Buying a Parts Truck - Advice?

EDIT: Well darn looks like I can't buy the parts truck. My stupid HOA doesn't allow "inoperable vehicles" to be parked in your driveway. Just talked to my landlord.

If anyone needs a solid parts truck, it's listed under the SF Bay Area Craigslist in the Russian River area.

POST:

If anyone needs a crazy good deal on a parts truck (without the engine & drivetrain) it's listed under the SF Bay Area Craigslist.


Someone is selling a 98-00 (not sure what year) Tacoma chassis and body for $650. It has the Engine, Transmission, and Transfer Case removed. It was a '98-'00 TRD Extended Cab 4x4, and 3.4l V6. It comes with the camper shell on the back and most of the body/interior intact besides the drivetrain components. This thing was fully loaded, it even had complete power doors (which were rare on these trucks), tach + speedo, ABS, and the rear locking diff.

I am going to go take a look at it this Sunday, is $650 a good price for this truck, and what it has? Or is the price too high? I'm looking to put in the rear locking differential on my '98, and part out the rest of the truck.

I asked him some info and he told me it was abandoned in his dad's tow yard, and he removed the drivetrain components. Someone was planning on fixing it up (hence the primer on the body panels). Looks like it's a California truck so no rust (according to him). He's not sure about the ECU and wiring harness, but it does have ABS.

My theory is the original owner crashed the truck in a front end collision. The truck was attempted to be repaired (hence the 01-04 good) and primered body. It probably ended up costing too much so it got abandoned and the drivetrain removed.

Any advice?

 

Something tells me at that price it will be gone by Sunday. The right person could make a few bucks parting that truck out.

 

Yup that's what I thought. I asked the guy it it got any interest and he didn't say it had much. It's about 150 miles away from me so I have to leave super early in the morning since I have things to do later in the day. I was afraid if I waited until next week to take a look at it, it would be gone. It was posted 24 hours ago, and I texted him 4 hours after he posted it.

Do you think it's a good price?

 

If it has a locking rear end still in and it looks like I could sell the bed yes. I would not be surprised if the locking rear is gone or it's not a TRD because the bed looks partially removed

 

I asked him, he said both axles are intact but the drive axle is disconnected (probably when they removed the tranny). What excites me is the camper shell since it's worth like 1/4 of what he's asking. Regarding body panels, he said only the grille and radiator support is missing.