I've built 4 32 Ford pickups and traded for the last one. Building a good quality early pickup of any year costs nearly as much or sometimes more than some early cars. I have been lucky over the years to get close to my cost for my trucks. I constantly see 28-34 Ford pickups selling for ridiculously low prices. Steadfast Mfg recently offered a really bitching 30/31 A pickup with all new Brookville sheet metal except the cab plus one of his chassis with a QC for I think around $27K? He's had a couple 32 trucks in the same condition for sale in the same price range. Great value for the money. If that was a 32-34 roadster, coupe or sedan that would be at least double. It's been this way for many years, are hot rodder's under valuing their trucks or isn't the market there any more. I take my daily driver some where and it always draws positive comments plus and occasional picture. If my Avatar deuce 3 window and my pickup were parked side by side at a show More people would stop and look and take pictures of the truck than the coupe. OPINIONS.
" I constantly see 28-34 Ford pickups selling for ridiculously low prices." Price evaluation depends on perspective. One persons low price can be another's overpriced.
Several years ago steadfast did a few closed cab 28/29 A pickups sold as rollers. One of them ended up south of me in Calgary, AB and has been for sale on an off for a few years now. I think the guy gathered some parts but otherwise I think it's in much the same condition as when purchased. The whole thing looks to be a really good project, but for the asking price anyone that finishes it is most likely going to be way upside down in it. It isn't a problem for some of us, but you can buy running driving cars for what he's looking for. The $22K isn't the price as pictured, you have to scroll down to the bottom for the real prices. Any 32-37 early Ford pickups around here seem to be high priced, a few years ago just a cab was $5K+. There a restored 1928 Roadster Pickup near me for $25K CAD. It has been listed for a long time. A few years ago there was another stock one in slightly lesser condition that took quite a while to see at $12K CAD. Prices for old stuff are all over the map here, but a 32-37 pickup complete and driveable would fetch a fair penny quite quickly.
I've a 32 p.u. as well, but must confess those 28-29's are super neat with their small frontal cowl/hood area & those swoopy front fenders confirm its identity.
Up here 50’s to early 80’s trucks have a huge following , be it restored , 4x4 , resto mod , pretty much whatever . I think it maybe the earlier trucks have smaller cabs with the population getting fatter , and realistly no one is going to use it as a truck . So to pay an inflated price might as well buy a car . As has been said , where you are located makes a big difference in price , west ( Alberta Manitoba and Saskatchewan ) classic car prices are much less then in Ontario and Quebec , why ? Population density is my guess .
That's why I'm building a 28 Model A Roadster Pickup, it just has the right look to me and a lot of cool lines. I like the closed cabs too, but they're small and I wanted a roadster. The same era is definitely more popular here in Alberta too. The pre-war stuff definitely doesn't have as much of a market foothold as the later stuff does here. Cars that people can easily get in and drive (muscle cars) are a lot more common to see than the early stuff that requires you to fold yourself into and is a custom build to have a nice cruiser.
The Steadfast A pickup I was using as an example is a 30/31 and currently at I think $27.5K My comments were strictly as an observer with a few years in the hot rod business, not going in any direction.
I would think the cab being so small most folks would pass on buying one. Me being over 6 foot tall I would have no interest in one.
I love the look of em... Really wanted to build one in my 20s, Then I sat in a couple of em and it gave me the cure.
6ft/240lbs/79/90+ degrees. Today I took my deuce pickup on a 250 mile run on hot rod business. I drive it everywhere everyday. One little detail that makes mine a little bit easier to drive is the LimeWorks column shift, not fighting the floor shift leaver with my right leg. I've built a couple 32 Fords since my first in 73 but this little truck is the most fun I've had in a hot rod in years. I guess growing up on a farm I have a soft spot for trucks?
I gave up on early pickups after a friend built a really nice '36 Dodge. The bottom line was at 5'11" and 210#, I could barely ride in it with him (5'8" 145# 20 years younger) much less drive it. I really think interior room has a LOT to do with it. I sold the '36 Ford 3-window I had wanted all of my life for the same reason. After 8 years, I just got sick and tired of being cramped all of the time. What is a really cool car when you are 30 can turn into a torture chamber at 55.
Danny Burroughs let me try his 32 pickup on for size, and it fit surprisingly well. I’m 6 ft, 200 pounds, and getting up there too. But his pickup fits nice with just a little modification to the seat back. I thought it would be way too tight. No such thing.
My 31 pickup is tight, especially for brake pedal. I’m 6’-1” 195. When I was younger I drove it a lot more. From Detroit area drove it to St Paul in 89 and Louisville in 88 & 92. The A pickups have always been priced lower than comparable cars. In terms of popularity 32-34, then 28-29 with 30-31 last.
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