Buying a cheap, old cabover.

Try getting parts for you engine or truck. The older the harder. Those remans can only be remaned so many times? Then those pesky DOT cops just love pulling over older trucks as the failure rate is high. As for California. Yes it is a communist country. But what happens when your offered a load that pays well but you have to deliver in California? Then what? And as time goes.. More and more states will restrict non electronic engines, and then non particulate trap engines. These engines are a way for these states and cities to be EPA compliant on their clean air requirements. So let's see who has dirty air? Just about any large city.. Just something to think about. Also no matter how much pride and chrome or what ever one puts in that truck. That 86 still books out as an 86. Which should be around 9 10 thousand at the most.

 

Not quite right,since EPA 10 and EUro 6 are nearly the same,you get similiar engines.(Mercedes is using DD13,Paccar the MX and Volvo D13)
Pricetag will be high.

 

i would pay a premium price for a premium old truck. so the statment that any 86 truck should only be worth 9-10k isn't necessarily a true statement.

should a 86 pete 359 long hood fully restored and rebuilt bumper to bumper sell for 10k?

 

What ever the book says the truck is worth. Your chrome and what ever in an old truck . Is meaning to you and not anybody else. You might think that old truck is worth something. But you will have cash in hand. A finance company looks at the book and says 9-10 thousand. Or what ever and that's all you will get. Or if this truck gets stolen or damaged. The insurance goes by the book also. So if you have 20 thousand in a 9 or 10 thousand truck. You get a check for 9 or 10 and just lost all of that personal attatchment .and yes that Pete is only worth what the resale book says it is. I could have bought a 1971 Pete that was restored for 8 grand.

 

Horsepucky. It is worth what ever someone will pay for it.

 

Obviously if someone is looking at an older restored truck its most likely for a reason and they know what they are looking for. The "book" is a joke and determines nothing other than keeping paper companies busy printing them. A truck or a car is worth what one is willing to pay for it and theirs an ### for every seat. How many times have you seen the scenario reversed and someone trying to sell a vehicle for way to much only because this book says its worth that much. Just my 2 cents.

 

The money people, the insurance companies go by book value. But if your willing to pay more for something, that's your choice. But like the old saying.. A fool and their money will soon be parted.

 

Is it best to buy my 1st truck cash, or just finance one at a dealership?

 

Talk to an accountant. This is a business, not a personal vehicle. There are write offs, and incentives.. Then you decide whether you want a newer truck or one that you can pay cash for. Also who you want to haul for.. Some have age restrictions. Best of luck. Hopes this gives you some direction.

 

I am a licensed and bonded used car dealer and have been since '07, and was back in the early '90's. I specialize in good clean older model cars and trucks, mainly from mid 90's to early '00's. I hand pick only the best of the paticular vehicles I sell, go over them from front to back, fix anything wrong, check/change brake pads, oil, filters, tires, spark plugs, ect.

I test drive every vehicle from minimum 40 miles to several hundred to make sure they are right before they are offered for sale, then a complete high quality detail is performed before it hits the lot. The idea is the new owner does not have to spend any money in repairs until it's time to change oil again.

I usually charge way above book value, and have no trouble selling what I put on the lot. I tell people where the vehicle came from, what I did to it, and encourage them to take it anywhere they want to have it checked. People will pay for a known value no matter what the book says.

Would you rather pay book for an unknown something that may cost you more than you paid for it in repairs, or pay more for something that the seller specializes in, has checked and repaired everything, then personally driven to insure everything is in good shape? My customers willingly pay more than book, and call me back telling how happy they are with their purchase.

Price is all about the quality of the product, or someone that just has to have that paticular car/truck and ignores the faults. I perfer the customer wanting quality for their money. They are still happy after they buy.