My 1969 Chevrolet Truck’s journey began when my daddy bought it second hand. He bought it to use as a farm and hunting truck. It came with a 327 motor in it and he took that out and put a 454 because he needed the power to pull his trailers. The truck came into my life when I started to drive before it was legal and that was before 1980. I used to drive around on our property and the property around us. When I got my license I thought my daddy would let me have THE truck. WRONG!! He got me a 1976 Pontiac Astre and it served me well. But my heart belonged to The truck and I wanted it bad.

I use to ask him over and over to please let me have the truck and he would always say no. My life took me in a different direction because I went into the Army for a couple of years, got out and got married and had children. My daddy parked the truck under the shed at his house for 20 odd years.

Well, I finally got my truck, but it was at a great cost. It was at my daddy’s passing in 2008 when he left it to me in his will. I’m happy to have The truck but I would rather have it with him here to help me fix it up. He was an awesome mechanic like my brother is. But I have the next best thing to help me with my truck. My brother (Robbie) and my husband (Lee). Robbie who is the best mechanic did all the mechanical work and Lee did the brakes and helped me with everything else.

Robbie and I did the bed in cedar that my daddy had cut a while back. We planned and grooved it and I put the finish on it. My husband and daughter helped me install it. Without them, I couldn’t have accomplished this task and truly love them dearly!

A fellow here in Chester (Wesley) took on the project of putting the truck back together and painting it. We only had roughly $2,000 for all the body work, putting it together and painting it. Wesley did a great job on the truck for what we paid him. I had asked several people to help take on the project, but no one stepped up except for Wesley. I bought just about all my merchandise from LMC except for a few items.

I’m very happy with the way our truck turned out. I just wish my daddy could have been here to give advice and help with it. We are constantly wanting to do more to it and eventually will when we save up enough money. We are planning on buying 2 new chrome bumpers, polished stainless steel kit for the bed and a very complete dash cluster with all the gauges. I would also like to put bucket seats in it, some type of sound control throughout the cab b/c it is very, very loud and kick panels with speakers.

I just wish my daddy would had been here to see it and help me complete this project.