Restoration value?

[White Lightning]

I need everyone's expertise if you can help.

Basically, I bought a 1971 F100 shortbed 4wd to drive a little and eventually restore. And really, this is the truck that I thought I always wanted...BUT...I have always had heavy duty trucks and it just didn't sit right that alls I would be able to pull with this truck would probably be my boat. Sooooo...I found a 1971 F250 longbed 4wd that I am now in the beginning stages of restoring but my delimma is .....I have WAY too much money in the shortbed to stop restoring it and part it out so I was going to finish it and sell it. Unfortunately, I was gung ho when I bought it and paid $4,500 for it (DUMB!). I saw my exact same truck sell on ebay for $12,000 dollars! Of coarse that was restored and painted candy apple red. I personally am not a fan of red but wow. The truck had the 360 and a four speed...which came in that year truck...so I've been contemplating about whether to go back as original as I can or does it make that much difference? I think it helps but it also depends on what your looking for. My truck came from the factory prairie yellow and it's a ranger. The motor is not the original but I have a 72 360 I can put back in it. I was going to put a 460 with an automatic transmission and aluminum transfer case in it because the 360 I pulled out needs to be rebuilt (low oil pressure). It also has 1979 axles underneath it which I didn't know until I got it home and started running vin numbers so really the only things that I could match would be paint colors, interior, and the same engine type. I'm pretty sure the tranny is original.
So my question to you is this...if you were going to pay top dollar for the truck I described, what color would YOU prefer and would you be more intrigued if it matched most of the vin numbers? Any input would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

[crewdcab]

Shorten the f250 frame and do a body swap or put the f250 rear axle and transfer case in the f100, ending up with a f250 shorty. Front diff should be a dana 44 if it's been swapped for a 79 unit. I've got a friend who converted his 5 lug 44 to an 8 lug. Some machine work was necessary, but sounded relatively easy. He uses the truck for mud runs and abuses it, so it should be a solid mod. Just my opinion.

[basketcase0302]

It'll always hold it's value more with "matching numbers" and original paint color, (to anyone looking for an "original" bump). I'd at least keep it the same color.

[cep62]

Did you ever hear of "resale red" ?
Red vehicles seem to sell well.
Not that I particularly care for red myself.

[averagef250]

Red and orange sell well. I've had lots of white trucks and they seam harder to sell than other colors.

I would go with the FE and keep it a stick. Unless you live in an area where there are lots of ninnies, then maybe an auto truck will sell better.

The later disc brake axles add value. The early F100 stuff really sucked.

[averagef250]

Shorten the f250 frame and do a body swap or put the f250 rear axle and transfer case in the f100, ending up with a f250 shorty. Front diff should be a dana 44 if it's been swapped for a 79 unit. I've got a friend who converted his 5 lug 44 to an 8 lug. Some machine work was necessary, but sounded relatively easy. He uses the truck for mud runs and abuses it, so it should be a solid mod. Just my opinion.

Most people prefer longbeds. Shortbeds, especially short wheelbase shortbed trucks are pretty useless compared to longbed trucks for practical uses.

[crewdcab]

True, I was basing that idea solely on the statement that "it was the truck I thought I always wanted". I assumed that was because it was a shorty.