1969 C10 LWB - "The Green Truck" - Miranda

[voxnor]

*Disclaimer: This build is being done by a shop - not by me. I know some folks here much-prefer the do-it-yourself jobs, so I thought it prudent to be clear from the start*

Back in the early 80's, by Father purchased a used 1969 Custom/10 LWB from a family friend. He used the truck for his daily commute and for the many home improvement projects he was always tackling.

(My Dad and Grandfather in the mid-80's, with the truck; Mom and my older sister)



As the 90's rolled in, my dad was faced with two kids and a third on the way, and so switched to a vehicle with more seating. Luckily, my Grandfather was in need of a truck and bought it from my Dad.

Born in 1987 (the second child of three mentioned above), I was infatuated with the truck from as early as I can remember. Each summer, I would go and spend a week with my Grandparents - and we would take "The Green Truck", as my family has always referred to it, on camping trips with a cab-over. On other occasions where I found myself around my grandparents, I would go for rides with my Grandpa in the truck. The truck even made it into the Danville July 4th Parade one year, as my sister was a cheer-leader and the her schools primary color was green

My Grandpa is a very practical guy - and very frugal. I think he has always appreciated "The Green Truck" as a living family memory - but a full restoration was something he never seemed interested in tackling. He seemed to enjoy just keeping it running, which of course has merit.

It became apparent pretty early that I wanted the truck. Patiently, I waited in line. I'd playfully pester my Grandpa at family gatherings over the years; "Almost done with the Green Truck, Grandpa?". "Can I pick up the Green Truck yet?". etc.

Finally, a little over a year and a half ago, in the summer of 2012, my Grandpa was ready to part ways with the truck. I cleaned out the garage, bribed my Wife to give up her car's garage spot for room to work, and brought home "The Green Truck".







I had some grand ideas about doing an entire restoration myself. It didn't matter to me that I was a software developer, who had never even changed the oil in a car much less torn one apart and restored it.

For a few months I tinkered - began dissassembling. I even got the bed off:

(I know - there are so many horrible things you could say about this photo... just keep reading and you'll feel better)



Then - work got busy again. California's implementation of Obama-care fired up here in Sacramento, I joined the project as an Independent Contractor and was back to my 60+ hour weeks that is all-too common in project-based I.T. work.

The truck sat... and sat... and sat some more. I'd pass it each day on the way out to my MDX to drive to work, getting more upset each time I walked by it that it was just sitting there. I wanted to drive it - I wanted to start adding memories to the figurative book my Dad and Grandpa had started over 30 years ago.

Finally, about three months ago, I decided enough was enough. Works not getting any easier, i'm not getting younger, and the truck wasn't getting any closer to being restored. I decided that as much as I wanted to do it myself, I wanted to drive and enjoy the truck more.

So - the Wife and I sat down, restructured ourselves financially a bit, and began shop-hunting. After visiting several, we settled on California Collision and Customs. Mostly because the guys there are great - very realistic, down-to-earth guys who didn't balk at the idea of me wanting a full-restore for a daily driver.