Today's Value Of An '85 F250 4WD w/a 460?

[Gary Lewis]

Guys, I need some help. I'm meeting this afternoon with my insurance man to figure out how to insure Big Blue, and I think I need to know what the base value of a truck similar to BB would be.

By "base value" I mean a truck w/o all the additions I've put on BB as I pretty well know what they cost. And we are talking about a 1985 F250HD, meaning 8-lug wheels and 8500 GVWR, with a 460 and T-19. The body is very straight and there's Bondo in the cab corners and over the rear wheel arches, with some rust showing in the cracks of the Bondo over the wheel arches. And, if it matters, it is the Explorer package, meaning top of the line trim.

So if you could take a look at what has sold recently that is similar I'd appreciate it. I'll do the same, and let's pool our info here. Links to your finds would be helpful.

THANKS!

[Gary Lewis]

1984 Supercab F250: $27K For sale, not sold.  Excellent shape with 36k miles.  Very clean.

1983 F250 2WD w/a 5.8L: Asking $4600 in CA

1985 F250 4wd with 19K miles: Extremely nice and asking $12.5K.  But it is apparently a "light duty" F250 as it has the 5.0L, which wasn't put in the HD F250's.

And David found these:

1983 Ford F-250 460 AC 4X4: Asking $12.9K

1987 Ford F-250 460 4X4 AUTO: Asking $15.9K

[ArdWrknTrk]

I'm assessed at $875, and think I'd be lucky to get that much if I tried to sell.

[Machspeed]

Can't help you here Gary, there's just so much variance. I don't know how much you have in it, but I do believe you can get it insured for that amount. Of course, you pay a premium.

[Gary Lewis]

Jim - I'm guessing Big Blue w/o the options I've added would be somewhere between $5K and 7.5K.  And I know what I have in him.  

John - I'm sure someone will insure it, but at what price?  We shall see in a bit.

[1986F150Six]

Gary, with today's advertising strategies, ALL insurance companies can save you between $487 & $683???

[Gary Lewis]

Yes.  And then if we have an accident they'll not be willing to pay.

A few years ago we were driving Janey's GLK and were rear-ended.  We wanted to have it repaired in the ONLY Mercedes-certified repair facility in the Tulsa area, but State Farm balked at paying their rates.  I talked to my friend from church, the one I'm seeing today, and he assured me his company would.

So when I met with the State Farm agent she said no insurance company would pay those rates.  I told her that wasn't true.  She asked how I knew and I told her.  And, that ALL of my insurance would move over there.  You should have seen her face!  RED.  MAD.  UPSET.

This is the first step along that path.  And when they ask why I'm dropping my insurance on the truck I'll remind them of the conversation.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I'm just trying to point out that I'm basically one taillight from being written off.
It's a good work truck, but needs stuff like doors.

If you can get (and afford!) replacement value insurance I'm happy for you.
Are you going to insure the cover and the tent too?

I still think you're closer to that ICON than you care to accept.  

[Gary Lewis]

I understand what you are saying about your truck, and I hope you don't lose it.

As for Big Blue, I've spent the last two days looking at our credit card bills for the last 2 years, the Amazon/RA/etc bills, and even email back into 2017 between us.  So I'm pretty sure I know almost exactly what I have "in" BB.  And I'm not close to the ICON truck, but I'm at a level that I don't want to chance losing by someone hitting me and the insurance company saying they'll pay me for a beater '85 F250.

And I have the cover and the Line-X in the #'s, albeit with an April 2021 date.  However, I don't know if they'll cover the tent and the associated rack.  But I have that in the right up so it'll come up in the conversation.

[Rembrant]

Gary,

Have you gone on the Hagerty website to print off an appraisal? You can download a report, even using your VIN (I think). I know you don't want to use Hagerty, and I get it 100%, but they valued my truck at $14k CDN (IIRC) and I bumped the value up to 20k, just to cover me in case the thing ever caught fire and burned, ya know?

[1986F150Six]

Rembrant wrote

Cory, Big Blue has a little bit more than 245HP...  

[ArdWrknTrk]

Didn't have 245 HP the day it rolled off the showroom floor....  

Gary,The RTT is an integral part of a system that revolves around the truck.
An ''accessory' yes, but one that has no purpose without the truck.

[Gary Lewis]

Cory - That's an EXCELLENT idea!  Thanks!  I'll go do that just to be able to print it and take it with me.

And Jim is right, it only had 245 HP when new.  Let's see, 1/2 of 245 is 122.5.  Add that to 245 and you get 368 HP, which is what Scotty said this one has.  

Jim - You are right about the tent and rack.  But I'm not 100% sure I'm going to get our son to go with me, and without that I might not add them.  (But I might get the twins to go.  )  I'm just making sure that the cover I buy will work with the rack and tent, and it will.  

[ArdWrknTrk]

This lump never made 245.
MAYBE 225.
More likely 205.

But it's like the energizer bunny.
It just keeps going, and going......

[ArdWrknTrk]

You need to figure out your jerry can + tire carrier.
Then you don't have to think about how to secure the back of the truck.

Do they do line-X in a complementary light blue?
Black is miserable for dozens of reasons.

[85lebaront2]

Damn, I just looked at my 2020 PP taxes, Darth is assessed at $1000, probably because of being a DRW F350.

[Gary Lewis]

Jim - It would be nice to get that rear bumper made.  You are right, if it locked it would solve that tailgate problem.  And I don't know about the light blue, but I can ask.  Yes, if you are in bright sunlight the black gets HOT!

On Hagerty, I did print the eval of $12,500.  (And the range to $40,800 if it is a #1; 31,800 as a #2; 12,500 as a #3, and $5100 as a #4.)  And reading the descriptions it is at least a 3, but not a 2.  But they said they have a historical view of values, but you need to join up.

Ok, I joined Hagerty so I could get the history report on prices.  Interesting.  Here's what they say for Big Blue.  Note how the prices went up soon after the pandemic hit.  And, the highest prices are starting to come back down a bit, and that was as of January.




And here are the descriptions of the categories:

[grumpin]

IMHO, you’re a #2 or very close to it.

Edit: and you have it documented here on your website.

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks, Dane.  But I'm not so sure.  Here's their statement:

#2 vehicles could win a local or regional show. They can be former #1 vehicles that have been driven or have aged. Seasoned observers will have to look closely for flaws, but will be able to find some not seen by the general public. The paint, chrome, glass and finishes will all appear as excellent. No excessive smoke will be seen on startup, no unusual noises will emanate from the engine. The vehicle will drive as a new vehicle of its era would. The one word description for #2 vehicles is "excellent."

And on Big Blue you don't have to be a "seasoned observer" to see the Bondo in the cab corners and over the wheelwells.  Nor the peeling clear coat on the hood.  (No, there should never have been clear coat on the hood, and I'm hoping I can buff it off.)  Plus there are plenty of paint chips, and overall patina.

And if you then look at the #3 & 4 descriptions together, necessary since #3 refers to #4, you see a more accurate depiction of Big Blue.  "Incorrect parts"?  

#3 vehicles could possess some, but not all of the issues of a #4 vehicle, but they will be balanced by other factors such as a fresh paint job or a new, correct interior where applicable. #3 vehicles drive and run well, but might have some incorrect parts. These vehicles are not used for daily transportation but are ready for a long tour without excuses, and the casual passerby will not find any visual flaws. "Good" is the one word description of a #3 vehicle.

#4 vehicles are daily drivers, with flaws visible to the naked eye. The chrome might have pitting or scratches, the windshield might be chipped. Paintwork is imperfect, and perhaps the body has a minor dent. Split seams or a cracked dash, where applicable, might be present. No major parts are missing, but the wheels could differ from the originals, or other non- stock additions might be present. A #4 vehicle can also be a deteriorated restoration. "Fair" is the one word that describes a #4 vehicle.

Basically, Hagerty is describing collector vehicles.  Ones that are striving to be "correct".  But that's not what I want Big Blue to be.  I want a vehicle I'm not afraid to take anywhere, meaning long trips or offroad, because it is ready and capable.  There's no worries about whether it can make it, but there's also no worry that it might get a small ding.

[Rembrant]

1986F150Six wrote

Gary, with today's advertising strategies, ALL insurance companies can save you between $487 & $683???

HAHAHAHA. Well said David, well said.