The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun 1954 1-ton unrestored values

Hi Guys and Gals,

This is my first post here. I hope this is the proper place. Please let me know if there is a better forum for my question.

I'm eventualy going to sell my old truck. The problem is, I'm having a difficult time trying to figure out what the value of it is.

It is a 1954, 3800 series, 137 in. wheelbase, 5 window cab, 235 w/4spd, 9ft. bed, 17in. split/rims, etc. etc. It runs and drives but has been sitting for most of the last 25 years. It shows 36,600 miles and I believe it to be accurate.

Are there any forums or links to sites that will give me a good idea of what a truck like this is worth? Maybe I'm just missing it. Is there a "history" of prices somewhere here for these types of trucks? i.e. I don't want to ask $9000, if it worth $5000 --- and I don't want to ask $1500, if it is worth $7000. Just trying to get an idea of where to find good info.

Thanks for the help and info!

Robert

read this, and look around the net for similar vehicles for sale, the e-bay forum in the swap meet here is well updated, check it out .... bottom line is it'll be worth what someone is willing to pay, not what some uninvolved party says it's worth, but I'd bet it's likely to sell much closer to 1,500 than 5,000

Bill

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the input.

I've been watching ebay and Hemmings MN among others. Just don't seem to be many 1-ton pickups out there selling so the "apples to apples" thing has been a moving target for me.

Thanks again for the response.

Regards, Robert

There is a magazine format compilation called "Old Car Prices" and it is published by Old Cars Weekly. Most of the appraisers refer to it. It will give you a value that is sort of an industry standard. Whether that has anything to do with what it sells for is another question.

Pricing and selling old trucks is tough. I love the Tech Tip squeeze referred to. It's a hard-toothed piece of truth with great advice.

The first thing you really have to deal with is "What is it worth to me?" You're stuck determining that elusive "realistic value." So, imagine you're buying it from yourself. What would you pay for it?

Points I'd consider for "unrestored sticker price":
Are there any missing parts?
Does it need engine work? Does most everything mechanical function like it should?
Does it need body work or a paint job? Are there any rust-through spots?
What condition is the interior in?
Could I drive this home?

I'd actually start with 1954 MSRP ($1700) and work from there. It's funny how that is a good starting number these days. Every positive response to the checklist is a bump up in the price, and vice versa. How big a bump is up to you, and add any other criteria you want. It's your truck! ... For now.

Appreciate the response and good advice Fred and Dave. When I posted here I was hoping to find a quick answer ----- but it appears that there really is none. I've yet to find a 54' 1 ton pu like mine listed for sale anywhere to use as a comp. Found one on another site today and got excited --- then noticed that the post was from 2005! I'll keep searching.

Thanks, Robert

The old car price guide for that model shows a #5 condition at #3120. #4 condition $5200. Your truck probably falls in between there somowhere. Rust out in the body is the worst thing. Next is a bad engine. A solid truck that is running & not butchered usually would bring about $4000 but in todays economic climate I really don't know. Everyone trying to sell an old car or truck says it is tough to sell right now. I have had my 58 on the market for several months & have never had a nibble.

Hi George,

The #s that you quoted were in the ballpark for what I was guessing for the 54' value.

One thing that may influence value is a dump bed retrofit. Don't know if it is a positive --- or --- negative. It is a nicely done job of retrofitting IMHO.

I bought this truck to haul firewood back in the 80s and the dump bed with the 9 ft. box sold me on it. I could pull up in my yard and dump a large load of wood and never get out of the cab. I thought I was really hot stuff! Since I already had the PTO hydraulics, I should have rigged a log splitter on the rear bumper. Now that would have been cool!

The story that I got was that the truck came from OK and belonged to a very small acerage farmer. He had rigged a tow bar on the truck and would tow it behind his combine. It had solid plywood side boards, a "sliding grain gate" for a tail gate, and diamond plate welded over the wooden bed. So this story made sense to me. Steel plate is covering the bed still, but all other grain box parts are long gone.

I bought it from the farmer's niece who inherited it after her uncle passed. I couldn't believe that they drove this rig all the way to northwest CO from OK. What a trip that must've been!

I appreciate all the old stories about as much as I appreciate the all old trucks!

George, thanks for your input. Nice looking 58' BTW!

Robert

FWW -

Rose and I paid $2,300 for our 3800 about 1 year ago. It had been converted to 12V and has a FP 235. The truck is un-restored and well used, but fully drivable. You can see pics of her in our profile... We're in calif.... I saw a 51, somewhat rodded, with fresh paint, listed for 21,000 about a month ago.... Keep trolling CL...

John

I got my '52 3800 (runner, 3-window, LP 235, no bed, good mechanical shape, cosmetically rough, really strange ranch bed) for $1200. Another 3800 I was looking at (runner, 3-window, FP 235, step side bed, cosmetically decent) for $2500. That's here in the Bay Area, and from what I've seen prices here tend to be substantially higher than in your neck of the woods.

John, Nick, thanks for the input.

Looks like the value of these old trucks is a little less than I thought. My 54' looks to be in a bit better condition than Nick's trucks and maybe a little better than John's. It is difficult to tell from a few photos, but I'm now thinking that it would be a $3500+ truck on this website. Has the slow economy "softened up" the old truck market quite a bit? I haven't really kept up with it. The reason that I ask is because I've had "standing offers" in the past that were considerably more than $3500! (Maybe time to get the old address book out.)

Thanks again for all the good info! I'll keep snoopin'!

Robert

I paid $2200 for my 49 3800 drw last year. It was running, barely, had no brakes, no working lights, and needed to be rewired. The body was solid and complete. The interior was also comeplete and in decent shape. It had been converted to 12v. There are pictures on the link in my signature. Maybe if a few more people who don't mind telling what they paid for their trucks will post, it will give you some idea of the value of yours. I've often wondered what mine's worth too.

I bought my 1 Ton for $1200.

Don't know if your still trying to set a price or if you have sold it already? I would have posted sooner but just spent a month in the hospital. Here are some pics of my 55 1st series. I paid 4,000 a year ago, trailered it home after it sat for 5 years. Took out the old gas, put in new, bled the brakes and fired it up. It runs great. I did end up changing the seal in the front of the rear end too.
http://s1199.photobucket.com/albums...w&track=share_email_album_view_click

I paid $1900.00 for my truck 5 years ago. Needed all rubber parts, tune up, fluids, and had surface rust and dents. Same truck would be $1000 in today's market. Bad time to sell a classic.

I recently paid $1500 for my '50 1-ton. 58000 original miles, original paint, 6-volt; EVERYTHING works; radio, interior lights, dash lights, heater, defroster, windshield wiper, ALL electrical, brakes like new, 4.11 rear axle, good tires. It has a few dents and scratches but pretty nice original paint. I know I got a bargain but the lady who owned it had been trying to sell it for a year.