Hey fellas' I can get my hands on a COMPLETE 1959-261 freshly plucked out of a BIG 1959 TRUCK. What should I offer this guy? It runs...how good...I dunno'?

Thanks,
Tom

I paid $250.00 for my '57 261. It didn't run, had a cracked piston and broken rocker arm. Your '59 is more desirable than mine I think. Had I known what I know know about these motors I would have paid double for a motor of the year and condition of yours. Come to think of it I may have paid a little more, but I'm stingy when it comes to an old motor that I would pull apart for a rebuild anyway.

they're hard to find despite what everyone says (unless you're in Canada). I paid $200 for a 60 with no starter, bellhousing or generator. It had been out of a truck for years, so no one knew if it ran or not. I plan to rebuild it anyway

it is worth as much as you want to pay for it.

I paid $500 for a good '60 out of a junkyard. Rock-bottom, any dead engine costs 100-200 bucks. Put on top of that how hard it is to find a decent 261 and the thousands it will cost to build up any old engine, 261, 235, or even 216. Ten years from now you won't remember the couple hundred bucks extra for a 261. I'd offer $200 but I'd be willing to pay up to $700.

-Dan

I traded a guy a running 250 for my running '62 261. It depends on the condition, but I think $200 is fair. If it was freshly rebuilt I would pay more. Do whatever you are comfortable with.