[FONT==rial]By Brent Simpson[/FONT] [FONT==rial] Rob, The ‘ToonMan’, is mostly known for his unique automotive cartoons. What you may not have known is that Rob is the builder of several Classic Chevy Trucks. In fact long before he was known nationally as a cartoonist, he was building Hot Rod Pickups. Rob had always wanted a '56 Chevy truck, just like his Dad had when he was a kid. But after searching for one with no luck, he ended up with a '50 Ford F-1. With the help of family friend Jerry Weiss, Rob replaced the frozen up 239 Flathead V-8 with a '55 Mercury Flathead V-8. After the mechanics were straighten out Rob brought the truck home from Jerry's shop, and he and his Dad stripped down the entire body and put the truck in red primer. The truck was looking good, but it wasn't the Chevy he wanted so he sold it the next year. With cash to spend Rob set out to find his dream truck. After a slight leaning towards buying a late 60's El Camino, Rob came back to wanting an old Chevy Truck. In October of '82, he fell into one. After driving his sister's friend home, Rob spotted a truck coming at him and thought it was a friend of his. As the truck drove by, Rob noticed it was a rare Cameo! Rob whipped his parents '62 Nova into a u turn and chased the Cameo to its home. Rob had no idea this U turn would change his life. Rob talked with the '55's owner, who is now a great friend, for some time. Finally, Rob mentioned that he was looking for a 56, the man said "Really, I have one for sale, but it is a Cameo. Is that OK?" OK!? You Bet! Rob raced home and ran in the house to tell his Dad that he had found a Cameo for sale. This was something dear to his heart. Rob's Dad, Pete, had found a Cameo box in a wrecking yard years before. (Imagine that!!) Pete wanted to put it on his '56, but Rob's Mom wouldn't agree to it, stating that there is no more hauling space. Subsequently, he didn't get it. So hearing this news was as exciting to Pete as it was to Rob! The next day, they jumped in Pete's '62 Chevy Pickup and went to look at the Cameo. What they saw when the arrived was a giant model kit, with no instructions, the truck was totally disassembled!! After a closer look, Rob realized there were actually 2 trucks! A '55 and a '56, both Cameo's! Rob bought it all anyway and hauled the whole mess home in 7 truckloads! Rob spent the next 5 years putting one truck together out of all of the parts. Some changes made to the Cameo included a lowered suspension, a 325 hp 350/ TH 350, Turquoise and Black paint scheme, & velvet interior. Rob had the Cameo completed in time for the '87 Portland Roadster Show where the truck took home a 2nd place trophy. Later that year, the Cameo performed its greatest task, to drive Rob and Angie away from their wedding. Angie had always wanted to get a Van, but Rob wasn't a big fan of Vans, so he suggested they get an old Panel Truck. He figured it would be an old truck for him, and Angie could do the inside like a Van. So in '87 they purchased a '56 Chevy Panel and towed it home from Redmond, OR. All it needed to be drivable was a new 235 six cyl, which Rob got from Paul at Paul's Classics in Portland. With the new motor and 3:11 Dana rear end, the Panel was a real highway cruiser! Angie had the interior fixed up for camping and Rob was digging up cool factory items to bolt on such as a Hood Bird, Peep mirror, Bumper Guards, & Fog Lights. It took until '99 to decide on a color to paint the truck. Rob wanted Blue, and Angie wanted Purple. The first coats of Purple Velvet enamel were shot in September of that year. You see who won! In the early 90's both the Cameo and Panel were undergoing suspension upgrades and Rob was driving a tricked out root beer brown with orange trimmed '58 Cameo everyday. A truck formerly owned by Rob's Dad. Yes, Pete finally did get his Cameo. With a 283, Saginaw 4 speed, and Nova rear end, it was a great driver! But when Angie's parents moved to Central Oregon in '91, they knew a 4x4 had to be their next Truck. Something about driving a Cameo through those snowy winter passes didn't appeal to Rob, so the '58 went down the road After having an '81 Jeep Scrambler for almost a year, Rob needed to come back to GM. In January of '92, just before their daughter Cassi was born, they purchased a '77 GMC Jimmy 4x4. As usual, Rob couldn't leave the truck alone. It wasn't long before the Jimmy had a 5 inch lift, 35" tires, 8,000 lb Warn Winch, multiple lights, traction bars, axel trusses and many other 4 wheeling accessories. By 2001, Rob's Automotive Cartooning Business was really taking off. He knew he needed a truck to drive around to represent Sasquatch Artworks, and the off road capable Jimmy wasn't the right choice. So in March Rob found his truck, a '78 Chevy Short Fleetside. The GMC remained the work truck, and the original baby blue '78 became the Squatch-Art shop truck. Rob did a lot of Hot Rod Art to trade for the parts he needed to give the '78 the stance he wanted. After the parts were collected, Rob cruised out his friend, John Witherspoon's, shop, The Past Lane, and the '78 was slammed! The dropped spindles, dropped coils, & lowered rear leafs did the trick. A complete front end rebuild to go along with the lowering parts came along for the ride. Angie and Cassi surprised Rob at Christmas with a re upholstered seat by Rob Couch at Rob's Upholstery, the same shop that did their '56 Cameo's interior. Rob also upgraded the '78 with simple scallops, a Malibu air dam, ¾ ton sway bar, Ram Air System, stock rear bumper, Chrysler 5<SUP>th</SUP> Avenue louvers on the hood, and a tailgate mounted '58 "Fleetside" emblem. Later, Rob made his E-bay find of the century, a set of super rare fender skirts! Something that really set the '78 apart from the others. In September of ’04 Rob found a super rare ’63 TrailorBoat. A teardrop style camping trailer that was made with a matching boat, form fitted to the roof. 1 of a little over 400 made, this collectable would look sweet behind any of the ToonMan’s Rides. In July of 2010 a car for sale came to Rob and Angie's attention and they just couldn't say no. A '56 Chevy 210 Beauville 9 passenger Station Wagon. With a built '60 283, Muncie 4 speed and a 3:55 Posi the car made a great Anniversary present for them. Although it is in need of work, it is a solid car and will be fun for them both. But with new cars some old ones needed new homes. With a sad heart, the 78 and the Jimmy had to say farewell. The Cameo now sports a much lower attitude with a '79 Nova subframe, Chevelle rear end, and re mounted spring hangers. Dropping the rare truck down in the weeds. The Panel has been updated with a V-8, Automatic Transmission ,'80 Plymouth Volare' subframe, swivel/ reclining bucket seats, outside sunvisor, frenched tail lights, and dual antennas. Classic features that add to the look of the 50's custom truck. [FONT==rial] Along with the before mentioned ’50 Ford, ’58 Cameo and ‘81 Jeep Scrambler, some of the other trucks Rob has had include two '55 Chevy stepsides, a deluxe '55 GMC and a full custom '55 Cameo that featured '56 Chevy car tail lights. [/FONT] [/FONT] Cruising the Avenue Magazine September 2010
Great story. I met Rob a couple of years ago. He did a cartoon of my '34 Ford pickup. I have it proudly displayed over my desk in the office. Cool guy!
The Jalopy Journal
