1997 Chevy C1500 – Gene H.

Dad was the consummate working man. He worked 33 years as a mechanic for DuPont, and in his spare time he loved to work around the house. Dad was so skilled, he could literally build a house from the ground up. Dad drove used cars most of his life, but in 1997 he decided to buy a new truck to enjoy and use for projects during his retirement. Dad found a truck that fit his personality perfectly. He wanted a single cab, no frills, long bed with a six cylinder engine. He bought our C1500 from the Chevy dealer in Port Arthur, TX.

Just like Dad, it was indeed “no frills”. Crank up windows, vinal flooring, bench seat, minimal electronics, but it had cruise control and ice cold A/C. Dad added a diamond place lockable tool box and full length running boards to help Mom step up and in. He prized the 8 ft. bed. He wanted that specifically to haul 4×8 plywood and 2×4’s when needed. It was the perfect set up for him. Dad worked it up until the day he passed in late December 1999. Mom used it until she could not drive anymore. Then, I used it when I drove her around until she passed in 2007.

After she passed, I inherited it, I loved the truck, it was something I knew I wanted to drive and hopefully hand down to my son who was eight years old at the time. I thought it would be so cool for Dad’s truck to be owned by our three generations. I used it to commute to my work for many years. When my son got his drivers license at age 16, he proudly took possession of “PaPa’s truck”. My son used it all through high school, and then drove it away to college. He began his career with it, and eventually sold it back to me when he bought a new truck.

Now, at 28 years old and 185K on the odometer , I decided to give it a makeover. I bought and installed new headlights, tail lights, and carpeting from LMC. It freshened it up a lot. I get lots of compliments in parking lots and gas stations. My son still calls PaPa’s truck the “Iconic Chevy”. I love telling everyone how Dad’s truck connected three generations of Harrington men. I still proudly drive it today.