In 30 days my friends, my wife and I put a 1964 chevy truck together for my sons birthday. It was hard to keep him in the dark, but we did and he had no idea until I gave him the keys at his birthday party and told him to take a look in the driveway. The truck was rusty and dented very bad. I welded new cab corners, fender bottoms, floor sections, rocker sections, and many other parts in, while a friend went behind doing the finish work. Another friend put the wood in the bed, made from oak that he had cut from a local tree that had fallen. We also had a couple of other folks including my son's 16 year old friend working. We actually performed what we thought was just about impossible. Teamwork was the key and friendship fueled the fire. We had no idea we could make this truck as nice as it is in such a small amount of time. Although the truck was mechanicly sound with a six cylinder and three speed, the truck had been used here in North Carolina as a pinestraw truck in the woods and was beat all to hell and back. The body was done right with no corners cut, all rust was cut out and new metal welded in, all dents were pulled and a minimum amount of filler was used. This was also not a highly financed job. New parts were rarely used. The grille was bought for $20 and had been laying in a man's garden for years. I removed all the dents and polished it. One piece of the aluminum molding was replaced, the rest was hammered out, filed, sanded and polished. Another friend with a junk yard donated the seats from a SO thunderbird, full power buckets and a console was built and covered. In the first picture you can see my sone standing by the door smiling, ofcourse this was after the crying was over, I think he was overwelmed!! If you know any of these names listed below and they are your friends, you are as lucky as me. Charley Wickman A.K.A. "Pops" (body man) Jonny Wickman (sanding tech and master gofer) Big Ed (body man) Brad Merz (master woodworker, donated bed bolts, strips, and spar varnish) Vince Calvin (traded me the truck, donated the hood and front bumper) B.J. Lee (my son's friend, busted his ass doing just about everything, donated the steering wheel and carpet) We had just planned on building a driver, but he can now drive it to a show and not look out of place. Most of these fellows have known me for many years and have known my son since he was knee high to a grasshopper. My son had many years of medical problems and spent a lot of his childhood in the hospital, he has never asked for anything and has never complained, not even once. Thanks god for good friends!!
Nice truck,but a great story!!!Passing it on...that's what it's all about. He's a lucky kid,in more ways than one. Now,GO CRUSIN!!!
If that young man lives to be 200 (and I hope he does) he won't forget what you and your friends did for him. He must be some great, much-loved kid. Nice going, Dad.
Thats what this hobby is all about! He will never forget that, and hopefuly do the same for his kids because of you! Great story!
Very cool, sounds like you got a lot acomplished in a short time. and this is something he will remember.
very kewl and he will remember that b-day for years and years. Hope all his med problems are behind him so he can just enjoy that killer truck
Heart warming story, good friends forever. I hope your son can now enjoy life hospital free. Awesome truck!
Wonderful story that you and your wife, your friends or you son won't forget anytime soon. And a great looking truck too!
Damn, that choked me up a bit. I must be getting old. Awesome story, family and friends, it's what's it's all about.
And I thought I was special when my folks gave me a Chraftsman tool set on my 13th Xmas! Chokes me up just thinking about it. It took Kisam over 2yrs to build her's, so I guess you guys worked a miracle.
The Jalopy Journal
