Grandpa’s C10

In 1964, my grandpa bought a Chevy C10 pickup truck from Worley motors in International Falls, MN. He ordered it just the way he wanted it, no extras. It had to have a long bed, so a 4×8 sheet of plywood would lay flat in the back. No radio, no air conditioning, and no arm rests. An unordered cigarette lighter and driver side arm rest almost caused the sale to fall through, because Grandpa wasn’t paying extra for something he didn’t order. A few years later, a hunter in MN missed a deer he was shooting at, however he didn’t miss Grandpa’s truck. The bullet struck just left of the driver’s side turn signal. A memory we decided to leave during the restoration. My dad said grandpa would’ve made the hardest nosed sailors cringe after that. Then in 1974, Grandpa passed away. The truck was left to Grandma then purchased by my Uncle. After several years of driving and hauling, it was time for a little overhaul and restoration. A task that my Uncle, an E9 Air Force mechanic was more than capable of completing himself. The truck was running like new, and looking really good too! A few years after the over haul, my Uncle passed away. My Aunt and cousins became the new owners of the truck. After my dad talking and telling stories and memories about Grandpa and the truck, I made a call to ask my cousin about it. He said they were still driving and using it. That made me feel good! I told him if they ever wanted to sell it please let me know first, cause I wanted to keep it in the family. He agreed and that was that. Then in December of 2019, my cousin contacted me. He asked was I still interested in the truck. Was I?!? We made arrangements to have the truck, which had made its way to California, shipped to Mississippi. A task which cost more than the truck did when it was new in 1964. Since it arrived, me and my family, along with a few friends have worked to get the truck back to its original glory. To be able to work on the truck with my dad, cussing at the same parts my Grandpa and Uncle probably cussed, means more to me than anything. I never met my Grandpa, so working on and owning his old C10 is kinda my way of connecting with him. Although he’d probably be raising hell for me spending so much money on an old beat up truck.