The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun Is 6000$ Fair Price

Hey Stovebolters I have found a 51 Chevy 3800 (3804) truck that is for sale at 6,000$. The title matches and is clear. The truck is all original except for a 10 year old re-paint. The body looks to be clean and fairly dent free. There are a few bubbles in the paint. The interior is unfinished, bed boards need replaced, missing hubcaps, original split rims, runs and is driven. What do you think, is this a fair price for a 3800?

Hello Cian,
I bought an original 53 3404 5 window last year and spent that. I looked for a long time to get a truck that didn't need floors, or sheet metal(the metal is all very straight no dents), or had not been modified-low miler taken care of and been on the same farm a good 50 years. That said it needs reconditioned and repainted but it is solid and the engine is good. I felt it was a fair price. Up in the northeast a truck that survived this long like yours seems to be ok priced, to me/my opinion only. I would of rather had a long bed 1 toner than my 1/2 toner too.
Steve

That sounds a little high to me although the price guide shows $5100 in a #4 condition. If that's what you want & it is not rusted out it could be worth it to you. That era of trucks are real strong on the auction circuit right now.

if he is asking six, give him four..

What is a Fair price? That is What a willing buyer is willing to pay meeting with a buyer who is willing to sell at that number.Its not Brain Surgery or Rocket science, Just communicate with each other! I will sell you my entire "used truck lot" for $6000. A 46 2 ton, a 47 1 ton and a 48 1 ton skeleton and the 1951 1 ton, that one with title! But do what you gotta do! Jerry

I think its a terrible price! I think you need to send me the sellers info and I will take care of this for you!
Seriously though, I should probably know this by the model number but does it have the 9ft bed? I would say if the sheet metal is surface rust only (and not bad) and it is not all dented up, and that includes the bumper and most importantly the grill, then it doesn't sound too bad. Especially for us guys on the eastern side of the country. We dream of all that great rust free iron out west and have nightmares about paying to get it here if we do go for it. Do you have any pictures?
Keep us posted on how this plays out. One of these days I hope to find me a one toner.
Good luck.

Try this:

Prices for paid for Stovebolts

I started this to give people like yourself an idea of where things fall throughout the community.

where in pa are you from? maybe i can assist

Thankyou all for your posts. I am still pursuing the Chevy Pickup that I mentioned for $6,000. I managed to get the price $200 lower. The initial price was set at $6,400. The truck body is virtually rust free. There are just a few bubbles and one hole that I was told and can see. The bed, running boards, and rear cab area seem to be very straight. The frame looks to have only light to medium rust. Overall the repaint was respectfully done. However not sure on whether any patches or filler was used in the process. The engine has 75,000miles on what looks to be an original 216. It runs and is driven on local roads. The fuel tank and lines have been replaced, brake master cylinder was replaced, along with minor engine tune-ups. What it needs are new bed boards( 9ft pickup bed), wiper vacuum motor, door handle mechanisms, new glass in one tilt out corner window ( it is not a 5 window). Missing the spare and hubcaps. Has the passenger side spare tire carrier. Interior is unfinished and gauges are not accurate. This is some of what I could tell and was told from looking at pictures and speaking to him. I have yet to see the truck in person. That is the problem. The truck is in Florida and I am in Brookville, Pennsylvania. I am seriously considering traveling down there with a trailer in two weeks to look at and 90% sure I will buy. I really appreciate all of your informative replies. I really enjoy spending time on this form, however little chance I may get.

Any one need anything shipped to Florida? If this plays out I might make a post it that area of this form.

Thanks again, Cian Evans

ill assume your talking about the swing out vent window need glass. as for the rest of your evaluation i think the asking price is too high. thats a lot of clams to shuck site unseen but you only live once.

Yes, that's a lot of money for what still needs a lot of work.

What would worry me the most is the most recent body work, either it was done well which is very rare, or it is hiding a lot of past and future rust problems.

If they only moved 3% from the asking price they don't want to sell it.

I agree. I picked up a '56 3600 about 3 months ago. It is a rust free, original, runner and driver. The seller was asking $5500 and we settled on $4300. He should move more than $200 on his asking price. Otherwise, let it go.

If we tell you that Doggie Poop stinks, Do you have to step in some to verify we may know what we are talking about? Just saying.

I most definitely agree that the biggest concern for this truck is how well the body work was done. Whether there were patch panels put in place or large amounts of filler used worries me. The mechanical side of things I would enjoy a lot more and am less concerned. Everything is there on that end and it is at least operational. Also as mentioned in last post the initial price was $6,400. Now it is at $5,800. That would equal 9% drop. I really would like to find something cheaper and closer.
Thanks Cian

Just another point of reference. I got my 1 ton for $5,500 in Dec 2012. The seller started at $9k. It runs, stops and the paint looks good from 15 ft but I will end up putting another $2,000 into it for mechanical fixes and upgrades and I know there will be more before I am done. Well I guess I will never be done.

Sorry about the math, I was reading the original price as 6400 and you got him down 200.

Even so, patch panels can be put in badly, rust not all removed, lots of ways to mess up a paint job that you can't find out until it gets worse.

I'd really like to have another 1 ton pickup myself one day, and from what you've described of this one so far I'd pass on it at almost any price. Worth a look and something to learn from, but likely not the right truck. Unknown body work can turn out real bad.
Much better finding a known very good one and paying for it, or a very good unrestored one and doing the work or having it done. Replacing rust either cost you lots of time and sweat or lots of money to do right.

Grigg

Cian,I agree totally with Grigg and the others. I too would love to own a one tonner one of these days and watch for them on Ebay and Craigslist all the time. Taking into consideration all that has been said, I feel like you, I or one, may end up spending a little more for a one ton than a half ton just because they are less plentiful. Finding one that has been unmolested and not a complete rust bucket will be harder to find. It often appears that these trucks in general, were used a lot harder than their smaller brothers maybe because of the higher pay load and all that increased space in the 9ft bed. I have seen many that came with a hoist so you can bet they were used like as dump trucks increasing the chance for them to get dented up, the beds wore out (and then covered over with the proverbial plate steel). The 9 ft beds them selves are more scarce, from my novice experience. I see plenty of one tons that the original beds are long gone and replaced with a flat bed (although they are still advertised as a "one ton pick up"???)
So, does one settle for the one with the rusted out floors and cab corners? Spend the money to pay to have them fixed? Buy a donor cab that is rust free and swap it out? or buy the one that is advertised as "completely restored" that you can get in and drive? I think there is one in GA with a nice candy tangerine and white paint job and a custom interior that can be had for 14 large. There are plenty of ways to spend the money. In the end it may come down to how tired you are of looking, how far the vehicle is away and what it is going to cost to get it home but, the bottom line is, what is it worth to you?
There is no question that I paid too much for my '46 when I originally bought it but I have no regrets now. It was mostly complete and had very little rust through.
Good luck in your quest.
Hope you find the truck of your dreams.

Cian, What part of Florida is this truck in? We have several Bolter's here and I'm sure someone would check this truck out for you.

I completely agree with you in regards to what a item is worth. I believe the price is fair if both the seller and buyer come away in the end content and satisfied. The truck is located in Jacksonville, Fl. Maybe someone else has seen this truck for sale on AutoTraderClassics or could possibly live nearby. I truly appreciate all of your thoughts guys. Thankyou Cian

yes yes yes to getting a bolter, if available to look at it as a third opinion. Its a long way from where you live. I bought my panel in Orlando and almost pulled an empty trailer back home. Lots of times I wish I had....but over 20 grand and 6 years later I now wish I had left it!!!
TIME is on your side. I understand and agree with what has been said, and in the end if you are both happy then it's fair to the two of you.
Let him hold if a while and then check back in with the guy all the while keep looking.

Let us know how this plays out.