That 70's Truck

[S10Fan]

There was a thread a few days ago about a truck for sale on CL and we all made fun of the "look" being 80 ish. It got me thinking about a truck i bought new in 76. I can assure you guys I never ever owned a Leisure Suit, and I hated Saturday Night Fever.

Ok, here goes.

I bought this truck new and started “modifying” it pretty much from day one. The headlights were a kit bought from Glory Vans (I think that was their name). I still can’t believe I cut up brand new headlight bezels. LOL. The kit was basically a plastic mounting plate that screwed to the core support. I think I paid 24.99 plus postage.

The factory installed white vinyl stickers (body graphics) were removed within a month. Added Western Cyclone wheels with the required Dunlop L60’s and G60’s. Lowering was handled via hot wrench and leaf removal. Note to the youngsters, we didn’t have dropped spindles and bags in the 70’s. Believe me, heating springs is bad, real bad.

As you can see, Mustang taillights, vinyl bed cover, power antenna, chrome goodies, Dodge Charger gas cap. The back window was a cool piece I found in the back of Truckin Magazine. Al Gore had yet to invent the internet so it took forever to send the money and have it arrive at my door. My Dad made the wood piece on the tailgate, used a router to cut out the bowtie. Yes, those are fog lights on the bumper, and yes the covers do say “Keep on Truckin”. Again, it was 1976, things like that were cool back then. LOL. The sunroof was an item I really enjoyed and it didn’t leak!

[S10Fan]

and the last one.............................

[gchemist]

Today you would get shot!!

HHMMMM......kinda cool for the era. I like the gas cap and sun roof ideas. So what happened to the truck?

[f.monroe]

You mention vinyl graphics . Was it a Sport ?
The truck looks good . Orange paint is nice . I think there was a Rap song about the back window . "Tinted back window with a bubble in the middle " or something like that . I knew someone who used to repeat that line a lot .
I wish I had the money to mod one like that when I was a teen . Mine was a bucket of bolts until I was a senior in highschool .
Frank

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by gchemist

Today you would get shot!!

HHMMMM......kinda cool for the era. I like the gas cap and sun roof ideas. So what happened to the truck?

Sigh, I met a woman, traded the truck on a new Monte Carlo, got married, found out I had married Satan’s sister, went through H E double hockey sticks, got a divorce, yada yada yada.

I remember buying the gas cap and taillights the same day, spent a total of like $35.00. I’m talking new parts from the dealer, try that now! LOL.

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by f.monroe

You mention vinyl graphics . Was it a Sport ?
The truck looks good . Orange paint is nice . I think there was a Rap song about the back window . "Tinted back window with a bubble in the middle " or something like that . I knew someone who used to repeat that line a lot .
I wish I had the money to mod one like that when I was a teen . Mine was a bucket of bolts until I was a senior in highschool .
Frank

Yes, it was a Sport.



That truck was my first “New” vehicle. I had been working since 9th grade at my Dad’s gas station. When I turned 18 I was fortunate to get hired into a work/training/college program with the local police department. Although Police pay wasn’t that great, no, it sucked, I had money in the bank and didn’t have to pay for school.

I can still remember telling my dad to just toss the steering wheel. I had bought a new wood wheel and stuffed the factory wheel in the box the wood wheel came in. It sat in my parents garage forever, Dad called me one day and asked if I wanted it. I told him to just throw it away, who would want a stock truck steering wheel? If I keep typing one of you guys may shoot me!

[boatpuller]

yup,iv'e bogarted a few doobies in truck's set up pretty much like that but,like that truck those day's are history.and that's probably a good thing.and then just like you a woman came along and ruined all mine fun.just kidding ,she saved my life.i was going nowhere fast.

[killthewabbit]

Bet that was a chick magnet back then, huh? I had a friend a couple years older than me who bought a 76 stepside that was totally some 70s stoner's reject truck. It had stacks going up through the side steps, high back buckets, and that weird yellowish-orange shag carpet.

I've always wondered how the mustang taillights would look on my stepside. I think I'll keep looking.

[N2TRUX]

I can dig it man. I really like the bubble window, and the Charger gas cap too. Hey I lived, and loved the 70's and that truck would have been a "heavy" ride for picking up the "foxey ladies".

[tvblazer78]

What a cool old ride..

[84 400]

I like it. its cool to see what people did to these back when they where new.

[dieselarmy13]

I love that truck! I think that style is cool. I don't care what anybody says. I can hear Slow Ride comin from the carpeted 6x9 speaker boxes. I will say though, that the tailgate was a bit too much. But hey, ya can't win em all, eh? Keep on truckin', baby.

[rod86]

man thats sweet.. i want it... i want a bubble back window.. and a charger gas cap and the cyclone wheels and the sunroof....

[maxreps]

Very cool and I think the wood on the tailgate looks great... something very original and it kinda goes with the orange too. Might not work on other colors but as anyone who's ever seen "true" shag carpet knows, orange and brown go together. Did you put the antenna on the left rear fender? My 76 step has it in the windshield so I have no clue where the factory would put it. What about the chrome steps, were they part of a package or an add-on?
It's funny to see or hear people's reactions to things from the past. Some don't realize that the "cool thing to do" during their youth will be looked at the same way by future generations. Kinda like the big wheel thing that started a few years back, I can't buy into it personally but think kids in 15 years will say "what the he!!, that thing looks like a toy with those big wheels".

[rod86]

now seriously does anyone know where to get a bubble rear window like that??

[jchav62]

I like it! Reminds me of the styles of my older brothers and cousins. When I was a kid, those dudes were my idols! My brother's 1st truck was a '57 Chevy and his tailgate had a similar 'wood shop' treatment. I like it... I love that back window! If I could find one that nice, I'd run it on my '73... GROOVY PICS!!

[babyJay]

Not to hijack, but does anyone remember the episode of C.H.I.P.S. where a group was running around stealing everyones "under-dash" 8 track decks?

[Pyrotechnic]

I'm sure you had the ladies lined up to ride in that thing back in the day, but today it would most likely scare them away.

[maxreps]

Originally Posted by rod86

now seriously does anyone know where to get a bubble rear window like that??

No luck in my search yet...

[jchav62]

Originally Posted by babyJay

Not to hijack, but does anyone remember the episode of C.H.I.P.S. where a group was running around stealing everyones "under-dash" 8 track decks?

No, but it sounds like a great episode. I used to love watching CHIPS.

[Driveway Dreams]

Cool ol' truck!

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by jchav62

I used to love watching CHIPS.

YouTube - Chips Theme Song

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by maxreps

Very cool and I think the wood on the tailgate looks great... something very original and it kinda goes with the orange too. Might not work on other colors but as anyone who's ever seen "true" shag carpet knows, orange and brown go together. Did you put the antenna on the left rear fender? My 76 step has it in the windshield so I have no clue where the factory would put it. What about the chrome steps, were they part of a package or an add-on?
It's funny to see or hear people's reactions to things from the past. Some don't realize that the "cool thing to do" during their youth will be looked at the same way by future generations. Kinda like the big wheel thing that started a few years back, I can't buy into it personally but think kids in 15 years will say "what the he!!, that thing looks like a toy with those big wheels".

I added the antenna, the factory one was in the windshield. I thought the power antenna was Kool. LOL.

The chrome steps were my creation. There's a chrome shop about an hour away (still in business) that dipped the steps, tailgate chains, and the glove box lid.

Shag carpet, fortunately I can't find any interior shots.

[mhicks]

I love it!

[baboiler]

I like it ! Takes me back to being a kid. Those style trucks are some of my first pickup memories. Lots of wood on wheels in those days!