1972 C-20, sell or restore? what am I getting into?

I have a 1972 c-20 that I am not sure if I want to sell it or restore it. I am the first owner, had the motor bored out (about 15 years ago) to 30 over, and a few other things done. Still have the factory paint, but rust is now a major problem along the rocker area etc. Looking about I am guessing I could only get +-$2000 if I sold it. Not sure I want to invest the time and effort and $$ into restoring it? Maybe just a Maco paint job replace the tail gate (really rusted) & new topper.

Guess the question, is it worth trying to get the truck back into show room condition, or should I just sell it to someone with more interest in a 33 year old truck. It has about 87,000 miles on it, maybe 20,000 since the overhall.

Maco gave me a estimate of about $2000 to fix the rust and paint the outside, I am thinking that the price may have gone up since the estimate, as the tail gats now needs to be replaced, plus I will have to put on a new topper etc etc etc

If I invest $3000/$4000 the truck it still won't be worth what I have to invested in it to get it 'looking' good???? OR WILL IT?

Reply to
ronnie
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Sounds like you are on the fence and should maybe sell it. Not sure if you would get 2K for it tho (being rusty and all).

Myself I don't have a lot of extra income, wanted a truck. Not wanting to go into debt to the tune of maybe +35K I picked up a '87 c10 for a couple of grand. The '73 to '87 body style is pretty nice. It was also low mileage -60K and rust free. Put a couple of grand into it for a quick paint job and she looks great. Now for some nice wheels and a bit of interior work and for maybe a max 6K I'll have a pretty nice machine.

You have a nice truck, -a lot of folks like the pre '73 body style. Someone will always buy it if you do a full restore but that will hurt dollar wise and might take forever to recover your money. Best to do that only if you are in love with the thing. Otherwise just do the Maco thing every few years.

Of course if you are the original owner you probably only paid around 3K for it. Not bad driving it for 30+ years at a cost of about $1 month.

Today's paper (Alberta Canada)... 2005 Avalanche (lots of rubber-maid stuff, -ech!) can be had for $37,213.

As far as I'm concerned my truck parked beside it looks as new and looks better! I'm into mine for 4K. Heck maybe I'll really fix up the interior. Oh yeah, the wheels... I need nice wheels.

Reply to
Slap

Yep! I 'think' I am about ready to let it go, has been a great truck, but I don't need a 'show' truck, have a newer one that I use every day, so the c-20 just sits and rusts away

Thanks for the input, have a great day

Reply to
ronnie

Most trucks will never be worth what you'd spend to bring them to "show room" condition because they were used to work.

I don't know the value of a truck where you live. Here in Texas I've seen a rust free 72 in good condition sell for about 12K.

You've already said you have another truck and you let this one just sit. Probably meaning you have no attachment to the 72. I'd have to agree with "Slap" I suppose. Sell it as you don't appear interested in the restoration.

I'm working on a 1966 Chevrolet c-10. I still use it to pull trailers/haul stuff, go camping etc. When I'm finished I'll have spent about 10K on it. That may sound like a lot but as Slap said a new truck would cost around

Reply to
Mark

Someone will certainly enjoy fixing the truck up. Point that person to...

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all kinds of parts for it.

Reply to
Slap

do you enjoy doing restores? If so, It'll be worth every minute you spend on the project. As for $$$, most are never equal to the cost and labor put into them...

Reply to
Gordon

Where I live (in South Florida) deed restriction stop any 'outside' repair work, I would have to work on it 100% in my (full) 2 car garage w/o any air conditioning.... Would be a great way to get my weight down.... I had been putting off starting the body work till I bought a mig welder, did that about 2 years ago, now my excuse is have to clean out the garage just to fit the truck inside, once I do that, our winter will be over & the days & nights will all stay above 70, and pushing 100 degree in the garage.... So I have run out of excuses, I either need to start doing something with it, or start looking for some one to buy it. I do have an attachment to it, It was my 'first' truck, and has bee their for me every time I needed it. Though I now pull my trailer with a Ford diesel, though with the price of fuel climbing higher & higher, I am not sure how many more trips I'll be going on?

I ordered a LMC catalog tonight, and the garage is way over due on a cleaning, still not sure, hate to get involved and run out of steam.

Thanks all for the thoughts

Reply to
ronnie

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