the web and gauge comparable trucks. Good luck !

if you have to ask, then you can't afford it

will cost you a couple of thousand more if you live out of Tx

I have a 1953 yellow chevrolet 1/2 ton 5 window truck with a 216ci original engine. It is not any thing close to the fine condition yours is in. Someone offered me $8000.00 for it a month ago. I said NO WAY.

you should have sold it..

sounds like a deal here

Yeah... your probably right :-)

Old Car Price Quide. #4 condition, $6200. #3 13,950. #2 $21,700.

Hm, thanks Wrenchbender...I would say my old girl is probably #3ish...but who knows.

I'm thinking about what I need to do, I do love this old truck. I don't see why I couldn't just eventually upgrade the gearing and maybe the brakes to disk, maybe then I could ride on the freeway just fine.

Sigh!! Decisions, decisions!!

Thanks for the advice, Raptor.

It's a tough decision, for sure. I love the truck...I currently owe a little less than 8 grand on the old girl. I'd entertain offers from you, of course. I would want her to go to someone who cares about these old trucks.

Anyhow, once again, I appreciate the input.

we should all sell now...

Prices vary by region and of course how bad someone wants it. You know your P/U better than we do. However, having said that, the vehicle you describe would sell in the $5000 to $6000 range around my neck of the woods. This is based on the ads I see locally and from the signs at the shows.

GirlDriver;
We've talked at length before, I recall. If I could free up $9K I'd bring it right down there and babysit your truck until you decided you needed it back. And you would, I promise you. Sooner, rather than later.

But that is wishful thinking, and about 2,000 miles. Here's what I really think about your problem: Stovebolts are different. 20 years after selling, I still wanted mine back. What I got is something close, but bigger, stronger, heavier... and even slower. So I changed the gearing and now I have a workhorse I can run on the highway.

If there is any way to keep the auld girl, do it. Then you won't have to kick yourself around in later years.

-Hotshoe

As someone else posted,buy a copy of Old Cars Price Guide,and use that as a reference. And then old vehicle prices will vary quite a bit depending on what part of the country you are in.

best way is put a sign on it , ask yourself, what would you pay for it if you had to buy it.............there you go..

Hey Hotshoe!

Yeah, lately I'm thinking, keep the dang truck, you know? It's a toughie, and honestly i'm not going to be in dire straights. AND I just found a mechanic who knows the old trucks like the back of his hand. Maybe it's a sign...

Sarah

hey, I'm driving my 59 as a daily driver. it is just fine. drove it 8 hrs a few weeks ago, trailering a 1950 Buick, on I20. no problem. used to live in Austin, got it on I35 all the time, and ATX traffic is crazy
you'll probably need to change your maintenance routine a bit, and it'd be smart to get a little stock of part. some things are specialty only (as in, not Autozone, NAPA, ..). you know, get a few oil filters, pulley, points, condenser, some plumbing stuff (oil filter if you have one, fuel filter, carb rebuilding kit, a little more)
and then DRIVE THAT TRUCK

Put it on e-bay and the market should bring you what its worth. If you put a reserve bid of $9000 you can't lose. This is a really nice truck! Ive seen similar ones go for 10 to 12 grand on e-bay.
I've got 10 grand in mine and its got a long way to go yet.

Good luck

Hmmm.. sounds to me like you should keep this truck.

Hell, keep the truck and find a new partner with a highway-compatible spare vehicle...if you are dealing with a broken heart (over selling the truck, not getting rid of the partner)it would be better to make yourself happier in the long run and not deal with the regret of losing such a sweet rig!

If you DO sell it, take the first reasonable offer!!!

I had to "firesale" my coupe, and got $5000 less than the first guy that looked at it offered me.