sir, id like to offer you a 2012 for that old truck u got,

[mr_josh]

Yes. Where do I sign?

[Mancar1]

Exactly, it's not the "bump" with me, it's what that thing means to me. I have other bumps, most of which I would trade for a lap dance and a six pack of schlitz malt liquor.

Great minds think alike

[Bob]

Boys, if you've got a price on everything you know the value of nothing.

That hurt...
I completely understand the concept of sentimental value of things and do have things that I'll never sell. You took me a little too literally and that's my fault because of the conviction I put in my earlier post. It was meant more as a broad brush stroke. I'd never sell my dads wedding ring he gave me before he died. I'd never sell several other "keepsakes." But my trucks aren't all that terrible special to me. Sure "I like them a lot" (to be said in forest Gump voice) but they are all replaceable by another bump and some by ones in better shape.

Just for the heck of it let's scale this 2012 trade. So a bump F250 4x4 vs. 2012 F250 4x4... Most old bumps are gonna be roughly say 5,000-ish. Most comparable model 2012's will be 50,000-ish. Or say 4,000 vs. 40,000 or whatever but approximately 10 x's the value and 5 x's at bare minimum. That's saying a 10,000 bump vs. a 50,000 2012. So scaling this up let's say your house is worth 200,000... If somebody offers you 2,000,000 for you 200,000 house you'd have to be an awfully sentimental person to pass that up (with the emphasis on the mental.... ) Even if it's "the old homestead" where every past relative off the mayflower was born, it'd be mighty hard to pass on a 1,800,000 profit. Sure it's only money but that kind of cabbage can allow self and future generations a leg up on life. Even at the 5x's factor a million bucks for a 200,000 place would allow a person to buy a very nice replacement house.

Guess we're all different that way and I'd say neither the sentimental nore the profiteer is wrong. Just different people with different opinions or priorities. Good thing we're all different, otherwise we'd all be driving bumps and the automotive market would crash!!

I have folks ask me often... most often times younger guys... they ask me if I want to sell my truck. I always tell them never. Only reason being is nine times out of ten they won't have a clue what it might be worth and think they can pick up an old truck for next to nothing. Young people figure if it's that old it's almost free!! More often than not the buyers of these old things are folks around the 40-55 year old range. We saw them running around when they were new and we were just getting into the idea that we'd be able to drive someday soon. Most folks "most admire" the vehicles that were new when they were around 5-10 years old. Look at how the prices of the old model A's dropped twenty or thirty years ago. The folks that admired them enough to run the prices up are few and far between now. Every vehicle has a season that they do their best.

[woods]

I'll give you 2 mil for that dog.

[Bob]

That's a tough one there but I'd have to take it.
Reason being three fold...
1 If you're able to give me that kind of money then he'd be living better off with you than me. Sure he gets bacon most every morning and a few burgers or some chicken fillets every day when we go to lunch... and all the love he can bear but you'd be able to give him steaks every night whereas I only give him my trimmings.
2 I'd consol myself with knowing he was living the high life get another best friend who would be eating steaks every night just like Bubba-boy!!
3 I could retire...

Bubba holding down the couch.jpg

SOLD!!!

[woods]

But what if I'm some kind of weirdo that gets off on paying 2 mil for a dog, and then abusing them? Could happen

[robroy]

Good morning!

I've enjoyed reading this thread!

My initial feeling's that I wouldn't trade #50 for a new truck, and that's mainly due to all of the custom components in #50, and all the quality people I've met since 2008 who have both made parts for me, and advised me.

For instance, #50's motor mounts were made by John at Autofab, and I actually exchanged some e-mails with John after the fact to chat about unrelated stuff. John seems like such a classic guy, and I wouldn't have had occasion to make his acquaintance if not for those mounts. Then Jamie took over and taught me how to line them up. 70_F100 guided me through rebuilding the top part of my T18. Fitzwell gave me most of the electrical parts for my instrument cluster, and explained how to hook them up. Frank advised me for hours on my rear brake job. The list goes on and on.

And as y'all know #50's engine was designed and assembled by Tom Lucas, who has turned out to be a friend of mine aside from the engine. Kasie and I had the honor of being there at Tom's wedding, and we still call and write from time to time.

A critical element's to whom the Bumpside would go. That would make a huge difference to me. If it went to somebody who had no interest in Bumpsides or customized cars, I'd feel like a lot of the personal investment that so many guys have made in this truck wouldn't have been paid due respect. What if Tom called me up one day and asked about that engine, "How's it running Robroy?," "Oh, I sold it to a landscaper for a work truck." Sure can't imagine that! If however, it went to a Bumpside enthusiast, especially one who actually knew (or at least knew of) many of the guys who have contributed to the truck, I would make the trade.

I'd make the trade only if I could immediately sell the new truck, and reinvest that money in another custom ride. And only if the sale could raise at least $50,000. Know what I'd do then? Start over with one of these trucks:

1. 1967 F100 Flareside 4x2, yellow paint, white steel grille, base trim, or a
2. 1972 F350 Crew 4x2, light blue paint, base trim

I could circulate the $50,000 without much trouble! $15,000 to Tom for another FE, $10,000 in body and paint, $10,000 in transmission, driveline, rear end, suspension, wheels, etc., $10,000 in restoration parts, and $5,000 for tools, fasteners, and root beers. Nothing would please me more than to be able to call Tom up and say, "Tom, I'm driving up to Sacramento to hang out, and I want to do another FE, all over again!"

If I had to actually keep the 2012 truck, or if #50 went to a completely unknown owner, I'd definitely not make the trade! I'd be loosing my main toy, and a lot of history along with it.

Robroy

[TexasTruck72]

It would be tempting, but lose the character of an old bumpside? No!

Does a 2012 truck stand out in a sea of less than five year old vehicles? Nope, but a 40 year old well-used & cared for F-100 does.

I'll take no AC, no power brakes, and no power steering anyday before I become like everybody else and drive a brand new truck. These new trucks are nice for some reasons, but I'd rather drive something unique and classic. Just my 2 cents worth.

[woods]

And when the brain eating zombies attack, you will need two things, a simple vehicle and a dog. THEN...I will be king.

[basshound71]

I would give up the bump in a heartbeat, take the 2012 and sell it. Buy another bump and be able to afford the bump of my dreams.

[Mancar1]

[2fowle]

Bob:

You stabbed me worse than you probably meant. I am a fellow whose family farm still is intact and in a few years my generation will face the decision of whether to hold or sell. Surely you do not find yourself in that position or you would not have been so glib about turning loose for money the place where the marks and memories of your ancestors are so visible. On that ground which to an outsider looks very like that around it I am more grounded than anywhere else in the world. I have never loved a dollar but I've certainly wanted to have them to use. I love that place. I can show you the worn spot on the front porch rail where my great grandfather rocked back and propped his feet as well as many other things about my family. Were it to be sold, I would never be able to get out of my mind the old joke about the guy asking the pretty girl if she would sleep with him for a million bucks. She replied that she would whereupon he asked if she would sleep with him for $5.00. She was offended and said "what kind of girl do you think I am?" He said "We've already settled that and now we're trying to settle upon the price."

[knightfire83]

** New vehicle opinion rant begin:

If I couldn't sell it the same week.... No thanks. Cars and trucks from the 90's on up, like most other consumer goods just reek of cheapness and lack of quality. I believe that the automakers are out more for making a profit at any cost rather than designing and building a quality product. I've heard today's vehicles are designed to only last 5-7 years, a result of the current disposable consumer mentality. Buy cheaply made products then throw them away when they break and buy another one.

Will a 2012 truck survive 40+ years like the bumps or even half that? I'm guessing probably not, unless it is meticulously taken care of. I predict severely cracked plastics, broken push in fasteners, detached glues, thin rusted out sheet metal panels, worn out cheaply casted drivetrain parts, unobtainable replacement electronics, and non existent paint on multiple panels who's clear coat have failed long ago.

What about the body designers of today's vehicles? Um.... Yuck. From what I can tell Dodge started in the 90's with their Ram models, although those did look good in the beginning, everyone else decided to copy that design in some way or another. From there it has evolved into worse and worse contours and proportions. It is my opinion that the last good looking vehicle produced was when the 1st retro Mustang came out in the 2000's. Even now they are changing it into something less than what it should / could be.

Ford needs to do a retro truck as they did with the Mustang. The Bump needs to come back in a more modern form with great attention to design details of the original. $30-40,000+ 8 years to pay for a new vehicle... that's just nuts. That's not vehicle money that's a house down payment.

Makes me wonder what the 2042 vehicles will look like.

Could be wrong, but then again it's just my

Prediction: Today's daily driver vehicles in 15-20 years:

[AlleyCat]

Good thread Would I trade my 72 for a 2012 ? Economically it's a stupid decision but nope, not a chance in h*ll that I'd trade. To me my 72 and other bumps are toys but they are also a kind of therapy. I repair big trucks every day. New vehicles are so over complicated and an absolute nightmare to work on. A laptop with thousands of dollars in programs is a must for most repairs. Roadside breakdowns usually involve big tow bills and even the factory help hotlines can't figure out some of the electronic issues. Bumps on the other hand are fairly simple and easy to work on. Basic hand tools and some mechanical aptitude can get them back on the road in the advent of a problem.

Nightfire83 is right on the money with his prediction about a new vehicle lasting 40+ years. It's not likely to happen. The wiring issues alone will send most of them to the crusher long before they reach the halfway point. The quality just isn't there anymore. I recently cut up an 86 Ford LN9000 truck tractor. The truck had a long, hard life and was just worn out. After 25 northeast winters the frame rails were in far better shape than most 2 year old Peterbilts I see in the dealer. Oh and that LN was a typical old Ford. It needed moved about a 1/4 mile from a storage lot to a work area where it could be cut up. After sitting for months with rain blowing in the crashed cab it fired right up on the first try.

My friend who owns a towing business likes to say " I don't tow old trucks, I tow new trucks " .

[DuckRyder]

I don't think that "retro" trucks have done well (SSR?) it could be cool if they did it correctly.

My Truck is not particularly "special", I do like it and I would probably keep the engine if I ever sold it for sentimental reasons, but in its current state I'd certainly trade it for some particular 2012 vehicles. If it were completely finished they no I wouldn't. It will probably take new 2012 kind of money to get it where I want it!

But, I think Ford has don a terrific job on the 2012's they are good looking trucks in their own right.

http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/gallery/photos/