What would you pay for a new Bumpside?

[Youngfordkid]

give me a old bump all day long. the new ones are great, dont get me wrong, but like it was said, when it comes to fixing them, it is almost too much trouble for any backyard mechanic to do without a computer and the new tools to fix stuff.

we have two bumps now, a 69 explorer, and my 67 standard cab. both are showing there age, but the family is the only the second owner of the 69 since 69! a new car wont likely last more than 10-20 years, just because of the plasics, and cheep parts that make them up.

just my 2 cents, from a teenagers point of veiw...

[1970 Hi-Boy]

Why would I pay big $$$ for a "new" old style that would never live up to the original truck when, I already have one that, well, quite obviously will probably outlast me, the next owner and so on. So unless you're fueling up a bump-side flux-capacitor we don't know about, to go back and get a real one, I'll remain quite happy with what I have, and thankful that I have one as well.

[DuckRyder]

I wouldn't pay 25,000 for one.

A new F150 starts at 23,300.00.

I might pay as much as 18,000.00 for a NEW bump built as an original, It would have to have front disc brakes though and A/C would have to atleast be an option....

And I do mean new, not "remanufactured".

[1970 Hi-Boy]

Come to think of it, it's all the heart and soul we put into these older rides that turns into pride of ownership, that bonds man and machine together, one depending on the other. Who would want all the greasy elbows, skinned knuckles and people saying to you "nice truck" every where you go, to be all washed away in an instant by anybody with the money to just buy, what I've worked so hard at. These trucks would no longer be special, if everyone can just go out and buy one. My truck intimidates and aggravates owners of H2's at the stop and go light just sitting there idling, why would I want that guy, in a truck just like mine? No thanks. I'd rather be here on FORDification, and out on the road with other people like myself, than sitting at a waiting room at the car dealership any day. But hey that's just my worth.

[MaxKlinger]

Thanks for the input, guys. You have shared a lot of very interesting and constructive comments, all of which had truth to them. I can always count on the Fordification community for that.

The question as to whether or not a person could buy a "new Bumpside" is moot, because you can't. However, I used this as a little intellectual exercise in contemplating paying someone to do a frame-off restoration of the body of my '72 (I can turn wrenches all day but I'm not a body guy). The restoration itself It would not cost $25,000; rather, when I added up what I realistically might spend to get my truck "done" to the level I want it and realized that over the course of many years it could add up to as much as a new pickup, starting from what I paid to buy it. Personally any pickup truck built after 1996 has zero appeal to me. I want a truck that I can use as a truck, that I can enjoy working on while basking in the elegance of simplicity rather than the complexity of modern convenience.

It will cost a lot of money, and to people who don't understand my love of old trucks, it sounds awfully expensive. But really, what's more expensive? You need $25k minimum to even think about walking into a Ford Truck showroom; most trucks today sell for tens of thousands more. Either way, it's a huge chunk of money to come up with.

[1970 Hi-Boy]

You're a tricky one MaxKlinger. Invest in a garage with cold beer dispensing capability's, and you can always find helpers with what you do not know. You just might surprise yourself and learn a thing or two.

[MaxKlinger]

I've thought about that, too, Hi-boy. As an alternative, I could build myself a shop building and outfit it with everything I need to do a restoration myself. This would be awesome because I'd be learning so much more. But this would also cost way more both in money and time - probably $40k to build a shop, and hundreds of hours to restore the truck (as a novice, it would take me longer). That's impractical when I travel so much during the week.

[JL100]

Not only is air conditioning mandatory, but so is an automatic transmission. Ford no longer makes a truck with a stickshift.

This is a great fact, didn't know that Ford had done that.

To answer the question, it's simple, no. I'm of the mindset of some others who have answered, I don't like spending that kind of money on a vehicle that will only cost you more over time. What I do love about the older vehicles, is that you can have some knowledge, tools, and get to work yourself fixing things. In today's modern vehicles they are making the vehicles where you have to bring the vehicle into the dealership (or shop) to even think about working on it. I took my 2010 model in for an Oil service (only because the dealer gave them free for 2 years) and the service worker told me I was about to be due for my 30K mile "tune up" which would cost me an easy $600. Seriously?? They also offered to replace my slightly dingy "In cab air filter" and "engine filter" for a cool $95, ha!

Bottom line, I would pay up to $15,000 for a new bumpside as per your description, but I gaurentee you I will have more fun and more memories building my own.

[1970 Hi-Boy]

Did you miss the part where I said there would be cold beer in there? Ha-ha-ha.

[MaxKlinger]

Did you miss the part where I said there would be cold beer in there? Ha-ha-ha.

Not at all! I am a fan of good cold beer. But I've got plenty of that now; maybe if I drank fewer beers I'd have more money for the Bumpside! Beer is still more expensive than gasoline.