Turning a profit............

[Stewart G Griffin]

Has anyone "turned a profit," while working with a 73-91?

a) Did you sort of get tired with the current project, decided to sell and actually made money after the initial cost of the truck and any other additions?

b) Or, did you, from the start set out to make a profit on the truck?

What i'm trying to get at is i feel/(do you feel?) there might be a market for not nessesarily "factory-restored-condition,"  but good, clean 73-87's that don't need any work. 

i consider myself to be at least slightly-above-average in terms of mechanical ability/knowledge.  And i do have some interest auto repair.  But not enough to actually really get in there and do it hard-core.  Some of you seem like you enjoy taking everything apart down to the framerails, cleaning, preping and painting the framerails, and then completely refurbishing each and every piece, and then re-assembling everything.  It's as if you "get off" on this.  If this is you, then more power to you.  i am not one of these people.

So, do you feel there might be a decent market for folks who don't really want mess with a truck, but want something decent, reliable and clean in a 73-87 and would be willing to pay a little extra for it?


Possible problems: 
1) Most people not wanting to "mess" with a truck will either buy new, or if they go used will go for something more recent, carmax, used car dealer etc.

[123 pugsy]

a. No.

B. No.

If you want to make money from old cars/trucks, you have to fix/restore somebody else's vehicle and charge for the service.

There is no way to make a profit from these trucks by getting one, fixing it up and selling it.

[Lt.Del]

I agree with pugsy.  The more you put into a vehicle and eventually resell it, the more you lose. 

It is that way with most vehicles, even the collectible corvettes, camaros, mustangs, whatever.  You never recoup what you put into it unless it is a 1969 or 1970 Boss 429 Mustang (only 500 made each year) or a 429 corvette, or a big block covertible 69 camaro. Rare cars. Key word, RARE.   That is where you can go to barrett-jackson and get double for your investment---if you buy it from a granny who didn't know what she had. 

[Bitzer!]

I reckon I'd make a small profit, I think the total cost of the project will be about $7000 and it'd sell over here for $10k ish. But that doesn't include man hour / labour and help from mates and all the consumables-gas/wire filler etc.

BUT the truck is my hobby and not to make a profit or sell for a couple of years at least, especially as these trucks are few and far between over here.

[VileZambonie]

I bought my 88V10 Blazer for $800 and sold it for $8,000

[zieg85]

Well as a Hobby I have a running total on the past 8-9 I have bought/sold/traded/parted out within the last 2 years.  Not counting my 1985 in my avatar, I am real close to having nothing at all into my 86 C-10 project with most everything I need purchased, saved from previous parted out trucks and the last parts truck which is almost picked clean and ready for the scrap yard.  With everything else I will be selling at the local swap meet and my labor not included I should have a real nice truck with money ahead.  If your looking to make money, I agree, these are not collectors yet.  There is a nice straight clean black 87 Silverado for $2000 on a car lot that I go by every day.  It looks decent driving 45 mph past it.

[ssgoodman]

i bought my 76 for 300 bucks and sold it for 800 a few months later. 

[Unofficial]

I could sell my truck for a dollar and make a profit. This truck isn't going anywhere though.

[Blazin]

I too agree if you buy a truck and dump money and time into it there is no money to speak of to be made. If you break even you are doing good. I have however made money on these trucks by buying cheap or free, fixing just what needs to be fixed, slamming a quickie paint job on it driving it for a few months with a for sale sign on it. I also don't pay for any of my used parts. In other words I will pick up a parts truck for dirt $, take everything I want and sell off the parts I don't need for profit. I rarely buy a parts truck unless I know I already have enough parts sold off it to make my money back plus some, and get some parts for myself.

[N2TRUX]

Yes you can make a profit on buying and selling 73-87 trucks. Just like any commodity, you have to buy low and sell high. If you fall in love with one along the way then you are sunk.

I know of people right now that constantly are looking for the right deal on a truck. It's a daily mission to search several sources for a hidden nugget of gold. They never buy on the high end even if it means passing on several deals. Eventually they find the right deal, and almost always turn it for a profit.

It's not easy money, but it can be fun if you enjoy the thrill of the kill.

[Pushrod]

Paid $1000 for mine. Fixed it up a bit. Sold it for $1500. Bought it back a few months later for $500, same condition as sold. Wasn't trying to make money, it all just happened that way. I'm know I've got more in it than I've made though. Maybe I'll sell it again. Who knows?

[Stewart G Griffin]

i figured that just like any other business money could be made----with cars you make profit when you buy, not sell.

What i was trying to get at is, speaking for myself, i would greatly prefer to pay a premium for a complete running, dependable truck that needs nothing or miniscule work.  i'm more comfortable making money at my jobs vs. saving money doing refurbishing work and i think i could come out ahead financially this way.  Even though fixing up a junker yourself will save money.  Plus, i don't really have any stong desire want to do fix up jobs, even though it looks interesting.  For example, chasing parts is a hassle in and of itself.  Then, you have to have the right tools...........

Speaking specifically about 73-91's, i feel that there are a large number of people that would be, at least subconciously, be also willing to pay a premium for a decent truck that is "finished" and needs no work.

For example, people are paying big $$$ for muscle car clones, not the real thing, but clones that can be driven immediately and need no additional work.

[123 pugsy]

If you buy a truck already fixed up to excellent condition you will save a ton of money as opposed to "fixing it up" yourself. As for profit, there is none when you buy. There will be savings.
Its much better to buy a completed truck as someone else will be seeing a loss.
My last truck sold for $9000.00 but I had at least double that in it.