Hello, The tinkling of the theme song blasting in the neighborhood made everyone take notice. The trucks had a slow crawl to their cruising as instant stops were a common place. Then the kids swarmed the truck like bees on honey. Our old Westside of Long Beach had their share of ice cream trucks, but, those other homemade trucks did not show up until we were in high school. The catch was that they offered different types of ice cream and it was a good competition (pun intended) for Good Humor. Many years later, we were out on a nice sunny day walking around an outdoor mall in Newport Beach, out goal was to take our granddaughter to one of the small store ice cream shops and have a treat. As we approached the main center of the outdoor mall, we saw a sight that took my wife and I back to our little kid days. Here is a custom truck that looks like a toy. One day, my wife + our toddler granddaughter were all walking around the Newport Fashion Island shopping center. They had just instigated a cool water fountain that shot water balls up in the air, while little kids ran from one edge to the other. After spending a good amount of time, we decided to continue on our exploration. It was hot and the shaded center areas were perfect to sit and relax. But, who would have predicted that a cool looking Chevy pick up truck converted to an Ice Cream Truck would be front and center of this shaded area? Fashion Island at Newport Center district. Outstanding flames in color and design... Not only did they sell the best ice cream we have tasted in a long while. But, it was the Chevy Truck that caught our attention. It had a White Pearl base, Cragar S&S wheels, a cool lowered stance and those bright raspberry-purple flames on the hood and fenders. It was a great looking custom, converted, pick up truck. KK and Bubba’s Ice Cream Did I tell you they had the best hand scooped ice cream in existence? Perhaps, it was the cool treat for a hot day, but it tasted so good. While sitting in a shaded area, having our hot day treat those old ice cream truck memories came to the surface. The rumors of the old days’ ice cream trucks in our old Westside neighborhood on a hot summer day were good, but not this good. The smile on my wife’s face, our little granddaughter’s face and the taste swirling around in my own mouth made the whole day come to life in absolute clarity. It was that good of a tasting moment. When our granddaughter was staying with us almost 5-6 days a week from 6 months to around 4th grade, we went all over So Cal to see the sights, enjoy the beaches, the playground climbers, and the cool shaded parks for picnic lunches. Of course, what girl (wifey, too) does not like to go shopping for anything at anytime? So, that is how we ended up at the Newport Beach Fashion Island Shopping Center. Jnaki Since we have a history that goes back to 1953 at the pre-Fashion Island site, back to 1968 with my college companion and current wife to sighting a cool, custom panel delivery hot rod several years ago almost in the same location. The background buildings are the shopping center area. The front of the orange panel truck points to the old location of merle’s drive-in from the 60s hot rod cruising scene. PCH and MacArthur Blvd. Note: Our memory points highlight our road trips during these hectic days. Everything usually comes to light and projects a new direction for a surprising gift for our granddaughter. A goal of a future gift Upon asking our current college age granddaughter if she remembered that cool truck, she beamed and said… YES! Not only did she like the great ice cream and our exploration wandering trip, she definitely remembered that cool purple flamed, ice cream truck from 12 years ago, when she was 7. The owner said she could sit in the driver’s seat and pretend. It was her first time in a hot rod truck. In looking over the hood, she said that those flames were like those that I always drew on everything, including restaurant table tops. Ha! It is a cool little 1/64 scale version of that long ago memory from our ice cream rest stop at the Fashion Island Center. The toy truck project... if I can get my current mode of action moving toward that finished goal… that would be a great surprise… perhaps by this holiday season in 2025… ha-ha! So, at this rate, I may get it finished by the time she graduates from college in 2 years. YRMV Memories last, but, this is the finished goal... Hopefully! I need to "get my motor running..."
The Jalopy Journal
