Rusty Old American Dream: 1964 Chevy Truck: Thanks to David Wilcox
Kind of like my first car where the value of it fluctuates depending on how much gas is in it.
1958 was a good year for light trucks. I bought a rusted out F-100 van in 74 for $25 from a college. I was working in the boat factories in the Tampa Bay area at the time and fiberglassed the roof and floor and much else. I sold it for $100 a couple years later and saw it a dozen years after that doing duty as a pickup and delivery vehicle for a generic motorcycle shop. When it passed me I remember it still sounded good.
My wife’s parents bought her a 72 Dodge Demon in October of 1971 when she was 18. We met and got married in 1977. In January of 2007 we sold the car. Original 225 six Holly 1 barrel with 186,000 miles on it. She drove it to work every day for 35 years. The transmission was rebuilt twice, it was reupholstered twice. In 1973 she had Midas put shocks and brakes on it. Midas replaced the shocks and brakes as needed for 33 years. They were happy to do it, thought it was cool.
That’s almost as good a deal as the oven I bought from Grandma’s estate for $40 back in 1995. Still working just fine, 20 years later. :)
He’ll be laughing at us after the emp bomb.
I drove it for 2 years then sold it for $500.
‘84 Ford F150XLT long bed with 452k+ miles on it.
Original tranny. Had a short block replaced in ‘89 due to using Pennzoil, parafin based oil seizing up in the engine.
Rebuilt engine was tight and has 380k on it.
If Chevrolet had any sense at all, they would pay him to make a commercial with this truck.
(Cue the truck, this guy walking out to it. open the door, get in and slam it shut. Look at the camera.)
“Yeah, it doesn’t look like much. If it ever quits running, I’ll buy another Chevy.”
(Crank the truck, put it in gear and drive away.)
Voice over - “Chevy Trucks. Built to last.”
300,000 miles is not that much. I put more than that on my 71 Chev 1/2 ton, with 250 straight six that ran like a top still when I sold it.
My buddy put over 600,000 on a Chev van with 250 straight six. He went through 4 or 5 single barrel carburetors; but engine, trans, rear end etc were never touched other than tune ups.
There’s something about those old trucks that they just aren’t something one really wants to part with. I had a ‘67 custom built Ford 350 long bed crew I kept for 20 years. Finally sold it when I went blind with cataracts in 2001 thinking I’d never drive again, but the VA fixed me up, and I bought an old ‘89 1/2 ton I’m still driving today.
Love those old trucks. Don’t cost much to work on yourself.
I probably would buy it, if I hadn't recently purchased a '56 Ford F-100. Those mid- to late-1950s pickups are very popular with restorers and hot-rodders alike. You can buy reproduction parts sufficient to bring any truck back to pristine condition. There are even entire chassis assemblies made for these trucks, with modern suspension parts front and rear.
I'd put money on this truck still rolling along after every Chevy Volt built thus far has been hauled away to the recycler.
My mom had a washer dryer set that lasted 30 years. My dad died, she got some $$$, junked them and bought the most expensive things she could find. The washer stopped working within 2 years, barely used. Bunch of Chinese junk nowadays.
We bought a 1956 Chevy truck for 50 bucks. We actually bought the battery and the truck came along with it. It really needed a paint job but we didn’t have enough money for Earl Scheib. So, I went to the hardware store and bought some stencils and black paint and I stenciled “Sanford and Son Salvage” on both doors. It was a hoot. The biggest laughs we got were when we drove next to black guys.
I just drove my 98 Camry from New Hampshire to Florida and back. My 1948 Harley FL is an everyday rider. Maintain and keep your vehicles. It will make your retirement fund grow faster.
Idolatry.
Every time that truck starts, he doesn’t need to buy a new truck, and when it won’t start, the problem is simple to fix. If he had a used truck that was 20, 30 or even 40 years newer, it would cost the same to repair, or more.
Appearances are more important to some people than others.
If the frame is anything like the body, he better hope that he never hits anything in it, it will crumble like a rusty beer can.