First of all, I apologize for doing one of these stupid threads, but please bear with me. My aunt owns 3.5 acres that adjoin my grandfather's 40 acres. The land's been in our family since before the Civil War, so none of us want to see it split up. Unfortunately, she's in her late 80s and when her son inherits it, he'll be selling it off for the money. I want to be able to buy the place not only to keep it in the family, but also to try and save the neglected house that she and my grandfather were born in. I hadn't planned on selling my truck, but it can be replaced a lot more easily than something that's been in our family so long. The truck is titled as a '58, but someone put a '56 front end on it. I believe it's a real '58, but the VIN tag has been fiddled with so I won't know positively until I'm able to check the frame stamping. Either way, I'm leaving the '56 nose on it. I'm converting it to AWD and dropping in a built Oldsmobile 455 with automatic overdrive. If I'm able to find one, I'll put a '58/'59 fleetside bed on it with the "spears" on the bedsides shaved to make it look like a Cameo bed. If not, I'll be leaving the stepside bed on it and going with some kind of wood more unique than oak. I don't plan on chopping it, but the cab is a big window. I haven't decided on the interior, but it'll be nicely done with leather buckets and a console. I plan on engineering the suspension for it instead of using the stock torsion bars on the Bravada chassis, but we'll see how well they perform. I know it's hard to picture, but think of something you would see in a magazine that's show quality. It won't be cobbled together with half-baked ideas, it'll be a well thought out truck that should look as sharp as it drives. And before you ask why I had to describe it instead of posting pictures, I've just now been able to start buying equipment and renting a space to start up a shop. This is/was going to be my daily driver truck. I've been planning on doing everything I listed since 2006, so I've had plenty of time to sit down and draw out how I want it to look, just nowhere to actually do some work to it until now. ETA: Sorry, asking what you would say the truck is worth after completion. Looking at selling it so I can buy the land.
Whats what worth? The land or the truck? If its the truck why would you care, it's your project. Good Luck with it ! Normal Norman
Oops, sorry. Asking what you guys would say the truck is worth after it's finished. Sell it and use the money to put a down payment on the land.
You will have more money towards the land if you just use the money you have. The more you do to the car, the less you will have.
If you want to make money to buy the land, here is what I would do. 1. sell everything not bolted down. 2. start flipping used cars. I'm not talking pieces of shit. But cars that deserve to be saved.
Like I said, it's hard to picture without being able to show you, but I'm not talking about just a simple frame swap and calling it done. If I do keep the Bravada frame, it'll be modified quite a bit. S-10 frames are ugly at best. Really, the only thing I'll need are the axles, I just have to figure out how to run coilovers for the front if I get rid of the torsion bars. The truck won't be riding high, it'll be lowered. As far as being a Cameo clone goes, that's an unfortunate coincidence. I like the look of the fleetside beds because their lines match the cab's a lot better than the stepside fenders do, but I'm not so crazy about the spear. Yes, with that gone it'll look like a Cameo bed, but only from the side.
Well to give a half ass answer. It depends on EVERYTHING. How good is the work. Whats in the engine. How good is the paint. How is the upholstery. What all is new. what is scabbed together and needs fixed. And on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on Then after you get a number on it subtract it by half for it being a 4x4 because then you just have a motor and body
I'm with Hitchhiker. Have spent a lifetime dickering in cars and property. Save your money, sell the truck or parts for what you can get. Get a second job, or use the time to fix cars for other people (it pays better, and it is cash on the nail). A project like that will eat up way more time and money than you can ever get out of it.
You don't understand what we are saying. Financially it is practically suicide to try and make money on building a old car and then selling it. Especially a vehicle with the amount of mods down to it. If you are talking of the caliber that I am relating to you would literally have 100 thousand dollars r more tied up in parts and labor any top level shop. Unless it is one of the "land mark" autos....32 fords, 57 chevy's, GTO's, HEMI.....old cars are generally hard to make money on.....unless you are the guy doing the fixing or the building for the guys that do the things you can't do.
I figured you all would say that. It's crossed my mind, but I've got to start building cars somewhere, so I'll probably start with this truck regardless. I guess the way I see it is if I put all of my money into the land (it's valued at $80,000), then not only will I not have any money to spare for starting a business, but I'll also be right where I am now with no experience and no business of my own. Thank you, though, I appreciate the advice.
I read your description at least eleven times and I do not have a clue as to what you are wanting appraised. badshifter is correct "less than a stock..." a truck? a pile of mismatched parts? a dream? Some of the following words from your post "if, if, plan to, I believe it is a real..., if not, with some kind of wood, it'll be," Come on dude. Nobody buys intentions. I think you wanting to buy the land is a fantastic idea. You will not benefit from the above transaction(s).
Well, my problem is since I'm just starting out - I'm technically not even to that point yet - I don't know what I don't know. I figured most of the truck's value would be in its uniqueness and labor. Since I'd be doing the labor myself, I anticipated actually being able to see some return on the truck. I just thought I'd be able to kill two birds with one stone on this truck. Gain experience and make a little bit of money.
it's possible to have your cake and eat it too.... I probably shouldn't be saying this, but oh well. Take this for example. I bought a 66 Econoline. 81,000 original miles. $700 bucks. I've always wanted one. But don't need another keeper. I've put all new ignition parts, fuel pump, belts, hoses, brakes, tires, powder coated wheels, Detailed the shit out of it. New windshield basically fixed everything and serviced everything. I've got about $2500 bucks into it. It's a super nice van, but still all original. I hope I can get $5000 for it maybe more. It will be on the market as soon as I get the title. I try and be realistic. hopefully it will be gone buy the end of june. That's the type of stuff you need to do if you want to buy that land.
The only way to make money building cars is getting paid too.....even then it is hard. I've been able to do some of it picking then cream of the crop, and flipping, but you gotta make smart choices.
Buddy I hope you listen to what's being said. Many of us build cars for a living. Myself included and I am good at what I do. That said, I make a living building for others. If building a mainstream car and flipping it for a reasonable profit were common or profitable, that is all we would do. But we don't. Now you want to start a business, learn as you go, build an odd, undesirable hybrid thing, AND sell it at a profit? It ain't gonna happen. Your heart is in the right place, your financial plan is not. Save every penny and buy that land. You will never have that chance again. Build the truck thing later.
Well, I've got two things going against me: I'm stubborn and when you're forced to be patient with getting your start in this business and can only dream for years on end, it's hard to change your views. That said, I am listening to you guys intently and greatly appreciate what you're telling me.
Hitchhiker, I'd thought about flipping older cars, but it seems like I have terrible luck in this area finding anything that can be fixed up and turned for a profit. I just got to thinking about my plans for the truck and said, "hey, I think that would be an awesome truck, so why wouldn't everybody else?" lol Yeah, now that you guys have given me a dose of reality, that's not exactly the brightest idea I ever had. Fair point. You're right, the truck thing can wait or I may just fix the PO's mess, get it running, and sell it. My shop comes first because while I love our land, the county it's in is pretty sorry and it's just not worth being stuck here while I save up more money. However, every little bit that I can save after that will go towards the land.
You can always buy/build cars or trucks, whatever it is your doing. They are not making any more land! That should be your priority. apparently, you cant have both at once. Decide, whats most important to your future, land or a Johnny Cash Cadillac.
If you want to sell the truck for profit STOP NOW and sell it before fucking it up.... It will be worth less when you make it awd.
Just for the record, I should've said that this truck's already been messed with. Someone swapped in the drivetrain from a '70-ish Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser. Olds 350, TH400, and a 10 bolt. The body's also kind of rough. Got the cab patch panels a few years ago, but it needs the whole front end except for the hood. It really needs a complete rebuilt which is why I was thinking it might be just as easy to do the chassis swap.
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