New to Trucks- Want to Purchase a patina project

[ar15meister]

I am a collector of vehicles and vintage "stuff".

I am from Canada (Toronto) but spend my winters in Arizona. I am here to learn about these trucks and eventually buy one that I can use for fun at my winter home!

I am mostly looking for "the southwestern sun baked patina look" in a square body truck. I would likely redo the interior/glass/chrome, add AC if it isn't there and get it running well.

We live in Cave Creek Arizona and spend lots of time hanging out at the western spots. Want a truck that has the right look!

 

[Bennyt]

Are you in AZ now? Tomorrow is the Reunion show in Mesa. Probably a 750+ trucks to look at and im sure a few for sale and leads on what you are looking for.

WELCOME TO THE REUNION TRUCK SHOW

reuniontruckshow.com

 

[1STLS1]

I can appreciate what you are looking for and I get wanting to nail the look but the truth is I would highly suggest buying somebody's done or near done truck. Having been working on one for the past couple years, what you think it's going to cost, times it by 2 and add another 15-20% just in case. Let the first guy do all the heavy lifting getting it sorted. There are some good buys in the market now with the economy and fuel prices as they are.

 

[ali_c20]

Welcome from Austria.

 

[ChuckN]

I can appreciate what you are looking for and I get wanting to nail the look but the truth is I would highly suggest buying somebody's done or near done truck. Having been working on one for the past couple years, what you think it's going to cost, times it by 2 and add another 15-20% just in case. Let the first guy do all the heavy lifting getting it sorted. There are some good buys in the market now with the economy and fuel prices as they are.

This all day. I balked at the $20k market. So I bought a 7k, and I’ve put at least the 13k difference and much more into it, and don’t have as nice of a truck as the more expensive ones in the market were.

 

[legopnuematic]

Welcome from Missouri.

 

[animal]

 

[Jason in KC]

This all day. I balked at the $20k market. So I bought a 7k, and I’ve put at least the 13k difference and much more into it, and don’t have as nice of a truck as the more expensive ones in the market were.

What this guy said. I bought a $10k truck, probably have another $12k in it. Still nowhere near done, and I'd be lucky to get $15k the way it sits. Should've saved my pennies and bought a nicer one. What's even worse, is that I knew better.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Meh, just depends on what you want. I specifically wanted to build a truck, so the fact I'm in it more than I could've bought a nice one to start with doesn't matter to me. None of them were built the way I wanted

 

[legopnuematic]

I went the total opposite way, I bought my 79 for $200.

I am with Zach, I am fairly picky about stuff, so I prefer to do it my way the first time than to live with someone else’s hopes and dreams so to speak. Hard to buy a lemon at scrap prices. Even if strictly speaking value/cost/worth does not make sense.

More generally, I like and own the vehicles I like and own because I like them, not because they have risen in value or become desirable. Really, if they were disregarded and less valued, that would be better so I could snag a nice K20/K30 for pocket change.

Their popularity has helped though, as parts are being reproduced that weren’t before, or improvements to the tooling resulting in nicer repro parts.

 

[Sad Sack]

Mine isn't patina'd but everything is for sale in my world, except my dog.

 

[Terlingueno]

My K20 Sub has been an ongoing patina project since the day I drove it off the used car lot...

 

[TotalyHucked]

I went the total opposite way, I bought my 79 for $200.

I am with Zach, I am fairly picky about stuff, so I prefer to do it my way the first time than to live with someone else’s hopes and dreams so to speak. Hard to buy a lemon at scrap prices. Even if strictly speaking value/cost/worth does not make sense.

More generally, I like and own the vehicles I like and own because I like them, not because they have risen in value or become desirable. Really, if they were disregarded and less valued, that would be better so I could snag a nice K20/K30 for pocket change.

Their popularity has helped though, as parts are being reproduced that weren’t before, or improvements to the tooling resulting in nicer repro parts.

Exactly. I'd much rather either start with a bare cab/shell or at least with something mostly original that hasn't been monkey'd with a bunch. I will pay more for a better starting point, but I like to put my spin on things so buying a "done" one doesn't make sense.

I'm the same way, I buy and drive what I like. Sure, it's nice knowing I'm not upside down in my truck. But I wouldn't care if I was, I drive the wheels off it cuz I love it. I also agree though, I wish values were not so high so I could pick up a cheap K5 again lol

 

[peats]

Mine isn't patina'd but everything is for sale in my world, except my dog.

Yes the dog stays above all.

 

[ChuckN]

Meh, just depends on what you want. I specifically wanted to build a truck, so the fact I'm in it more than I could've bought a nice one to start with doesn't matter to me. None of them were built the way I wanted

That’s a good point. If you’re wanting a clean slate for a vision that you have, and are going to do a complete tear down anyway and completely make it yours, I’d start out at whatever you can at the cheapest price point that fits your aesthetic.

I was somewhere in the middle. I didn’t want a turnkey truck with the hope I didn’t have to mess with it for years, but I didn’t want a basket case that needed a bunch of metal work either. Which is really the worst of both worlds. It needs work, but it’s not going to be bottom dollar either, lol. I just wanted a 2wd shortbed with good bones and not a lot of rust. At the time at least, the 81-87 trucks were more affordable and so that’s what I ended up with. All things being equal, I’d have wanted a 73-80, but I’m happy with my 81’.