Former Steve McQueen Vic Hickey-Prepped Truck

[NONHOG]

Wow thats awesome looking truck . And that Olds ! I think there was an earlier
68 or 9 Olds too right ?
Need more pics ! And Welcome from next door .

[streetstar]

Great stuff --- welcome to the boards Mr. Baja1000.

It must be great to be the curator/ keyholder to such windows to the past.

Movie stars were allowed to do such things then --- well - even if they weren't, Mcueen and Garner would anyway -- (now all they do is fornicate, adopt foreign children, and rant about gun control)

That photo of Garner suiting up with his ciggy hangin is classic.

[lts70]

It is great to have more experienced members here on boards to learn from. Love and envy your collection. Hope to see more of those photos!

[baja1000]

Originally Posted by 70rs/ss

I read the article I thought it was CarCraft or HotRod, but I also read the ORA, so not sure but I read the article, way cool truck with super low miles and lots of COPO options. You found it behind a tire store, right? Then went back after you found out the history and asked the owner if he still had the motor and he did?! Very cool stuff, things like this prove I was born a bout 10-15 years too late!!

thanks, I have had a ton of fun with this truck, Last november i took it to the 40th baja 1000 race in Mexico, and last week i got back from the Las Vegas mint 400 race, The truck first raced there in 1969, We had a lot of fun taking out on the streets of Las Vegas at night for runs up and down the strip, The guy standing bu the truck is Cliff coleman He was the original driver of the truck in the 1968 Baja 1000 ans the 1969 Las Vegas race, Then we took the truck for a run out in the desert, O yea the Girls liked the truck also and i had to give a couple of them a ride in the truck

[5150]

I guess I'll do the obligatory "I don't see your truck in the third pic"

[68350]

like the toolbox and the 4 cab lights!

[baja1000]

Originally Posted by 68350

like the toolbox and the 4 cab lights!

Thanks, It is a C-10 chassis with a C-30 cab, It came that way from the factory, I just set up the truck on display today, 4 wheel parts who did the story on the truck has a truck fest this weekend in Puyallup Washington, Its a lot of fun to take it around and tell the whole story, Here are a few photos of my latest project.Its a 1970 Blazer, Its doing to be built to run the Baja 1000 next year, Cliff Coleman who drove my truck in the 68 Baja 1000 and a Blazer in the 69 Baja 1000 wants to run nthe baja 1000 one more time so iam going to build this blazer just like his 1969 Blazer he ran in 1969 only with better suspension, It will be 40 years sence he raced there, It should be a lot of fun,Thanks again Ron

[special-K]

I`d love to see that truck up close. What a piece of history...and living art! It`s cool to see a COPO truck spec`d out for off road racing. I`m not usually into a lot of flash, but that picture with the chrome trim along the side is lookin`good!
Are those 16.5 rims? I see that little compartment door on the passenger bedside. I see that Desert Dynamics decal on the side. The one Blazer I have had a lot of their stuff on it. They made a hidden sidewinder-type winch like Hickey`s, if not the same unit.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by baja1000

Here are a few photos of my latest project.Its a 1970 Blazer, Its doing to be built to run the Baja 1000 next year, Cliff Coleman who drove my truck in the 68 Baja 1000 and a Blazer in the 69 Baja 1000 wants to run nthe baja 1000 one more time so iam going to build this blazer just like his 1969 Blazer he ran in 1969 only with better suspension,

I know it's a lot to ask, but would you keep us posted here by starting a build thread for this blazer. A lot of us would LOVE to see how one of these would be prepped for Baja. There are some members who race their trucks on the strip, off-road, even one guy who did some track racing in a suburban.

[baja1000]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

I know it's a lot to ask, but would you keep us posted here by starting a build thread for this blazer. A lot of us would LOVE to see how one of these would be prepped for Baja. There are some members who race their trucks on the strip, off-road, even one guy who did some track racing in a suburban.

I would be glad to do that, Iam really builing 2 1969 blazers, The 1st one is to 1969 race condition and the 2nd one will be a state of the art class 3 race blazer to race in the Baja 1000 next year

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by baja1000

I would be glad to do that, Iam really builing 2 1969 blazers, The 1st one is to 1969 race condition and the 2nd one will be a state of the art class 3 race blazer to race in the Baja 1000 next year

Excellent. There is a projects and build area where you can start your own build threads here.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/f...play.php?f=115

[Billla]

Very cool story and pictures.

If you're ever looking for crew or some restoration help, drop me an email - seriously. It's a dream of mine to do the Baja...not to win, just to do it all the way. Crewing would be a step towards making it happen.

[desertrat]

Originally Posted by baja1000

I would be glad to do that, Iam really builing 2 1969 blazers, The 1st one is to 1969 race condition and the 2nd one will be a state of the art class 3 race blazer to race in the Baja 1000 next year

Yes, Please keep us informed. As a desert racer myself and an owner of a '71 blazer I can't wait to see what you do with the blazer. Are you going with newer style suspension (coil overs, 4 link, etc....) or old school leaf springs?

I was at Mint tech and knew you're truck was going to be there but forgot my camera, I was bummed because I wanted to show you're truck off to the guys on this site. Glad to see you made it over here.

[67CHIP72]

Originally Posted by special-K

I`m not usually into alot of flash,but that picture with the chrome trim along the side is lookin`good!

I like Chrome Trim too

[baja1000]

Originally Posted by Billla

Very cool story and pictures.

If you're ever looking for crew or some restoration help, drop me an email - seriously. It's a dream of mine to do the Baja...not to win, just to do it all the way. Crewing would be a step towards making it happen.

You need to first finish before you can finish first, My only goal if to finish in the time limit allowed, I took mt 1969 Vintage race truck to a big truck fest show this weekend with all the big parts guys, The factory guys want to jump on board with my projects so the trucks should happen real fast

[baja1000]

the rims are 16", They were custom made by Cragar for Hickey

[baja1000]

Originally Posted by desertrat

Yes, Please keep us informed. As a desert racer myself and an owner of a '71 blazer I can't wait to see what you do with the blazer. Are you going with newer style suspension (coil overs, 4 link, etc....) or old school leaf springs?

I was at Mint tech and knew you're truck was going to be there but forgot my camera, I was bummed because I wanted to show you're truck off to the guys on this site. Glad to see you made it over here.

I will race the Blazer in Class 3, That really sucks!, i need to stay real close to stock, I cannot change motor placement and i have to run leaf springs, There are a lot of trick things i can do, I have been working to do a little change to the rule book, I want to hold the trucks weight on the coil over shocks and use the leaf springs to locate the axle, The ford Broncos have coils from the factory and its a real unfair advantage, But with the cool vintage Chevy race cars and trucks iam stuck with a Blazer, But i will re write the rule books and kick the Ford guys buts !!!!!!!!!!!!, Iam honored to post the build, Iam leaving to bring the orange blazer home tomorrow, Ron

[special-K]

Sounds like you`ll have no shortage of things to do in your future.Have fun,I know you will.

[msgross]

welcome ron... nice history and rides too...

[70rs/ss]

COPO trucks rule, C-30 cab on a C10 frame, IIRC there were lots of goodies, like the LT1 motor, too, right? I am dying, I watch dust to glory everytime it comes on, I'd love to go to the Baja, at least once. I grew up in Tucson and hammered every one of my vehicles in the deserts around my house, we called it desert raving (before a rave meant all night party), but it was, an all night party flying through the dark desert and having a ball. My back couldn't do it now, but WOW. Again I am glad you found the site, as I drolled and reread that article several times, and thought of all the luck!! Find a "real" baja race truck behind a tire store, and even the O-riginal motor, too!!! It gives me hope that "THEY" are still out there, just keep looking!!

[baja1000]

Originally Posted by 70rs/ss

COPO trucks rule, C-30 cab on a C10 frame, IIRC there were lots of goodies, like the LT1 motor, too, right? I am dying, I watch dust to glory everytime it comes on, I'd love to go to the Baja, at least once. I grew up in Tucson and hammered every one of my vehicles in the deserts around my house, we called it desert raving (before a rave meant all night party), but it was, an all night party flying through the dark desert and having a ball. My back couldn't do it now, but WOW. Again I am glad you found the site, as I drolled and reread that article several times, and thought of all the luck!! Find a "real" baja race truck behind a tire store, and even the O-riginal motor, too!!! It gives me hope that "THEY" are still out there, just keep looking!!

thanks Iam having a blast playing with this truck

[67CHIP72]

Another pic from the Mint 400 site. Very cool.

[OrangeCrush1970]

This is incredible, thanks for all the posts, Ron. It's always great to see a piece(s) of history come back to life!

[hgs_notes]

For those of you that were wondering what ever happened to this truck and his build of a baja prepped blazer, here are a couple links. Looks like the blazer was put on hold until this next spring or summer while he restores the original James Garner 442 for the NORRA 1000 race.

http://www.youtube.com/user/hickeyra.../2/DUn8kTBOLy8

The build thread:

http://www.class3racing.com/showthre...t=1139&page=14

[C-10 simplex]

Pt. 2:

Yes, please tell me more about this Hickey fellow:

1) i know he was/is connected to the blazer somehow but i'm fuzzy on it; Did he once work for GM?

2) Did he, essentially, invent the SUV as we know it today?