Name That Car
Original factory parts revive a popular workhorse.
Back in 2008 in Willard, Utah, I found this truck for sale on the side of the road. It was primer gray and had many modifications, including a smalldiameter replacement steering wheel, chrome American Racing wheels, and oversize sideview mirrors like the ones on a semitrailer truck.
I had previously owned a 1957 truck of the same make with optional wraparound rear window. I regretted selling it, so I jumped at the chance to own a truck with the same body style.
While this vehicle had decent rustfree bones and only 76,000 actual miles, it had a lot of rough spots. I tracked down the owner at a local bar, and we settled on a price of $1,000. I spent the next six years restoring it to factory condition, specifications and color with original replacement parts. I had to range far and wide for those parts, including a tailgate and bumper I shipped in from North Carolina. The cab headliner is an original factory replacement, as are the radio antenna and cab floor mat.
I had worked every summer as a technician at a dealership garage while I was an assistant professor of industrial technology at Utah State University College of Engineering, so I had experience working on cars. I began my career as a high school automotive science teacher.
This truck has a classic design and was extremely popular in its day. More than 100,000 trucks were built in the model year mine was made. I’ve taken it to many automotive shows, including the Cache Valley Cruise-In held around the Fourth of July every year in Logan, Utah.