In His Grip: The Little Red Truck

Jeff and my Dad came home with this little red truck over 20 years. It did not start out looking like this but it did run. They had BIG plans for this truck and it took what seemed like forever. There were times through the transformation that I wondered if it would ever be done and running again. The whole process took about 13 years. The real bummer is that we do not have a picture of what it looked like before the rebuild began. But here are some of the changes that took place. First of all, it was a long bed, and is now a short bed. The top was chopped just slightly so it looks cool but no one can figure out why. It started out two tone red and white. Over the years there have been many a late night and long weekends of Jeff and Dad, and then later when Ryan was old enough, working on this little red beauty.

They total stripped it down and built it back up again.

This was the original engine that they rebuilt was from my Grandpa Nelson's 1970 Nova, but was only there until Ryan was driving it on I-35 on a prom date when the engine blew. Then we had to save up for a new crate motor.

Jeff and Dad were like two kids in a candy shop when the new crate motor came in. They could not wait to drop it in the truck.

So this is now the new engine, I have no idea what kind or how big, all I know is that it was new and it runs. Now mind you, it only runs on a nice day with no rain in the forecast and where there is room to park very, very far away from any one else.

You know a truck is for show only when the bed looks better than my dinning room table. We can't haul anything in that, are you kidding me?

This little red truck has become something of a treasure to us in that it was with my Dad's knowledge and love for trucks that he and Jeff finished this project together and then passed on the knowledge and love to Jeff and Ryan.

Not only is our truck fun to ride in, but apparently there are others that appreciate a great truck when they see one. Now that I have made this post and let everyone know how great a little red truck that we have maybe next time the announcer calls out the winning truck he will say Jeff "and Judy" Sturman owns the winning truck.