What's this worth? (NA)

[Jim K]

Thinking about another pickup
I don't need one, but this one is kind of a dream truck: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AVY1BTzNU/
If you don't have FB:


I have a (red) '97 single cab K2500 that I dearly love and have owned for 25 years. It's dying of rust and old age. I always said if I could buy a new one tomorrow, I would. A couple years ago I bought a (red) '22 4 door longbed Silverado 2500, so I don't need this, but I WANT it so bad.

KBB is around 9K. Obviously it's a unicorn. This body style is getting hot right now. I don't think they'll have any trouble getting 15K. I'm debating how much higher I'd be willing to go.... Looks like there's a couple scratches and dings, but nothing looks rusty. I need to go look at it.

What's it worth?

Talking me out of it is also encouraged.

 

[EdFred]

According to the Loch Ness Monster, about tree fiddy.

Damn, only 11k and no rust. That's a tough one.

 

[eman1200]

at least 15 grand

 

[455 Bravo Uniform]

Opinions:
-What was it worth new, and what is it worth in 2025 dollars?
-What would it cost to replace with an equivalent current year model (which is not the same quality or desirability)?
-Can you find a similar one elsewhere?
-How much is too much?
-Will you kick yourself if it sells for $15k? 18k? Fill in the blank.

Says the guy who just bought a +100k 2001 Tahoe…having to fix a few minor things…I am having fun (zero sarcasm).

 

[Jim K]

-What was it worth new, and what is it worth in 2025 dollars?
-What would it cost to replace with an equivalent current year model (which is not the same quality or desirability)?
-Can you find a similar one elsewhere?
-How much is too much?
-Will you kick yourself if it sells for $15k? 18k? Fill in the blank.

No clue on what this cost in 1998, but my '22 is as close to this spec as you can buy today (and admittedly, more capable and comfortable), and it was $60K 2.5 years ago. Interestingly, the Chevy website says you can buy the same truck for $54K today, although with taxes and fees it's probably the same money OTD.

Before I bought the '22 I looked into buying an older pickup and having it restored. I was figuring about 30K and a couple years to have one completely gone through bumper to bumper. The problem was finding a decent core as most (including mine) have serious frame rust. I honestly didn't even know they built 4 door longbeds that weren't dually's in this body style.

The biggest problem with buying this would be that it'd feel like a collector car and I'd be scared to really use it. My '22 has never been driven in the salt; that's why I keep the older trucks around. Seems silly to have two trucks I won't drive in the winter. I guess I could sell the '22 and decrease the $ I have wrapped up in vehicles. Both the 97 and 01 are down right now (again), and I've been short a vehicle a couple times this spring.

Your last two points are the crux of the matter. I think I would be sad if I could've bought it for 15 and didn't. I don't think I'd give 25 for it. I guess I just need to go see if it's as clean as it looks.

 

[455 Bravo Uniform]

If it’s good and you’re on the fence throw in your min bid plus a few bucks.

Not knowing your situation I wasn’t going to suggest ditching the ‘22, but that might be a wise financial choice. If you’ve kept it salt free, it should bring a bit more.

I don’t think your’22 is part of the recent (last week) GM engine recall?

Downside of buying older stuff - if the ‘22 just runs, you won’t be spending maintenance time on the older one. You already have your hours filled with plane stuff.

 

[robin ardoin]

According to the Loch Ness Monster, about tree fiddy.

Damn, only 11k and no rust. That's a tough one.

Don't do it.... That's a G*damn Succubus, boy! Run!

 

[Half Fast]

They should have all the maintenance records. Ask to see them. It looks all spiffy and shiny and 11k isn't many miles, but they were likely hard miles and it may have been in some harsh environments, driven by non-owners for all that time.

 

[Racerx]

It's a sealed bid so that could help at least not run up the price. I'd throw 10k at it and see what happens.

There was a sealed bid commercial building I wanted. Talked myself out of thinking guys I know who knew with deeper pockets who also knew about it would bid. I probably would have bid a million. Real estate company was the only bidder at 660k. They sold it 4 months later for 2.3m. That one stings.

Edit: I don't read enough. Minimum bid 15k. If they get it, it won't be from me.

My guess. Some fire agency will spend stupid money on it. Cuz it really isn't their money. Hey....don't you volunteer for a fire agency?

 

[Jim K]

They should have all the maintenance records. Ask to see them. It looks all spiffy and shiny and 11k isn't many miles, but they were likely hard miles and it may have been in some harsh environments, driven by non-owners for all that time.

I do wonder how much time it spent idling. A 454 is pretty indestructible though.

 

[GoFly]

Keep the tank in the back and use it as a fuel truck for farm equipment. Yes, I know you probably have a fuel trailer too

 

[CJones]

$15k sounds high, but like you said, these body styles are becoming the 'new' square body. My guess is it will go for way more than it's "worth".

 

[mandm]

15k sounds high for a 98, can you pop on a historic plate with permanent tags? I was going to come up with a number under 10k. Is that a fuel or water hose in the back? If you’re going for it, do a random number like $15,182, I wouldn’t go much higher for a 98.

 

[MauleSkinner]

No clue on what this cost in 1998

As a point of reference, I think I paid $28,500 or so for an extended cab K1500 with a 5l in ‘97, the first year for the third door. “everything but leather” as the salesman said it.

 

[Jim K]

I don’t think your’22 is part of the recent (last week) GM engine recall?

no it's a 6.6L (gas)

Downside of buying older stuff - if the ‘22 just runs, you won’t be spending maintenance time on the older one. You already have your hours filled with plane stuff.

That's just it. It's so nice just going out and turning the key. To be fair, the '97 has really only gone down 3 times in 25 years...two fuel pumps and a distributor gear (of all things....looks like it was improperly hardened at the factory). At the moment however, one of the rear spring hangars has rusted in half and the spring is resting against bottom of the bed. That's going to be a little bit of a job to repair. I debated for a long time if it was time for the scrapyard, but I just couldn't do it. I have a real problem with fixing things that I should give up on.

I'd expect that with 12K miles, manual transmission and no options, this thing would be pretty reliable. My experience with the '97 backs that up.

Keep the tank in the back and use it as a fuel truck for farm equipment. Yes, I know you probably have a fuel trailer too

I actually like that idea. It's probably plastic though...would have to see if it would survive diesel. The irony of replacing firefighting water with fuel. The more I think about it though...it would probably
illegal. There's an exemption for 110gal tanks, but I bet that one's 200.

I'm too cheap to buy a fuel trailer. They're like $20K+. I bought a couple 100 gallon tanks & pumps and bolted them to a pallet that I set in the bed of the truck. About $1500 all in.

As a point of reference, I think I paid $28,500 or so for an extended cab K1500, in ‘97, the first year for the third door. “everything but leather” as the salesman said it.

I'm kind of shocked it was that much back then. I bought my '97 in 2002 IIRC, and gave $4200 for it with 90K miles. Best money I ever spent. 176,000 on it now, and probably still worth $4000. Well, if the suspension wasn't broke.

 

[Sac Arrow]

It's a nice looking truck, but I wouldn't pay $15K for it.

 

[Racerx]

Got the 7.4 on our old 98 3500hd service truck. Can confirm it's tank status.

 

[Rarefied]

Before I saw the minimum bid I was going to say up to $15k given its basically being a unicorn...I find it pretty insane their doing sealed bidding with a starting bid at 15k though...

For me personally, the fire station build is a detractor for me. I'd even say 15k for a non fire truck version and more like 10k for a firetruck version.

 

[midwestpa24]

Low miles and looks to be in good shape.

But as a firefighter for going on 18 years, I know we beat the hell out of equipment. We take care of it, but we work it for what its worth. We find all kinds of new ways to break things that are "firefighter proof".

We always say, you could lock a firefighter in a padded cell with two ball bearings for half an hour. When you come back, one ball bearing would be broken in half, the other missing, and the firefighter would have no idea how that happened.

 

[TCABM]

Unless you need a fire truck and can justify it as an expense against the farm, then pass on it.

ETA: I like the thought if your VFD deciding whether to buy it or not instead of you buying it.

 

[Brad W]

yeah, I don't know about that.....
I'd imagine that they would have kept up on routine maintenance stuff. It does seem to look pretty clean on the outside. I'd wonder about how worn the interior is. That could be telling as to how hard of a life it has lead. Ditto the state of things under the hood and the underside.
Regardless. As much as I love the idea someday of getting an old classic something or another (I've often thought about a late 1960's or early 1970's pickup, for example) I'd be reluctant for something of this vintage. My daily driver up until 4 or 5 years ago was a 2006 Silverado. That thing still ran fine and I would not hesitate to have taken it on any road trip
but
it was starting to show it's age through all the little plastic bits and bobs in it starting to fail. A '98 is very likely very much the same... there are little plastic clips and gizmos buried inside the doors, inside the tailgate, and pretty much everywhere that clip and hold the linkages, mechanisms, etc. all together...and all that plastic in mine was getting brittle and letting go. One of the window regulators would let go. Then a month or three later the tailgate latch would stop working because a little clip inside would break.... then some time later one of the other windows would fail...and on and on....

 

[midwestpa24]

One thing to think about on old emergency vehicles, the miles don't tell a good story about its use. Those aren't highway miles, they are short hard trips usually, lots of idling, etc. It might have 11,000 miles on the odometer, but the same amount of hours of operation and wear and tear of a 100,000 mile vehicle.

 

[Mikey52]

That and back then was it still a mechanical odometer?

 

[455 Bravo Uniform]

I debated for a long time if it was time for the scrapyard, but I just couldn't do it. I have a real problem with fixing things that I should give up on.

Yeah, I completely get it. I’m trying to see if I can figure out what’s causing my internal coolant leak on the 317k mile Tahoe. So far got 7 of 8 plugs out and they all look normal. Going to borescope the cylinders next. Maybe it’s just leaking into the crankcase.

Good input from the gang. I’m assuming that’s a brush truck. Ours never got a lot of runs, and the idle time was mostly in gear and slow roll when actually responding to a grass fire. I wonder if it has a Hobbs?

Looking forward to seeing what you decide.

 

[cowman]

I know this is an especially nice example and the used market for trucks is ridiculous right now but.... their minimum $15k already seems like too much for a 27 year old truck to me. Maybe I'm just slow to adapt to the modern day economic realities IDK.

My concern would be that every seal, gasket, and other rubber part on it would also be 27 years old especially with the low mileage. Maybe being a fire vehicle it was start up and run enough that they didn't dry out, hard to say. Either way that's something I'd consider before bidding. Seals and gaskets are cheap but I'm sure you know how quick the afternoon you thought you could change stuff like that out in turns into a multi-day fiasco. It's also got 27 year old GM plastics on the interior which of course are absolutely known for not breaking /sarcasm.

I do get the appeal of getting an older low mileage truck that's not $50-80k and doesn't have all the disadvantages of new ones though. If I did buy it I'd immediately treat everything with fluid film or some other rust inhibitor.

 

[mandm]

Keep an eye on it, it no one bids then maybe the next auction will be minimum 10k bid. Is that a fire hose? I thought it was a gas pump.

 

[Fiveslide]

Dayum, that truck is fine!

For price comparison. I sold one similar, 1988 2500, but a small block, manual transmission, beat to crap, 300k miles, inch of dirt in the floorboards, no rust and ran awesome, for $4000. And, I never should have sold it, like I said I never would.

 

[Fiveslide]

Your last two points are the crux of the matter. I think I would be sad if I could've bought it for 15 and didn't. I don't think I'd give 25 for it. I guess I just need to go see if it's as clean as it looks.

Another thing to consider, What's it going to look like when they talk all the equipment off and out of it? My dad had an old 2500 suburban that came from a fire station, with all the holes where the lights, antennas and equipment was.

Keep an eye on it, it no one bids then maybe the next auction will be minimum 10k bid. Is that a fire hose? I thought it was a gas pump.

Yeah, the huge majority of people that truly appreciate what this truck is, can't write $15k check for it. Like me, I am those people.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

27 years old with 11k miles.

Reminds me of some of my mother's vehicles. Super low mileage, super rotten exhaust, seals, etc.

 

[GoFly]

I'm too cheap to buy a fuel trailer. They're like $20K+. I bought a couple 100 gallon tanks & pumps and bolted them to a pallet that I set in the bed of the truck. About $1500 all in.

When I had a JD270 and a JD85 excavator and was using a lot of diesel, I built my own fuel trailer using 3” channel. Don’t remember what it cost me, but it was near your 1500 number.

 

[Gary Ward]

I drove a red chevy crew cab 99 dually for 13 years with a 7.4
It was a very reliable vehicle and I towed a enclosed 26 and a 40’ gooseneck trailers with it. it rode like crap and I drove it every day.
Don’t think I would give 15K for it?
I have had a 3 8’ bed pickups since 1993 and I have kept the same 100 gallon fuel tank in the bed in all 3 trucks. I am used to having my own tanker truck. lol Yup It looks like a farm truck and I don’t care. It’s nice to have extra fuel on board.

 

[Jim K]

Keep an eye on it, it no one bids then maybe the next auction will be minimum 10k bid. Is that a fire hose? I thought it was a gas pump.

Fire truck. That's a 1" line often called a "booster reel". Basically a glorified garden hose, but suitable for grass fires, dumpster fires... small stuff. Has the benefit of being electrically retracted like an avgas hose, as opposed to regular fire hoses that have to be hooked up, then broken down, drained, and folded.

 

[Racerx]

I actually like that idea. It's probably plastic though...would have to see if it would survive diesel. The irony of replacing firefighting water with fuel. The more I think about it though...it would probably
illegal. There's an exemption for 110gal tanks, but I bet that one's 200.

I'm too cheap to buy a fuel trailer. They're like $20K+. I bought a couple 100 gallon tanks & pumps and bolted them to a pallet that I set in the bed of the truck. About $1500 all in.

I'm too cheap to buy tanks and would have made my own to the exact size I wanted. I've done it to fit the v-nose inside the trailer to go out west.

 

[SoonerAviator]

I'd say $12K is about what I'd give it on the high side. I love the nostalgia of them, but for $15K I can buy an F250/C2500 truck of a later vintage (mid-00s) that will ride/turn/perform much better as a 3/4-1ton truck. It would probably have 150K miles on it versus the 12K this one has, but it'd likely be a diesel which would be nothing.

If it's because you just want that particular truck/body style and are trying to get a premium example of the type, then it's worth more due to rarity. Not many 12K-mile examples of the square bodies left anymore.

 

[Jim K]

I'm too cheap to buy tanks and would have made my own to the exact size I wanted. I've done it to fit the v-nose inside the trailer to go out west.

Remember when I posted pictures of the engine stand I made?

I can weld. I can't weld

 

[Racerx]

Remember when I posted pictures of the engine stand I made?

I can weld. I can't weld

To quote my old wrestling coach...no such thing as cant, you just haven't done it yet.

Here's the tank in question while I was building it. Its actually 2 tanks. 65 gallon water tank. 35 gallon gas tank. Piped through the floor of the trailer to their own 12v pumps. Now I don't have to haul gas cans. And i can shower in the middle of a forest.

 

[Jim K]

Made a run over to Gas City today. I'm no closer to a decision. Marion, IN is a great airport with an above average crew car. Got some good hand flying IMC practice and a loggable approach.


Gas City has these little oil derricks built for all their street signs.



The truck is not quite as good as it looks. The scraped up the paint a bit removing the decals. It almost looks like it was a darker red at one time. They cut a big hole in the bed for the sump for the water tank. The tank and pump are not that great, so I don't think they'd sell for much. I do think I could repurpose the hose reels. I called my buddy who's really into older Chevy's, and his initial reaction was 8-12. He did say he thought it would auction for 25 if it was PERFECT, but it would take some money to get this one there. There's a number of minor dings. The crazy thing though, is that there is ZERO rust. If it was ever run in the salt, it doesn't show.

It's probably not worth 15. I'll probably send them a bid and hope I don't "win" it. It's just so clean....and the big block/5 speed combo....I can't help myself....when will I ever see another one?

 

[Racerx]

Have used that courtesy car before.

1. Your phone is a potato.
2. You still a volunteer firefighter? Get them to make the bid to score the pump equipment

 

[Jim K]

Have used that courtesy car before.

1. Your phone is a potato.
2. You still a volunteer firefighter? Get them to make the bid to score the pump equipment

1)yes
2)also yes, but we just bought a 2024 F450 with a 400gal water tank, foam injector, and 25hp Honda/Waterous pump. Possible the chief might know somebody who could get rid of it though.

 

[Racerx]

1)yes
2)also yes, but we just bought a 2024 F450 with a 400gal water tank, foam injector, and 25hp Honda/Waterous pump. Possible the chief might know somebody who could get rid of it though.

Just saying to make the bid for you to keep the lights, siren and radio stuff.