In 1966, one of my friends’ fathers bought a brand new short wheelbase Chevy. He carried us to baseball practice and games in the back of that Stepside. In my mind, I knew that I would one day own that truck.
It took me 14 years of calling two or three times a year, begging him to sell me the truck, before he finally gave in. At that time, I had a 1980 Ford truck with air and sold it the next day so that I could drive my dream truck, a green ‘66 Chevy Stepside with a short wheelbase and no air. It ranked in the top ten of the happiest days of my life. You really have to be a truck person to appreciate that.
I worked out of the truck for years, until the Mississippi heat and the price of gas finally forced me to park it. I would try to drive it every couple of months to keep it running. Then, before I knew it, 30 years had passed. The paint had faded, the tires dry rotted, the wheel cylinders froze up and small bubbles of rust started popping up under the paint. The truck I had dreamed of as a kid had been neglected.
In 2010, I knew it was time to restore. I talked my brother Lee into giving up many nights and weekends to help me. We decided on a frame-off restoration. Every part that could be saved was sandblasted and primed. The parts with too much rust were purchased from LMC Truck. My friend Robert Guy completed all of the paint and bodywork. My friend Craig Brock rebuilt the transmission for me. I had the original 6 cylinder 250 rebuilt along with the rear end. My truck has been a favorite at many antique shows and I recommend anyone restoring a truck purchase your parts from LMC.