The Definitive Guide To Buying A Vintage Truck
If you’re looking for a vintage truck, make sure to follow these 7 steps and come back home with the right vehicle.
So, which trucks are considered vintage?
Generally speaking, a vintage truck is anything that was made pre-’90s.
Shane Russeck from True North Collections gives us a list of 7 important advices for first-time buyers.
1) Don’t overdo it.
If this is your first foray into the vintage truck world, my advice is don’t go too vintage or too quirky. You will always be safe sticking with something classic – perhaps a 1970s Ford F100 Ranger or a Chevrolet C-10 Cheyenne. If you go for something too exotic or extreme at this stage and later decide you want to sell it you may discover that what appealed to you may not appeal to others.
2) Ask questions. Loads of questions.
The most important question is: Who are you buying this from? The great thing is that choices abound. However, that has also led to a lot of “Used Car Dealers”. I always say if the price looks too good to be true then dig a bit deeper. Something is probably wrong. So, make sure you get to see the vehicle or if it’s an out of state vehicle hire a local mechanic to inspect it for you. This is a common practice and can be very helpful and save you money and grief. Talk to other truck people, or get online and join one of the growing number of forums. Also, a reputable dealer/collector will never mind answering questions about the truck in question or the market in general.
3) Ask for more pictures and a video.
Always try to get as many images and videos as possible. Ask for videos of the vehicle driving as well as the engine when the truck is at idle. If you can’t see something ask for another image…..NEVER ASSUME!
I once bought a truck where the interior photographs were always shot at an angle. Upon taking delivery of the truck and noticing a big tear in the carpet I realized this “car dealer’s” creative choices.
4) Educate yourself.
“In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.” The more knowledge you have when making a purchase the less risk there is of making a costly mistake. The first step is figuring out which model/models you are interested in and learning as much as you can. Items like trim, options and condition are very important things to understand when making a purchase. Remember, it’s very easy to make an average truck look as if it’s a show winner to the untrained eye.
5) What models do you recommend?
I’m a huge fan of anything 4×4 and they are very hot at the moment. Some of the top trucks on my list are pre 75 Chevy and Ford short bed 4×4 pickup trucks, Gen II Broncos are coming up very fast and this is a great time to get in on that market. Other trucks have already become expensive but there are still very affordable ones out there like Blazers and Jimmy’s.
6) Where should one look when shopping for a truck?
Bring a Trailer, Ebay and Hemmings are great resources. Craigslist, Offerup and Facebook (avoid marketplace) have also become popular places to shop for classic trucks.
7) Check if the vehicle has been relisted.
If the vehicle has been relisted there is probably a good reason it did not sell the first time it was listed. Perhaps the numbers on the motor don’t match the chassis; there could be signs of rust, or perhaps it’s just overpriced. I am not saying that you shouldn’t bid, but be aware that the market dictates the value. Don’t let your emotions take control of the buying process.
Photos by Shane Russeck