Dad's new truck

[skytop]

Reminiscing – Dad’s new truck
Richard Lentinello on Apr 19th, 2017




Dad’s new C-10 in 1969. Photos courtesy Debra Ross-Andrade.

[Editor’s note: This “Reminiscing” story, edited by Richard Lentinello]

The summer of 1969 was the summer of wild times and music at Woodstock, and the summer that Neil Armstrong placed the first human footprints on the moon. The summer of ’69 was also when my dad purchased a new Chevrolet C-10 Fleetside half-ton pickup truck from Carl Chevrolet in San Jose, California.

This was Dad’s first purchase of a new vehicle, and he ordered his truck with the custom cab option, a 350-cu.in. V-8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and two-tone paint, white over yellow-green. A construction worker for most of his life, Dad selected the “no rear bumper” option available at the time and had the dealer install a heavy-duty aftermarket Barden step bumper. A pair of “West Coast” style truck mirrors was also installed.

The truck spent the next 40-plus years as Dad’s daily driver, and although other cars (mostly Chevys) were bought and sold over the years, the ’69 pickup was a constant and often served as our family’s sole source of transportation. Mom would rise early each morning and drive Dad to work, so the truck would be available during the day for shopping, taking grandchildren to school and other daily chores. Later in the afternoon, Mom or I would pick Dad up from work. On weekends, the truck would be put to use either hauling materials for home projects, or hauling dirt bikes into the surrounding hills for my brother Larry and his friends. This was the vehicle in which I obtained my first driver’s license, and my first speeding ticket. I remember coming home and handing Dad the ticket and keys. He looked at the ticket and remarked, “I didn’t think that truck could go that fast.” I then handed over my newly acquired driver’s license, which he held on to for two months. I have not had a speeding ticket since.

When Larry enlisted in the Army, he was sent to nearby Fort Ord for basic training. Every Sunday, we’d get up early, load a picnic lunch into the truck, and make the two-hour trip to Monterey to enjoy lunch and a brief visit before heading back home to San Jose. When Larry married, it was the ‘69 C-10 that carried us to his wedding in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Today, I can’t imagine having made that trip in the pickup. Although rear coil springs gave the truck a car-like ride, and it was equipped with air conditioning and power brakes, it didn’t have power steering. And, since trucks of that time weren’t very well insulated, the road noise was excruciating.

An avid hunter and fisherman, Dad eventually installed a camper shell to provide security for his sporting equipment, and shelter for Trump, his English pointer who served as an excellent hunting partner and faithful companion. Every evening, Trump would hear the truck round the corner and excitedly anticipate his daily training session in the front yard. To Trump, the truck represented a day spent traveling with his master, and then romping through field and stream in search of game.


Dad with the truck in April 2013.

The truck was never garaged, and Dad, being a stickler for maintenance, had it repainted once or twice over the years. The engine and automatic transmission were overhauled as needed, too. Sometime in the late ’80s or early ’90s, the original engine was replaced with a new crate engine, which is still in use today. During its 40-plus years of serving our family, the C-10 has never been involved in any body-crunching mishaps. On one occasion, though, a minor engine compartment fire erupted as Dad and Mom were returning home from an errand. A recently replaced starter cable had been installed a bit too close to the exhaust manifold. Heat from the manifold melted the plastic insulation on the cable, causing a direct short, which sparked the fire. Dad always had an extinguisher on board, so was able to calmly pull to the side of the road and extinguish the blaze before firefighters arrived. The fire itself caused only minor damage, but what upset Dad the most was that someone had walked away with his extinguisher, which he had set at the curb while talking with the firemen. Dad purchased another extinguisher, which to this day, although many years beyond its expiration date, remains mounted above the driver’s-side seat back.

Dad gave up driving at age 91 and turned the truck over to me and my husband, Steve. We have refurbished the interior to original, and plan to repaint it soon. We continue to use it as a workhorse, hauling building and landscape materials, as well as feed and other supplies for use around the homestead. Since we’ve been using the old C-10, the long-forgotten practice of Steve walking around to the passenger side and opening the door for me has returned, one of the benefits of needing to use the key to unlock the doors, rather than today’s convenience of simply pushing the unlock button on an electronic key-fob.

Like the memories of the summer of ’69, and those first footprints that remain indelibly etched on the lunar surface, our little C-10 has endured the tests of time and continues to be a working member of our fleet today. One of our favorite things about using the old truck is listening to the original AM radio, which sounds as good today as it ever has, not to mention the renewed appreciation we have for power steering.

[weq92f]

Great story and pictures. Thanks for sharing!

-klb

[Greg58]

Nice truck story, Dad looks like a proud man.

Greg

[rally]

Awesome story! I really enjoyed reading that. Glad the truck has survived and stayed in the family.

[72 tigger]

Cool story! So, the truck is in FL now?

[35boulder]

I agree, very cool story. Thanks for sharing.

[FRCvette]

Enjoyed the read very much.

[engineer_gregh]

Thanks for sharing. Wonderful write up.

[yuccales]

Great story!

[hewittca]

Awesome story, truck, and photos. Thanks for sharing!

[outfield]

Thanks for sharing this story, it brings back many memories of me with my grandpa and his '67 C10.

[cypressbog]

Nice story. I'm happy to learn the truck will be kept in the family.

[rustytruck50]

Great write up! Thank you for sharing your truck & story!

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice story and it is awesome it will stay in the family!

[Zeroman]

What a story!

Reading this has made my day.

It never ceases to amaze me how we are so attached to our memories around family, automobiles, and experiences.

Every time you get in that truck I am sure you are drowned in those memories.

You should be very proud to have the opportunity to make more memories as the years will continue to tick by.

Thanks for posting.

[Low Elco]

Great story! PS is an easy upgrade in a 69...

[slikside]

That's a lucky truck...

[NC_John]

I dont think this is his story (or truck). Its just a repost he shared from Hemmings. Richard Lentinello (credited) is an automotive author.

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2017/0...comments-block

[skytop]

[QUOTE=NC_John;8054961]I dont think this is his story (or truck). Its just a repost he shared from Hemmings. Richard Lentinello (credited) is an automotive author.
I was extremely clear about the story giving full credit to the author Lentinello. I find your post vacuous and unnecessary.

[Troy Sr]

[quote=skytop;8060022]

Originally Posted by NC_John

I dont think this is his story (or truck). Its just a repost he shared from Hemmings. Richard Lentinello (credited) is an automotive author.
I was extremely clear about the story giving full credit to the author Lentinello. I find your post vacuous and unnecessary.

I think he was just pointing this out as some people were saying you were lucky to have the truck still in the family and how memories must come rushing back when you get in the truck. I myself didn't know it was someone elses story and truck, I assumed it was yours.

[NC_John]

[quote=skytop;8060022]

Originally Posted by NC_John

I dont think this is his story (or truck). Its just a repost he shared from Hemmings. Richard Lentinello (credited) is an automotive author.
I was extremely clear about the story giving full credit to the author Lentinello. I find your post vacuous and unnecessary.

Stop trying to confuse me with your big words sir. Unless one reads Hemmings publications one might not know that Richard Lentinello is an automotive author. Since the screenname "skytop" doesn't tell anyone your name is not Richard, forum members were obviously thinking it was a personal story and not just something you saw and were sharing.

Must not have been "extremely clear" if you were being asked specific questions about the truck, huh?

[NC_John]

[quote=Troy Sr;8060049]

Originally Posted by skytop

I think he was just pointing this out as some people were saying you were lucky to have the truck still in the family and how memories must come rushing back when you get in the truck. I myself didn't know it was someone elses story and truck, I assumed it was yours.

Bingo Troy. Thanks.

[merlin3]

thanks for that great story.