Help me out on Chevy C 50 grain truck

Dave H (MI)

Well-known Member
Tell me do you think I am right or wrong. That is the help I am looking for. I need help deciding to buy or pass on this truck. This is a 1972 Chevy C 50, so it is not the heavier 60 and up truck and it is a very old truck. Seller is original owner and says the truck has 23K total original miles. Don't know for sure, it tops out at 99K and starts again at zero. There is evidence both for and against his claim.

Points in favor of the truck are a twin cylinder hoist, Knapheide steel grain box with two small doors and two large swing out doors, excellent interior (favors mileage claim), very clean under the hood (favors mileage claim), is only about 30 minutes from my farm, everything seems to work.

A couple of things against the truck. Three pretty good holes in the front fender lips and a lot of pitting in paint all over truck body. Rust thru on passenger running board also. Starts right up but seemed to run rough...but it was cold today. Mostly the cosmetic stuff.

So I guess where I am running into my decision issue is price. I have seen 3 decent C60 Chevys sell on CL over the winter for $2500. I work 7 days a week in the winter so no chance to check these out. None really out there right now. Some more expensive ones, but those have all been on CL all winter. Seller asking $5K for his truck making it the second most expensive one I have seen. It's his truck, he can ask what he wants. I told him about the other three I saw and he dropped his price to $4500 but that is where he is stuck. I could use the truck but I think he is off on the price. I have come up a lot more on my offer than he has come down and it is starting to get a little unpleasant to deal with.

I respect the knowledge base here and would like to hear opinions...is that old truck worth that kind of money? He feels the box alone is close to it. I just don't know. I have a lot of things I need and a fixed amount of money available.
 
That sounds way high, 2500 sounds like the price range I would think but I have not seen or herd it run though, I would give him your last offer and your phone number if he would like to come down he can give you a call. Just keep on looking you will find the truck your looking for don't talk yourself into something you will regret later.
Hope this helps
John
 
Can you ultimately justify paying his price? If so, buy the truck. If not, walk away and go elsewhere. To me there is no justification for unpleasantness.
 
Juice brake parts for these old trucks can be a pain to find, and expensive. My 76 GMC has only a single cylinder master.You don't say how big the box is, and if you need this truck to go on the road, or on farm only.If the box is as good as you describe , then maybe it is worth the money.Box could always go on the next truck. Or cut the frame behind the cab,build a tongue, and make it a dump trailer.
 
I bought a C60 with 45000 miles I could verify,a 20 ton hoist,midwest bed with grain sideboards and fold down livestock racks,like new rubber,no rust at a consignment auction last summer for 1800 bucks.
 
Here in Iowa that would be a 1500-2000 dollar truck. It's rusty because they use lots of salt in Michigan. Probably didn't keep it washed off.
 
Dave,

Here are some pictures of this truck that I took right after you left. Maybe this will help with the description. I hope that there are no hard feelings. If you don't want it I will just advertise it and sell it to someone else.
a189632.jpg

a189633.jpg

a189634.jpg

a189635.jpg

a189637.jpg
 
Give him your best offer and walk... I don't think it is worth what he is asking.

Check this one out. Looks like a really nice clean truck, and obo? I bet he would take 3000 for it in a heart beat...

Bryce
1973 C60
 

Clean, well kept truck pictured, they have been selling in the 3500-4500 range like that around here. They are well built easy to work on and made to work year in and year out. I like it, but could use another 2' of box for us, we use them for silage cutting and we need atleast a 16' box.
 
No problem Tom, just getting a little tired of equipment buying I guess. Ultimately, it is your truck and you can charge what you want. But when you are presented with a strong case against your position and you still just stand there and refuse to negotiate, I just have to walk away. Not a wasted day for me, I continued on to Aldermans and picked up my sprayer controller, stopped at Steiner and bought some parts, then continued on up to the thumb and scored a nice grain head for the old combine. Chicken dinner at Frankenmuth and then home. I hope I was fair in my description above. Should have mentioned it has the original tires on it also. If you get your $5K I will be as happy for you as I am surprised.
 
I got another truck last oct....86 GMC 7000 single axle air brakes 454 5speed progressive with 2 speed axle 18' bed twin hoist holds 500 bu 120,000 miles interior& body in great shape no rust roll tarp for $4,500.....centeral ohio
 
Looks like a great Farm truck. Around here you can't touch something like that for under 5 grand.
I don't get why people think that they have to air all of their thoughts on the Internet. If you didn't like the price, walk, if you want a bunch of experts to give you advice, voice it here. Of course the definition of an expert is anyone that doesn't risk their own money.
 
CL has a 97 gmc with a cat for 5 grand in Traverse City and a 75 IH tandem for 2500 in Unionville. yep, the chevy is high.
 
If it were as clean as it looks in the pictures, I would have given the money for it because I have need for the truck. The paint on the box is pretty decent. The paint on the truck body, grill and mirrors has a good amount of rust showing thru it. Going on the theory of rust and icebergs, there is a lot more below the surface. First time I saw it was in the back of a dark barn and I went there for the second time today intending to buy the truck. Exterior condition was a bit rougher than it at first appeared and seller did not want to discuss it...his option. I can tell you from experience, and coincidentally that experience comes from a 1976 Chevy pickup painted the same GM red, that even if you put that truck inside for most of the year the paint is coming off soon and the rust is going thru the body. Most all of the body has rust thru the paint. No problem for me, but the price should reflect condition.
 
Fairly nice truck from the pictures. Would probably trade hands at 2500-3000 tops in this area. Reason is that the Big Guys have all gone to 18 wheelers and are dumping the 2 tons. More supply than demand.
 
I am just standing on the side lines here but I think that is one nice looking truck! I don't know but 3 or 4K sounds fine to me. Sorry but I think it would make a nice toy. Jeffcat
 
Sounds a bit high. But those are really good trucks.Some of the best built. I have a '68 C50(same truck). Absolutely love it.Only has a 12' box,but can haul 8+ton.(thats a bit heavy)Usually 6 1/2 to 7 is best.I'd buy in a heartbeat
a189656.jpg
 
I know you have been looking for a truck. I though maybe you got one of the trucks that Sykora sold in the last couple weeks in his auctions. I didn't look at them real close so I don't know if any of them worth the price.
 
That isn't rust... those are Chevy Character lines. GO out and find a similar vintage truck in better condition for that money. I'm not at all involved with the seller, not even same time zone, but they dont come much better. Not in the northern half of the country. And it'd be a sin to bring a southern belle up here!

How many women do you know that age without any character lines?????

Not that I'm direct or anything... ;)
 
Well, I do appreciate all the responses. I have some hauling needs doing right away and I will have to cost out the value of that trucking plus paying a lesser price for a truck at the auctions later this year. They come up pretty routinely when you aren't looking for one. I thank everyone who chimed in. I wanted to hear both sides and that was very helpful.
 
I too would say he's a little high on the price at 4500.

But on the other hand, for a low mileage truck that's in solid condition, I wouldn't want to lose it over a couple hundred bucks either.

So, it really depends on how far apart you guys are.

Overpaying a little for something you need never feels GOOD, but it's also not the end of the world.

I saw the pictures, from those it looks like the right truck to overspend a little on. Of course, I'm in massachusetts and anything built more than 10 years ago that hasn't completely rotted away impresses me.

Good luck - I hope you guys can meet somwhere in the middle and both walk away happy.
 
From what I can see it looks to be a clean low mileage unit, I am in Wyoming and out here and MT these still command a good price, other than the rust issues you guys have out there here or MT that would bring all of 5000 if not more, I have a 69 C60 with roll back bed and grain sides, we bought it new for our dealership, mine has 62xxx I would not take 5000 for mine but the bed does carry a bit more value, not saying ya or na here just adding that other areas do bring more
cnt
 
Condition makes a big difference on price. How does it drive, can it pass inspection today and is it ready to use as-is or does it need $3000+ worth of tires, brakes, alignment, belts, new fluids, bed floor and labor before you can really use it?
 
It looks good to me. Big issues with me are brakes and tires. Tires on this truck look pretty darn good, but time will tell. Brakes have been recently worked on and tested. Holding at the moment.

When I bought my '76 PU I paid $2K for the truck. Within 60 days I had another $2K into replacing tires and repairing some of the most terrifying brakes I have ever used. Darn things would lock up at a tap with no warning and I SCREECHED sideways into a couple intersections then turned around and SLOWLY took her back and fixed the problem. It is the chance you take if you want used.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top