Whenever I see a vehicle sitting in the weeds I think, oh man, how and why does anyone do that?! When it’s a vehicle like this 1984 Chevrolet K10 Custom Deluxe 4×4 short bed, I almost want to scream that out loud. This super desirable project truck can be found on Craigslist somewhere in Maine, there is no city listed and no phone number listed. Thanks to AMXBrian for sending in this fantastic 4×4 tip!
$3,000 or best offer for what may be the hottest era of truck right now in what is probably the best and most desirable combination of options and features?! Just how bad is the bad stuff for it to outweigh all of that goodness? The seller says that it “has issues and has sat for the last few years.” They go on to say “The truck needs brakes, some floor board work, exhaust, inner wheel wells (new ones included), then some fairly minor body work.” Still, $3,000 for this truck sounds like a good buy to me so far.
I don’t really see any glaring flaws in the body so far, do you? Floors, no prob. Fairly minor body work, no prob. Inner wheel wells, prob, but still not a deal killer. How about this: “The frame is pretty good, but one cross member ma [sic] need to be replaced.” Frame and/or other structural work, maybe a problem but I don’t know, these trucks are gold right now, no pun intended. I bet that a good bodyshop – maybe not the best bodyshop which would be cost-prohibitive – could get this truck back in nice condition again, including paint for $10,000 but that’s just a guess. And that’s a problem according to the $10,800 Hagerty value for a #3 good example. Their #2 excellent example is $18,100. I really, really like the features and overall look of this truck, though. Shipping from Maine is another possible problem especially for a non-running vehicle. $2,000 easily.
A 4-speed manual, too!? The good parts keep adding up here. Unusual, non-correct seats? Ok, that’s one for the bad side of the mental list that I’m keeping. I believe this truck would have had a bench seat but maybe buckets were an option – surely not red buckets in a gold truck with a brown interior, though. The dash is cracked so add that to the bad list. Other than that, and what trouble is lurking under the floor covering, the interior looks pretty good from the one photo that the seller provided.
Here’s where the good and bad list goes off-kilter. This is a 350 cubic-inch V8 which only had 160 hp by this time but that’s livable. The bad part is that the “Odometer read about 130k, but had a rebuild with less than 10,000 miles on it. This was about 12 years ago.” Ouch. They go on to say that “It has not been started in 2 years, engine turns over.” I still think this super desirable and red hot pickup can be saved. A 1984 Chevy K10 4×4 Custom Deluxe short bed with a 350 and a 4-speed? Come on, who’s with me?
Too much “moonshine” up there in Maine for someone to think this is a $3000 truck. With a truck transmission no less.
While I would look for a better example, I think this generation will be selling for previous generation prices before you can say “K-10”.
Shame it’s been through the brine. Short box K10’s are far and few. Can only imagine frame is swiss cheese. Seller says crossmember, I’m thinking behind steering box. Probably bull low 3 speed that could be upgraded to 90’s 5 speed. No point dreaming on this one…
When looking at a truck like this you have to ask your self how much you can get one in decent condition in your area.
I would think it would be not much more than the ask on this one, in probably better condition.
Missing title didn’t catch your eye, Scotty?
So somebody found a truck sitting in the woods, took pictures and is trying to sell it on Craigslist.
The story just keeps getting better.
Earlier in the week I was looking for an older 1970 – 1975 Chevy / GMC pickup. Found the best deals for these trucks in Texas. Good trucks and not overpriced like here in California.
These things are all over New Mexico as well, at good prices, for the most part.
3k for a crusry, rusty truck that is the textbook definition of “generic, cookie cutter pickup?” That doesn’t even run? Short box or not, I don’t get it. They made a metric $h!t ton of these.
Speaking of $h!t ton, who buys prunes by the crate? Apparently the owner of this truck does.
Let me get this straight, truck $3k + body $10k + interior $1k + brakes $500 + tires $500 + eng not running ( unknown ) + frame ( unknown ), and no title. We’re already at $15k+ on an $18k truck with 3 big unknowns. Add to that, most people that are looking for this generation truck wouldn’t know what the third pedal is for. I just don’t see the value here. Am I missing something?
Hey Rustytech! Most people looking for this truck wouldn’t know what the third pedal is for? What people is that??? I think you are missing something!
He’s referring to how this era truck is hot for the millennial crowd nowadays.
Bought a ’95 Ram 1500, shortbox, standard cab, 4wd with 118k on the odometer for $2k. Why so cheap? Silver paint literally fell off it. But having a friend with a body shop makes a good paint job a $1k proposition. Neighbor isn’t batting an eye at me saying “It’ll take $7k to buy it – but it will need nothing.” Oh, and we don’t use salt, so everything is solid- with the tu tone it’ll look great
That is a 305 not a 350, you had to go to a 3/4 ton to get a 350 back then.
MASSIVE difference! And you couldn’t possibly put a 350 in the 1/2 ton. Must have X-Ray vision seeing Those larger ports and valves. Check numbers