Memories Galore

Story of my truck

I purchased my 1955 GMC 100 P/U in 1975. The truck broke down in the parking area where I lived, in Chattanooga, TN. The owner worked on it, off and on, for 3 days. He was getting very frustrated. I walked out of my apartment one day, and asked him what he would take for it? He said $250.00 and I immediately purchased it.

I had never seen a GMC like this one. It was a 6 cyl. with a 4-speed Hydramatic auto transmission. The front chrome on the truck was very rare also. I put a condenser in the truck and it fired right up. I dove this truck for several years, doing some minor improvements. I didn’t have much money to spend on the truck. I built waterbed frames for a living, so I swapped a bed and frame for 4 new tires and white spoke wheels. In 1980 I met the love of my life and I drove the truck for about 8-9 more years, still needing a lot of TLC.

I took a job in 1983 that supplied me with a work truck and a huge facility to be able to begin the first restoration on the truck. The first thing I did was to start gathering new, or reproduction parts. This took a couple of years. I would work on the truck off and on, then about 1990, I did a total frame-off restoration. Built the motor, trans, new gauges, had all the chrome professionally redone. Also painted from frame up. Installed a new seat, bed wood, actually added new bed sides, tailgate and front panel. Installed a set of RS wheels with new tires.

But here is the next part of this story. I am a man of great faith, and the new work that I was going to be doing was remodeling. I needed a vehicle. As I was praying one morning and telling God, “I need a work vehicle?” He calmly said in my spirit, “You have a great truck in the garage. This definitely caught me off guard. He let me know that I thought more of this truck, that I did of Him.

I immediately went down stairs, uncovered the truck, pulled it out in the open. I then measured the bed for the two largest Weather Guard boxes that would fit it. I ordered them and when they arrive I mounted the boxes and off to work I went, driving one of the coolest work trucks on the road. Definitely got great remarks, if you have a work truck like this, it must speak highly of your work.

So I continued to work from this truck for several years. Lots of water passed under the bridge over the next few years. The truck sat in the garage ignored. But there was an opportunity to pass it on to my young son, to give him a decent vehicle to drive.

He took it to his home and over the next couple of years he made a few changes. Mainly to a V-8 with a turbo 350. He didn’t drive it for long till I gave him my old suburban work vehicle. Now the ’55 was sitting outside. So I asked him if I could have it back? Deal was made and now begins the 2nd total redo.

This time; lowered, 305ci Vortec, power rack and pinion, new bed wood, new seat cover Old Air Heat and A/C unit, Kenwood 400 Watt bluetooth remote stereo (never had heat or A/C in this truck, oh to be young again). Haven’t decided to repaint the truck as of yet. It has an incredible patina and so much easier to take care of (another old age idea HA).

I lost my wife Sept. 3rd, 2016. She and I dated in this truck and we had so much fun.We were often taking crazy side roads just enjoying each other’s company and life in general.

To say that this truck means a lot to me would be doing it an injustice. I love it, she loved it, and the very best part of owning this truck, is what God showed me in the very beginning. He gives us such great gifts and opportunities, simply because He Love Us! Not only was my truck story about using my God given talents to restore this vehicle, but to come to the reality that I had placed a creation above the Creator. And in the end I have a wonderful vehicle to bring back incredible memories of the one lady I truly love and a reminder of how much my Precious Father in Heaven is watching over me, and pouring out His blessings.