Old Trucks in South America

I shot these photos on a trip to Colombia, where my wife is from. They know how to keep things running down there....

 

We know how to keep them running as well, but given our needs (real or imagined), and desires, as well as our financial abilities, we choose not to.

An old vehicle will keep running as long as you put money into it.
Eventually, you realize that you have spent more than what a replacement would have cost... but since it's going in $10-$100 at a time, it is more tolerable.

 

COOL TRUCKS!

 

I agree with most of this statement. I think most just grow bored with their rides and want the newest and latest stuff. Let's face it, a nice new truck/car can be pretty sweet. But I don't know about putting as much or more into and old one to keep it running as say buying a new 30K+ truck every so many years. If you're putting that much into and old one, it's an old lemon you should have ditched long ago.

I think if you've owned it since new and have taken care of it, you can keep it a long while without too much expense, or if you get one that someone else took good care of. There will always be the items that crap out, no doubt, but even a transmission rebuild somewhere down the line is still cheaper.

I'm the 3rd owner of my 82 Toyota 4x4, and it's had no "major" work on it at all. I think it's about due for a clutch job, but it runs like a top.

 

Ya, but that's a Toyota... those pictures are of GM and Fords

 

Very nice photo collection!
Unfortunately I don't think today's trucks will last that long - too much plastic and electronics.
Those old trucks are just metal and a simple basic engine, and almost anyone with a little common sense, a pair of pliers and some baling wire can keep it running.

 

Cost for replacing metal and paint jobs due to rust in my area make vehicles throw away.

If you care for a vehicle around here you cannot drive it in the winter. Yeah yeah you can slow it down and do your best to prevent the rust but the cancer always wins.

 

Ha ha, yeah, but see my sig line. My 89 K5 runs like a scalded ass ape. I'm not the orig owner, but I got it from them, and it was well taken care of. No major rebuilds at all. I've owned my 97 since new, w/ 4 miles on the OD and it's still a very clean, good running truck. My point is though, that putting some sweat into them, and being diligent can replace a lot of dollars spent.

97, dirty, but it's been paid off a long time ago and still runs as good as day 1. MPG dropped off though.. bummer. Still nice and purty after a wash.


89 K5, the clear coat is getting beat up on the hood and roof since this pic, but other than that, looks just as good, and runs great too.


I better throw in one of mamas H3, or she might put the axe to my 4x4 collection, ha ha.


Another shot of the 82

 

I bought a '95 Suburban for $2200 in 2010.
I put $3000 into it over the next 14 months.
Wife realized how bad it was when we went shopping and I drove and she told me that I absolutely HAD to get something newer.

 

That's good and bad! At least mama gave you the green light! My 97 just hit 115K. I have more than enough faith in it, that in Dec it will become my then 16 yo daughters ride. It's the first vehicle she ever rode in.

 

My '85 standard cab pickup is down there somewhere. I sold it back in '91. The guy that bought it told me he was shipping it down there. It's probably still being driven. I agree on the if they're taken care of statement. I bought a '96 4 Runner w/ 63k on it in '03. It had 215k on it when I totalled it in '09. Regular oil changes, a timing belt, 2 sets of tires, 3 sets of brakes, & a set of plugs were all I ever had to do to it. Loved that truck.