Pickup trucks; fancy leather-laden four-wheel drive quad cab beasts, have become the family car of the 21st century for many people. Not surprisingly, these monsters overwhelm many of the driveways in the townhome community we moved to a few years back. Whatever. Drive what you love.
But what about the 'old school' pickup truck? The kinda beat up, getting old, maybe a rust patch here and there, real truck? Do they have a place in a neighborhood that doesn't need a bed full of mulch or a load of sheetrock? Surprisingly the answer is a resounding, yes! Here's a few in my urban canyon neighborhood.
1970s Chevy C-10
This beauty, clearly a project in progress, lives over by the mailboxes. No idea what motor it may conceal, but the build is going in the right direction. The mat red is a perfect fit for the lowered stance and white steel wheels.
The light grill mod features LED headlights and a great combination of black and chrome. I've never managed to meet the owner, but I know we would be friends. And did you notice the fabulous side exhaust?
1976 Ford F-150
This near-perfect resto-stock F-150 first showed up a few years back, quickly establishing itself as the tough guy in the neighborhood. The owner brought it with him from Las Vegas and these days it mostly just stands ready for rough duty. The matte blue is a perfect color, contrasted with the black wheels and modest lift - a perfect balance of mods that make something already cool even better,
The bed is painted - or perhaps not painted - with a battered off white clearcoat. The diamond plate box and oversize steel bumper hint at real work usefulness, while the lift and wheels say fun.
1996 Ford F-150
Many of you may recognize this Ford pickup, some of you have borrowed it. And that's actually the answer to the question posed at the top of this post - you can always find a use for an old truck, and loaning it to friends is the best use for an old truck. Since we brought her in from the suburbs where it hauled all sorts of stuff on a regular basis, "Phil's Truck" has done regular duty in the hands of a wide variety of friends and neighbors for all manner of lumber, furniture, playsets, and an occasional '57 Chevy transmission. In fact as I write these words, it's hauling a friend's load of windows to Raleigh.
"Phil's Truck" is named for my late brother in law Phil Keller. Before his untimely death from cancer in the early years of the century, this Vietnam vet and NC Fish and Wildlife worker used his truck exactly as it was intended, hard - from the down east red clay mud of Pender County to the Blue Rock Marlin Tournament he managed. Phil was also responsible for the truck's perfect options; the unbreakable straight six 300 cubic inch engine coupled to a four speed manual overdrive transmission and four wheel drive. The behind the wheel experience is almost agricultural, in the best possible way. You can't help but grin, and feel a bit taller. And that bench seat is perfect for cruising to the dump with your best girl by your side.
So what do you think... Quien Es Mas Macho?
