1963 Chevy C10 – Randy W.

Unk’s ’63

It was 1974 and we were going on our last family vacation together, I was 15. My uncle Jim lived in Richmond California. So we decided to load up the ’68 300 and hitch up the Wheel camper and head out. He owned a Texaco station and worked on cars in the 2 bay station. I was just starting to work on cars and thought he was doing what I would love to do someday. When we got there after days of August driving with no AC in the old Chrysler, uncle Jim and aunt Marlene stood outside open arms insisting we stay at the house. Next day I was ready to go see the shop! Dad drove me over to the Texaco station and out front was parked his ’63 step side. It was light green with black pinstripes and raised white letter tires and Ansen rims. Wow a true California custom! He had his stations number and address on the black painted bed rails. I went into the station and said cool truck Unk! He threw me the keys and said take it for a drive! I said I can’t drive it by myself Unk I’ve just got a learners permit. So without hesitation he said I will go with you then! Told the guys in the shop, I will be right back. We drove all over came back and I was on cloud 9! I took a lot of pictures on my instamatic camera hoping they would come out.

Fast forward to 2015. Unks 80 years old and has moved to Oregon. We have kept in touch over the years but the truck subject had stopped coming up. I had worked in a food plant married and had kids and grand kids but always had kept wrenching as a hobby. Phone rings one day and it’s Unk. He says you remember that old truck I had? I said sure do! Well do you still want it? I said hell yes I do Unk, I didn’t know you still had it! Well I sure do. It’s all rusty and won’t drive anymore and I’m to damn old to restore it! I said I don’t care I will restore it. He said ok Son we will talk later.

Many months later and after my wife said he’s not giving you that truck! He calls and says Hey Randy you ready for that truck? Well not right now Unk I’ve got Dads ’68 all tore apart. He says that’s too Fn bad son I’ve got it on the back of a flat bed 10 feet behind my head and I’m going to be in Fort Wayne Ind. in 24 hours (laughing the whole time). I could not help the tears swelling up in my eyes. He and his 80+ year old neighbor had loaded it up on his flatbed truck and drove from Lapine Oregon to Fort Wayne Ind. Wow! That’s a great Uncle!

When he pulled up was the first time I had laid eyes on it since 1974! Still wearing the same paint it had when I drove it when I was 15. Tears welled up in my eyes and I said it’s still cool Unk! And gave him a big hug. Before he turned around and went back I handed him an envelope full of pics. It was the pics I took of his truck in ’74. He said you kept those all these years I said yes sir why wouldn’t I ? His friend said well I guess you gave it to the right guy. And as quick as they came they left. What a great Unk I’ve got![lmc_story_gallery]