So I had seen a couple of '72-'80 trucks sitting off the road a little ways in front of a repair shop several years ago. Never had the time to stop by until today. Had a few minutes and I was in the neighborhood, so I stop in and ask if either of the trucks are for sale (got a look at the grilles-'77 or 8s). Owner wasn't there (probably a good thing) but employee told me that the RC LB 4x4 was not for sale but the 2wd 3/4t Club Cab LB was. Owner wants $4k for it. Engine supposedly rebuilt (didn't ask what engine was in it) some years back but carb had been stolen.
Are these bringing that kind of money or is the owner dreaming? Yellow and white 2 tone, tailgate missing, carb missing, body looked pretty good other than being almost black from sitting under tree. If I hadn't been in shock I might have looked it over better to see what trans and how the interior was.
Oh, and he had a '67-'71 (employee said owner told him it was a '63) that was not for sale because when he finished fixing it up, it would bring around $40k.


Tim

You would be better off asking to buy some of what they are smoking.

It's an '81, but here's one in my neck of the woods, and not too far from yours. (not mine, and I don't know the seller)

https://okaloosa.craigslist.org/cto/d/defuniak-springs-81-dodge-ram56-150/6796883584.html

That's closer to what I had in mind. I was thinking $1k-2k depending on condition and equipment. Didn't notice any body rust but didn't get within 50' of them. First thing I would have checked for was rusting out above the windshield drip rail if he had come back with a reasonable number. For some reason, above the windshield is kinda hit or miss around here, meaning some have it and some don't.


Tim

Around here those 70s ones are rusted out junk with I need a tetnis shot or I'm gonna get a disease just by looking at it interiors when they're in the 1-2K range. Prices get a little bit better for the plastic grille years.

Maybe the guy that owned the trucks lived in the Midwest rust belt? A rust free 73-80 would bring that kind of money, or at least a lot of people are asking that kind of money here, but it has to be free of rust. Drive train doesn't seem to matter much, unless its a factory 440. The roof and the radiator support are the worst areas, after the floors and wheel wells.
Any pre 94 trucks are getting stupid, price wise, and its pretty hard to find one that still has good sheet metal. Gene

Buddy of mine just stumbled across a 76 half ton factory big block truck that has rusty floor pans and some jacked up wiring for 500 bucks, truck is fairly straight and he drove it on the trailer, it's rough overall but I just looked at it this morning and it's well worth the money and savable. Long wide bed Adventurer Sport.

Check out Craigslist in Pa or Ohio where people are asking $4000-7000 or more for them.

Club cabs and crew cabs are worth more than the standard cab trucks. 4WD even more money. A 4x4 crew cab, running and minimal rust or no rust is a $7000+ truck all day long depending on condition.

Not only have prices really jumped in the past several years for rust-free running & driving models (especially crew cabs, factory 440 Ramchargers, etc.) but people are actually paying a premium for nice examples.


It's a double edged sword though.

Got about 2 days to see how steep the red and white 77 on ebay goes to, and the reserve? Who knows. Club cab long bed w150 in need of a nice set of lil red rims.

I was looking around on craigslist and they really are priced all over the board. Found a '79 PW (poss. Macho) for $1950. I posted the link to it on the ebay, craigslist,etc. forum. Might be worth checking out as it looked pretty good in the pics. There was a '76 350 Club Cab w/ a 400 for $5k that was a running & driving truck.

Maybe I should go back by and check that truck out a little better, get some pics, and a contact number and put that on the ebay, etc. forum.


Tim

I had a parts wanted ad and a guy called me. I went and looked at his truck and it did not have what I needed. Out of curiosity I asked him if he wanted to part the truck out or sell complete. It is an old Air Force service 3/4t 2wd, auto. Nothing special. Had been sitting for about 15+ years since he parked it off a wrecker. Said it ran back then,ok. It was grundgy as you could expect but complete with some dented fenders, cracked glass and mouse ridden rest of it. He said he wanted $4,000.00, it is a '77. He reasoning is simple that is the prices he's been seeing. To me it is a $100.00 parts piece. Also found out the transmission had no reverse. I blame Barret-Jackson for the crazy prices but people need to realize those are very good OE or completely rebuilt.

IMO any 72-80 without rust or very little rust easily repaired brings good money. No rust around roof drip rail or floors especially. Short bed standard cab without rust and a V8, big money.

Just try and fine one.

Having watched prices creep up over the last few years, I started worrying about that too. For a while the late 60s / early 70s chevy p/u was a resto flip that could make money but that trend seems to have faded. Ok, not entirely - saw a 70ish 4wd go for over $100k last month.

I'm thinking it's not a thing to worry about with Dodges as the "investor" car clowns don't have any love for them and the sleazy ebay flippers aren't making any money on them. This year at BJ there were only 2 - a 2wd 80s RC that went for maybe a grand or two over reality and late 80s 4wd RC that went for $30k. Hard to argue with that price when ya consider fresh paint, leather seats, G3 hemi swap, custom bumpers and the build documented on RamChargerCentral. The few LREs that I've seen run across the block over the years didn't go as high as you'd expect for something with obvious "collector value".

Most of the flipper specials that I see in the $10-15k range take a really long time to sell. Start with a running driver for under $2k, spend $5k or more for rust repair and paint, add wheels, tires, exhaust, carpet and you're close to $10k to build. I wouldn't build to flip with a $2k margin and 6 month to sell model. Add in almost zero aftermarket / repop support, Dodge guys are cheap and the corners that cut scaring away buyers with a clue and I can't see this trend lasting.

I paid 5k for my big block W150 club cab short box out of Reno NV. At the time I thought that was high but not easy to find rust free ones like this.

How cool that is! Fresh paint and lookout!

Getting there...

Nice truck! You did very well!

nice indeed!