buying a project truck

[87swb]

kinda an odd question but what is the best way to approach someone about buying a truck from them. reason i ask is that there is a swb 2wd Chevy in someones back yard that lives nearby me that i'd like to have. how should i approach the person because i don't wanna go up to his front door and say you wanna sell that truck in your backyard and him think i've been looking at his yard for old trucks.any suggestions.

[shaved80]

i saw a truck by my g-pa's house that i could've used parts from. if it's noticeable from the street, just go up to his front door and say that you noticed he had a truck out back, and ask if he was interested in selling it.

[aprice]

i agree if its noticable from the street just ask. most people are willing to give these old truck cause they are starting to rust out so badly (at least, here in NW Wisconsin they are)

[Blazin]

I would say about 20% of the trucks and cars I get are because I walk up to the door and ask "are you interested in getting rid of that rig in the yard?" Whats the worst they can say? They either say no or they want twice to three times what its worth, if thats the case you move on. In six months to a year if it is still there I go back.
The Blazer I just picked up was in plain site from a well traveled state road, on the edge of a town about twelve mile from my house, with a population of about 4000 people. I eyeballed it for a year and a half, knew it was an ex military, knew what kind of body shape they are usually in. I could see from the road it had no motor, windshield and possibly no tail gate, I new from those observations that it was worth about $300.00 to $500.00. I stopped in twice, nobody home, left a note the second time, did a little detective work found out someones name that knew him that I also knew, called him up got the guys name and number turns out the guy bought it from the guy I knew for $500.00. I called and left a message, he called back within the hour and said he hadn't got the note, come take a look, and he wanted $400.00 for it. A couple of my buddies told me that they wanted it and had been checking it out, but they didn't have the gumption to walk up to the door.
Try to make an educated guess to its value from the road. If it looks like it might be worth for example, $500.00 from a distance then in reality up close nine times out of ten it might be worth half that, unless it is an unfinished project and has a bunch of goodies, that would be the tenth time.
Sorta like asking a pretty girl out, if you don't ask then one of your buddies will end up with her!

[87swb]

well here's the thing, he lives nearby me because i can see the truck from my backyard.my road runs into the other road at an angle. theres a pasture between my backyard, then a treeline, and the peoples backyards on the other road and i can see there backyards through the trees and noticed that one has a truck like i want and also has an 81 to 82 lwb 2wd and then a 73-79 lwb 2wd and then has that 81 to 87 2wd swb that i want. from what i can tell about the truck it has red paint that looks really good from where i can see it, it has no hood on it nor a front grill and it has no matching wheels and i'm not sure about the motor.but without a hood and and a motor in it the motor is probably no good. judging by how i describe it how much would ya'll think it's worth???

[aprice]

if the body is in good shape for its year, no major rust spots, solid yet, i'd say $400-500 give or take, really it all depends on how bad you want it or how easy they give it up

[bld155]

thats how i got my dailly driver, my nieghbor never drove it because he had a newer truck for work and a little comutter car, i saw him one day and asked him if it was for sale, he said he never thought about it until i asked him, then we crunched some # and i did about $75 of yard work and paid $625 up front for it, so it was $700 total, that was for a 79 c10, a 350 engine that didn't burn any oil w/158k on it, a buick th375 with 58k miles on it(so i got the upgraded tranny),  a 12-bolt rear, brake job done 2 years ago, and to top it off it was a special edition(big 10)
body wise the bed was/is shot(about $450 fix) and cab corner is dented in, the trim was missing, and most of the interior was sunfaded, but what do you expect, it was a 25 year old work truck,

the only other plus is that it is a southren truck and cancer hasent got to it yet, so the cab forward is rust free pretty much.

[bld155]

oh, btw i am watching 2 trucks parked in peoples yards right know, i plan on talking to them after i get about $400 saved, and if they don't move.

thats nice thing about the country, there always seem to be a 73-87 parked in someones backyard retired, just got to watch for them.

[87swb]

well i've narrowed it down to two things:73-87 Project truck or an '80 Camaro Z-28.the camaro is sitting behind a man's house and i talked with him one day and he said he would take $400 cash for it. it has a 350 with headers, edelbrock rpm intake and a 4bbl Holley and it's a T-top with 350 Turbo tranny.bad thing is it is missing the T-tops so rain and stuff has fallen into it. the interior is shot but it has a good body and a nice motor. what do you think about that? i always wanted a 2nd generation Camaro.

[bld155]

i always liked the 80s body style camareo, my dad had 1 when i was a kid, a real i-roc z28, we had that in alaska.

t-tops shouldn't be hard to find, the pontiac firebird uses the same tops/interior pretty much, for $400 it don't sound like a bad car, i would grab it if all it need was some interrior and t-tops. that could be a fun car  

[87swb]

i'm not sure about the year but it's one of those that has the round headlights it's a late 70s early 80's model. it would be a fun car it's just the interior would be expensive to replace and if i do get it i hope the floorboards aren't rusted.

[Blazin]

Camaros are cool but you can't haul much in the back. I got my 86 3/4 ton 350, 4 spd., 3.42 gov lock rear, and a plow frame, no plow, from my neighbor. I plowed his drive way for it $600.00 worth. I drove it home, had it on the road for under $300.00 including reg. and insp. Been driving it for two years no under reconstruction, 83 cab etc. etc.  

[87swb]

i don't care nothing about haulin' stuff. the only thing i haul in my bed is my 4-wheeler. and i'll always have my truck,never plan on gettin' rid of it. but it's either those two things or maybe even both if i'm lucky enuff.