1973 Chevy C10 – Patrick S.

I started painting signs in 1970. I took a mail order course through ICS, Scranton, Pennsylvania on the G.I. Bill. I took over Nair Signs in 1972 and the owner had no truck. I was driving a 1950 Chevy Business Coupe at the time and realized I needed a pickup truck for my work, so I put $500 down on a $3,200 6 cyl. short bed. It doesn’t sound like much, but my rent was $85 a month, and I had two kids and my wife to support.

I kept it lettered for the next 30 years I had sign shops. I originally had a rack for my ladders but decided to get a camper shell with a rack so I could protect my sign kit and tools. I bought a new car in 2004 and parked the truck because I wasn’t doing too much sign work anymore as I was working at the Disneyland Sign Shop but I left in 2007.

Around 2012, there was a resurgence of hand lettered signs. I decided to start work on my truck again so I could pick up materials for home improvements. Over the last five years, I’ve been upgrading the engine and interior, had the truck painted, and put new rims and tires on the truck. I was fortunate to meet Paul Bosserman at Old Anvil Speed Shop and he has been very helpful in the rebirth of my truck. I also joined a C-10 club on Facebook out of Arizona. Who knew the ‘box’ trucks would be popular again.[lmc_story_gallery]