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Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 24, 2016, 12:37 am
by HotRodMatt
been hunting for a while for a short bed styleside for my 66 lwb. havent found much that anybody wants to separate from their frames, ON parts trucks.

i found one and its in great shape, some light surface rust but thats it, only thing is its a bit pricey. not crazy but definately on the high end. what should i expect to pay for a decent one i cali?

i know things are only worth what someone will pay but im looking for opinions. i know they are hard to find so im probably gonna jump on this one no matter what. but id love some late nigh opinions.

i just bought a 62 upper valance, a new non-rusty hood, and two aluminum 65 grills (the first one i bought wasn't great, the one i scored monday at the wrecking yard is as close to cherry as ive seen in person). so really this is the last big piece to my exterior plans.

thoughts

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 24, 2016, 6:30 am
by shipwrecked
What are you willing to pay? I bought a short flare side bed for 650 last week, but I sold my wrongbed for 300 (no floor-needed work).

I was in Tennessee last week and drove by a wrecking yard that had a line of decent looking truck beds up against a fence. I wanted to stop and see what they wanted for it, but I was on a mission and no extra money.

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 24, 2016, 7:58 am
by SLICKCOLLECTOR
I have no idea what a bed costs in California but here in a Kansas I sold a fair to decent bed for $1500 a couple of months ago. I am not talking about a cherry, scuff and paint bed with no body work. this bed will need some straightening on the bedsides and floor. the tailgate had some rust holes. I think an excellent shortbed around here might bring $2000 to $2500 if you could find one. I have a excellent longbed with original paint that I turned down $2000 for. other opinions and locations may vary.

jim

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 24, 2016, 9:26 am
by SteveCanup
April, where were the trucks lined up in Tennessee? I am within reasonable driving distance. I also am looking for a bed. There was one on the local Craigslist about an hour from me. It was a '65 or '66 styleside in really good shape and guy was going to let me have it for $300. I really didn't have the $$$ at the time to spend on a bed... :(

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 24, 2016, 9:31 am
by SteveCanup
And for what its worth...in this part of the country $1000 will buy you a decent parts truck. Of course it might not have a drive-train or even wheels, but you could obtain a 'roller' for that amount or less here in Virginia and North Carolina. I have seen them listed on Craigslist. I'm glad I don't live out West....stuffs too expensive out there....

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 24, 2016, 11:03 pm
by SteveCanup
There is a styleside bed ('65) someone listed on the Slick60's Facebook page...it is listed on Craigslist for....are you ready? .....for $400 and it is in pretty good shape. Someone ought to buy it and take it to California and sell it for $3000. Here's the link... http://springfield.craigslist.org/pts/5458152155.html

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 25, 2016, 2:37 am
by Leeroy
:cussing: sometimes life just isn't fair..... :evil:

Please buy that bed and put me out of my misery. Consider $2000+ here.

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 25, 2016, 7:23 am
by bruceandersson
Beds are worth what your willing to pay for them. If you are in a hurry, you will pay more. I agree Steve, that you might be better off finding a parts truck. One thing I think we've all noticed is that the prices are rising. This is a little disappointing for me as we will start to see more and more "investment quality" over restored trucks going to crazy prices, which will start to price people out of slicks like we've seen with the 53-56 F100s.

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 25, 2016, 9:12 am
by SteveCanup
I agree....that's been my frustration. We watch TV programs such as Gas Monkey and then think that what we have built is worth big $$$ or that the parts are worth big $$$. Mine's a "poor man's build" and I bet the majority of folks on here are in the same boat. I have learned how to fabricate some stuff and 'make do.' I will grant that parts will cost more in other areas of our nation...that is the nature of the beast. The bed that is $300 here in Virginia, will be $2000 in California....sad, but I am glad that I live in Virginia.

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 25, 2016, 9:58 am
by unibody madness
Don't forget there is asking, and getting.
Good deals can be had out here in California, Gas Monkey is in Texas.
However if you really need a 61 unibody, with tailgate, rust in the usual places, ran when parked (before I pulled engine and tranny), extra seat frame, front end, and said three speed... I will sell it for two grand and all the other parts I do not need.
Out of the goodness of my heart I will sell the1961 unibody, lwb, 460, C6, et. all with no rust, for ***4.5K***... but it runs well has rebuilt parts ect so don,t expect it for free (make offer).
Its all a matter of willing to wait for a decent price to buy parts for your hobby, as opposed to ripping people off making a living, or dealing with someone reputable like Tom and Kathy/.

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 25, 2016, 10:48 am
by HotRodMatt
well i the one im looking at is 800 im gonna go inspect it tomorrow and if it is all he says it is ill buy it. if there's anything im uncomfortable with, the search continues.

now i just need to sell my long bed and find some short bed custom cab trim!

thanks for all the replies guys.

matt

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 25, 2016, 11:09 am
by 65TremecGT
Im in San Diego, hard to find good beds even down here, lot less to choose from anymore. I scored a beater tweaker built 65 shorty a few years ago for $400 that has an ok short bed, floor is pitted and a little beat but the sides were better than my shorty. Before that there was one for $600 or so up in Boron that looked pretty good, never saw in person. My buddy went to Vegas for a beautiful 73-79 shortbed and paid well over a $1000 for it. How bad is yours? I would like to find a good passenger side bedside. Happy Hunting!

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 25, 2016, 7:51 pm
by shipwrecked
SteveCanup wrote:April, where were the trucks lined up in Tennessee? I am within reasonable driving distance. I also am looking for a bed. There was one on the local Craigslist about an hour from me. It was a '65 or '66 styleside in really good shape and guy was going to let me have it for $300. I really didn't have the $$$ at the time to spend on a bed... :(


1843 US 25E, Tazewell, TN. I am unsure which beds they are, but sure as heck looked like there were some Ford beds up there. If you google earth it, you can see some of the beds along the fence line. (D&D auto parts)

When I talked to the guy I bought my bed from, he said there was a junk yard in town that had 4 slicks in it. So that might be the place.

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 25, 2016, 8:54 pm
by MN66
So what you guys are saying is that I should buy that short styleside bed that a guy from my hometown made into a trailer and pull it along to Salina in August?

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 25, 2016, 9:45 pm
by slick4x4
MN66 wrote:So what you guys are saying is that I should buy that short styleside bed that a guy from my hometown made into a trailer and pull it along to Salina in August?
MN66 wrote:So what you guys are saying is that I should buy that short styleside bed that a guy from my hometown made into a trailer and pull it along to Salina in August?


I'm sure you could get a buyer if you wanted to sell
About as easy way to haul a bed as any method

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 26, 2016, 12:26 pm
by SLICKCOLLECTOR
I paid $2500 cash for a 65 shortbed body on a frame with no title 2 years ago this spring. no motor no transmission no tailgate no radiator no seat . bed was decent with some bedside damage on one side. the cab needed some floor repair. I needed a good bed for a shortbed project I was working on and I had the money and I paid his asking price. I don't feel like I was ripped off. I saw the truck , I wanted it, and I agreed to his price and I moved along with my project. when a buyer and seller agree to a price on an item for sale and the transaction is consummated no one should feel ripped off. no one has to buy a 50 year old piece of iron to live another day unlike the pharmaceutical industry who will rip you off on a life and death drug under which you have no option. you either pay the price or die. I don't call that a level playing field. then you are being ripped off.

jim oberg



65TremecGT wrote:Im in San Diego, hard to find good beds even down here, lot less to choose from anymore. I scored a beater tweaker built 65 shorty a few years ago for $400 that has an ok short bed, floor is pitted and a little beat but the sides were better than my shorty. Before that there was one for $600 or so up in Boron that looked pretty good, never saw in person. My buddy went to Vegas for a beautiful 73-79 shortbed and paid well over a $1000 for it. How bad is yours? I would like to find a good passenger side bedside. Happy Hunting!

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 26, 2016, 3:08 pm
by SteveCanup
My question is: Why isn't there someone out there who can re-produce (repop) '61-'66 styleside bed sides? Whoever does, and prices them right, will make a fortune. One of the things most builders are looking for is a good bed or bed sides. LMC now has bed sides for '67 and later stylesides, but not '61-66, and I'm surprised that Dennis Carpenter will not reproduce them.

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 26, 2016, 11:37 pm
by HotRodMatt
well it was a bust, it had a decent amount of bondo in it maybe for 300 but it just wasnt worth the money, oh well better to drive 200 miles and pass than by something that i was gonna regret later on just cause ive been looking.

any body hear of a clean short bed (preferably custom cab but any as long as its straight) in central california let me know, i have cash and am ready to buy the right bed.

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 27, 2016, 1:07 am
by jamesdfo
Steve: yah, it's kind of surprising no one has repopped them yet, but even more surprising that no one is repopping the floor s or front panels, as there seems to be many boxes where the outers are still solid, but floor and or front panel are rotten......

SteveCanup wrote:My question is: Why isn't there someone out there who can re-produce (repop) '61-'66 styleside bed sides? Whoever does, and prices them right, will make a fortune. One of the things most builders are looking for is a good bed or bed sides. LMC now has bed sides for '67 and later stylesides, but not '61-66, and I'm surprised that Dennis Carpenter will not reproduce them.

Re: Whats the going rate for a short bed (only) in CA

Posted: February 27, 2016, 11:01 am
by HotRodMatt
pros pick makes the corrugated center sections. 6ft and 8ft. they are 750 though!!