THE BOTTOM LINE
IF YOU HAVE TALKED TO OTHER TRUCK OWNERS, YOU’VE PROBABLY DISCOVERED THAT SOME OF THEM CREATE THEIR BUILDS BY FINISHING SOMEONE ELSE’S RIDE. A quick search of classified ads on the internet will reveal plenty of available projects. Starting with someone else’s older project is a common way for people with experience to get their hands a solid build foundation quickly.
It’s not a bad way to go, but it can be risky. If you know what to look for in a project, you might end up ahead of the game. However, as a buyer, you need to be aware of what’s for sale. The first thing to look for is quality hard parts. You can’t go wrong with good parts correctly installed; this is aside from parts like shocks, airbags and tires that could be bad from time or use. If parts have been welded, examine the welds closely to make sure they are solid.
If all of these things check out, then you have yourself a good vehicle to build from. If there are some fixable problem areas, don’t let them deter you from a truck; consider the project as a whole. Spending lots of time to rebuild what someone did wrong can be counterproductive, but if everything is generally in good order, work on getting a fair price for your new project.
Although it might sound sad or mercenary to scoop up someone else’s failed attempt, you might actually be doing them a favor. Sometimes people bite off more than they can chew, or they have the means to finish a truck but circumstances change and plans have to be altered. Reassessing priorities and selling off toys might be someone’s best solution, making your purchase a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Though it might be tough for someone to surrender their pride and joy, it’s also nice to see it go to a good home. By picking up one of these projects, you can shine new light on something that otherwise would have faded away. No one wants to see their dream erode or go to the wrong person. That was the case with our cover truck. The original owner had an interesting plan for the truck. Not only was the ’68 C-10 wild, but it was completely ahead of its time. Seeing a truck like this with heavily altered lines isn’t so unusual today, but more than a decade ago, there was nothing like it.
The truck spent some time in the spotlight, but it was short-lived because it was never finished. Original owner Clint Petree experienced a few obstacles that changed his build plans, but fortunately, the truck landed in the right hands. As a good friend and former employee of Clint’s, Nick Germano knew the truck well. Nick describes his call to action as a way to “keep the truck in the family.”
It’s awesome to see a truck like this saved from irrelevance. In my time, I’ve seen numerous wild projects get a lot of attention, but never get completed. I think what happens is that the build plan is so unusual that finishing a wild project takes more effort than many can spare. It’s hard to grasp what it will take to finish these builds, because there aren’t a lot of examples to draw from.
Take these facts into consideration when you come up with an idea for your next greatest build. Though you might have a vision, it’s important to think about what it will really take to see it through. With an abundance of abandoned projects on the market, it might be more beneficial to save someone else’s project than to start one from scratch. Remember, the key to success is to do your research and keep an open mind.