My truck was ordered new by my step-dad Pete on March 17th 1997 from Carter Dodge in Manchester CT and he took delivery of the Ram on July 7th 1997. I purchased the truck from Pete in November of 2010 with 62,000 original miles on it and then drove it back home to the Midwest.

From the beginning, I was planning on a full frame off restoration. I have literally everything in regards to paperwork for this truck from the original order form that created it to my most recent receipt for its restoration. While the truck was mechanically in excellent shape it still, unfortunately, had the usual New England rust from the few winters it was driven in. Once I tore into the Dodge I found it was in far worse condition from the rust than I originally anticipated. If the truck wasn’t a member of the family I would have been better off starting with a rust free one. But I stuck with the truck and followed through with the restoration! I stripped it down to the bare frame and built it all back up from there.

LMC was a big help in provided parts that are no longer available from Dodge.