About Antique Work Trucks
Antique work trucks are a piece of history, and they tell the story of American manufacturing. They were the mechanical marvels of their time, and the fact that so many of them are still up and running shows just how good those original truck-makers were. Even with the modern advances, the transmissions and the engines of today still have a bit of the old engineering. And when you consider that these antique work trucks originally sold for hundreds (not thousands) of dollars, the increase in value is a very high percentage.
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Time Frame
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The first Mack Truck was made in 1900. By 1911, manufacturers were making 600 a year--a lot for the pre-assembly-line days. Dodge made its first truck in 1918, for the Army. That was also a big year for Chevrolet: It was when their first truck appeared, and the year in which they became part of General Motors. The first Ford truck was made in 1925 and sold for $281. Fargo was the first truck produced by Chrysler in 1928, but the name only lasted one year.
Types
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Several types of antique work trucks are sought after by collectors. Antique Dodge trucks are very rare; if you are lucky enough to find one, it will fetch a pretty penny. But since the trucks are not that readily available, neither are spare parts. Ford and Chevrolet trucks are more plentiful. The 1928 Ford Model A T-Bucket Pickup is one of the most valuable, as is the 1941 Dodge Pickup and the 1939 Studebaker Coupe Express.
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Significance
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Antique work trucks are highly prized They are among the few collectible antiques that do not need to be in excellent shape to be worth good money. As a matter of fact, buying an antique work truck that is not in good shape and restoring it will give you an excellent return on your investment.
Considerations
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Look into the special collector's insurance available in you state. In many cases, if you have special antique designation, you will only be allowed to drive to and from shows. Also consider whether you should buy an antique work truck that has been refurbished or do it yourself. There are many professional refurbishers who will do the job as authentically as possible, even down to finding the original paint.
Potential
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Owning even one antique work truck makes you a collector. There is a strong chance you'll turn a profit--just not overnight. There is always the potential to trade up, which is the way most collectors work.
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Resources
- Photo Credit 1925 Ford from http://www.pickuptrucks.com
