In March of 1965, my Dad purchased a new Chevy C-10 Pickup from a Chevrolet dealership in the small West Virginia town of Harrisville, 20 miles from our home. He had ordered the pickup to be built to his specifications—a Fleetside Long-bed with the Custom Cab Package; a 283 V-8 engine matched with a power glide automatic transmission; two-tone turquoise metallic and white paint; chrome bumpers; and side mirrors. He was grinning from ear to ear that day in March when he drove it into the driveway.
It was his first new pickup and he was proud of it! He used it principally as his work truck, as most pickup owners did back then, and occasionally for leisure. I was often with him as he travelled the paved and unpaved country roads to town, to oil and gas well drilling operations, or to his favorite hunting and camping areas. The memories of riding with my Dad in his ’65 Pickup are special and some of the best of my childhood.
The pickup also served as the vehicle in which my five siblings and I learned how to drive. In fact, I took my driver’s test in the pickup, as did my younger brother! He and I drove it frequently as teenagers in high school, even during the winter months on snow covered roads, and during the summers when home from college. And, we learned the importance of maintaining a vehicle while helping our Dad with the oil changes, checkups and tune ups.
Dad took good care of his pickup–performing regular maintenance, driving it gently, and keeping it clean of road grime and dirt. But even so, the long winters and being outside took its toll on the body. But instead of buying a new pickup in the early 1970s, Dad repaired the rusted body areas of the ’65 and painted it yellow to match his 1968 Chevrolet Impala Station Wagon. He continued to drive the pickup into retirement, taking his grandchildren and others on rides, including my wife during her first visit to our house over 40 years ago.
After the passing of my Dad, I did not know what to do with his pickup. Upon the encouragement of my three sons, I finally decided to restore Dad’s ’65 pickup to its original look and condition. Sitting outside for nearly 30 years had taken its toll, resulting in the need for a total restoration. The truck was completely disassembled and every piece was restored or replaced. Greg, my restoration guy, began the work in the fall of 2009. Greg’s workmanship was superb. His attention to detail on every aspect of the restoration and his top-of-the-line paint job created a truck “as good as new”!
The restoration was completed in May 2014 and it turned out perfectly! The cab (exterior and interior) is original, except for the windshield and sun visors. The interior was painted its original two-tone color; the instrument gauges were cleaned and look like new; and the seat was re-upholstered with original fabric which I found in a warehouse in Oregon. Also original are the chrome bumpers (which I had re-chromed), side mirrors, 16” wheels, and the engine and transmission. The exterior was returned to its original eye-catching color of turquoise and white and a stained oak bed was added in lieu of the original pine wood that had been painted black.
I am really glad I decided to restore my Dad’s ’65 Pickup–dad would be happy! I really enjoy the many compliments I get on it and people love the story that my dad bought it new, that I took my driver’s test in it, and that it has been in the family for 50 years. Most of all though, I enjoy driving it around town, particularly with my wife and my sons—it brings back the memories of driving it as a teenager and riding with my Dad in his ’65 Chevy Pickup. And some day, my sons will be the proud owners of the ’65 Pickup and they, too, can drive it around town with fond memories of riding in it with not only their dad but also their grandfather!