Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside RESTO-GO!

[flashed]

You did good on that storage cabinet and his truck looks great too .You guys are amazing .

[Ta2Don]

Awesome Score on the cabinet and the Fire Bell...

What, No pix of the Mini???

[disasterbus]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Awesome Score on the cabinet and the Fire Bell...

What, No pix of the Mini???

Thanks for the kind words about my truck Don. It’s a work in progress with plenty still to do but I really like it and it’s definitely a ‘keeper’. Rian will vouch for the fact that that’s unusual for me – I love classic cars and have always got one of some description, but usually I rarely keep them long, preferring to change them every few months so I always have a new ‘toy’.
These were mine recently……….




The truck is different – I have long term plans for it. The only other car I class as a ‘keeper’ is my Mini. This is about the 10th Mini I’ve owned but I can’t see myself ever selling it.
Bought new by my wife’s uncle. He just walked into his local dealer to order a new Austin Metro but was told they had stopped making them. ‘OK’ he said ‘what other small cars do you have?’
This Mini was in the showroom, one of the very last ever made before BMW took over and the Mini changed completely. Out of 5,387,362 built between 1959 and 2000, this one is the 4,852nd from last proper Mini ever built.



He did less than 1000 miles per year, preferring to cycle everywhere (even though he was in his mid-70’s). He had the car for 8 years before failing health forced him to give up driving. One day, out of the blue, he rang and offered me the car.





Just to give you an idea of size, my son’s Mini parked next to the truck!


The Mini is a genuine Cooper, and has done less than 12,000 from new. Needless to say it’s tucked away for the winter at the moment!

[Ta2Don]

Very Cool Toyz... Great background for the Mini...

[Micmac]

Looking good Rian. I saw a 71 Chevy Firetruck on CL with 16,000 miles on it for very cheap, I was thinking of buying it, but I'm riding the Chief to Alberta and do the Rockies this summer and Deryl would make me tent the entire trip if I did so! I'm a holiday Inn kinda guy, I camped enough in the Army.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Micmac

Looking good Rian. I saw a 71 Chevy Firetruck on CL with 16,000 miles on it for very cheap, I was thinking of buying it, but I'm riding the Chief to Alberta and do the Rockies this summer and Deryl would make me tent the entire trip if I did so! I'm a holiday Inn kinda guy, I camped enough in the Army.

I am a bad man

I am a bad man

I am a bad man

I am a bad bad bad man.......

Sent you a PM buddy.

[Micmac]

I sent you a reply, and an email to your YAHOO account. I am a bad bad bad friend!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Micmac

I sent you a reply, and an email to your YAHOO account. I am a bad bad bad friend!

Replied to the PM.......

Man, that is absolutely awesome.

What is it size wise? C50-ish?

[Grizz1963]

Long day in the garage today.

I had planned on starting and getting the windscreen frame done today as the new screen is booked for fitting on Friday this week, if it has arrived from the USA.

First things, first though..... I had to get the new steel cabinet into my garage, which meant an hours worth of unpacking, creating a rat run path into the rear of the garage.

Relocated a load of stuff, and now have a complete 2 square meter surface cabinet for more truck spares and bits.



I had a load of other small jobs, including checking my girls' cars were roadworthy, and polishing Disasterbus' Fire Bell.



Fitted to the side of the house so couriers and visitors can get my attention if I am down at the garage.



Over lunch time I was checking up on my original post of this thread and thought, take a look at one of the previous owners' bands website...... Memphis Flyers on Facebook. They are a Rockabilly band. Check them out.
There was a number for contacting, so I called the mobile number and spoke to Dave, the guitarist, and told him I was getting together parts of the history of the truck.
He agreed to send me some pics of it in its previous life.

I think this is the owner, who now has a 50's Chevy truck to still move the bands stuff around..











I am really pleased and thankful that Dave made the effort and emailed me the photos of the truck as it was.

Has also convinced me that I need USA style plates on it again. But probably silver on black, to partially comply with UK rules.

After cutting up a few wooden pallets, the old wooden wardrobe and packing it all away, I also cut out Disasterbus' glovebox liner.

Then called it a day. Another good weekend over.

[Micmac]

I'm thinking. It looks show room does it not? If the divorce wouldn't be so exponsive, I'd head over there in the morning. My bride is driving to Atlanta as we speak, then hops on a plane to Kansas City and returns Friday. I could figure out where to hide it by then right? A big red 40 foot long truck should be easy to stash!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Micmac

I'm thinking. It looks show room does it not? If the divorce wouldn't be so exponsive, I'd head over there in the morning. My bride is driving to Atlanta as we speak, then hops on a plane to Kansas City and returns Friday. I could figure out where to hide it by then right? A big red 40 foot long truck should be easy to stash!

Go on...... You know you need to do this.

How far is it from you?

There is not a lot of detail.

Wonder if Martin and I could use it for the road trip??

Could we afford the fuel, and to find parking for it?

[Grizz1963]

Thanks for posting up Don.


I Hope the following photodump does not crash any systems.

I know a few of you on here and Facebook asked for pics from today's NSRA swapmeet.

Mate Martin, Disasterbus and Jim and I met up early today to go seek bargains for our vehicles.

Spurred on by all the bargains he got last year, including a door for his truck at £100.00, new front screen rubber for a tenner and a full new cab mount rubber kit for £35.00 we all had our skates on.

And it was Martin who drew first blood with a lovely pair of old skool bullet shaped chrome lights, with interchangeable clear or red lenses.

Through the day we all found real bargains and items we wanted or needed.

Kerry, Disasterbus got a brand new full rear rollpan for his truck at £40.00, that he will probably bring over soon, to weld up and probably paint at my place. He also picked up a lovely old sideplate sized V8 hubcap for garage art.

My bargain of the day was a pair of 2.5" used stainless tailpiece tips that took me an hour or more to clean up with metal polish. Not perfect, as I really wanted a set of square/rectangular Range Rover type tips. But at £10.00 for the pair, I had to have them.

Here then are the pics, as they came off my mobile phone camera.













I have also wanted a pair of bumper over riders as long as I have had the truck, this vendor was prepared to let me have these for £25.00 although they are Pre-60 items, and if I could make them fit, I would then have to get them chromed, so the voice of reasoning suggested I wait till I find a pair of chromed ones, so I walked away.



Dead cool hearse, sounded rather nice and quietly menacing when it drove by later.



I think I would like one of these.......



At that price I ask myself, what did the seller pay for it and to land it here?



TECHNOLOGY !! LOVE IT !!

Martin Googling some pics to show Disasterbus what his Stepside would look like with a rear rollpan fitted.

Of course that made the decision easy.













60-66 Chevy C10's seem to be suddenly picking up in presence and value. Good news for all owners I guess.





Another C10. Read description.



OHHHHH HOW I WANT ONE OF THESE.

Never seen one of them before, no idea what they are called.



















Chevy Power in a Ford.





Quite like these.







This was just perfectly understated and clean.





There were many more, and a few nice cars that I missed for various reasons.

Again a great Swapmeet, meeting old mates and finding bits needed for builds.

Just needed to be warmer.

[Grizz1963]

Today was NSRA Swapmeet day at Arena Essex.

As always it was breezy and cold. I had prepared for this with some thermals under my jeans, a t-shirt under a hoody top, and a ski jacket and beany hat.
Toasty.

I had no specific searches, other than looking for a full set of 6 stud 15 inch Chevy Rallye wheels, with or without beauty rings and caps.

I love the Chrome smoothies, but also want a set of Rallye wheels on the truck.

So we all set off and I bought various things through the day, in my case, everything except the masking paper at £12.00 for the roll, and 4 rolls of masking tape at £5.00 was bought at prices I was happy to pay and made me feel I picked up a "bargain"

It included three Karen name plates for 50p, which I got for Mrs Nightmares Racing. A fire exit sign for the shed at 50p and an 8mm ratchet head ring/flat spanner for £2.00. A cool T-shirt for £5.00 which features a Chevy C10 Fleetside, wire wheels at £1.00 each, UVEX safety glasses at £1.00 each and a huge spanner for £1.00.



I also thought my bargain of the day was a pair of used Ripspeed Stainless Steel 2.5" oval exhaust tips. Not perfect, as I would love a pair of Range Rover rectangular units, or off an Evoque but they are not that common.

As bought.



One done, I hated the blue edge.




One hour, some metal polish, black fingers and a blister on my thumb later.......




While out, I also saw one of these for £5.00 and if he had a pair, they would have been mine.

Just like them a whole lot, think they would look cool as tip covers.



So that was my trucking weekend completed.

[flashed]

Just go buy that firetruck and bring it to my place ,40 acres to hide it .

Rian, that fire bell looks like new again ,I like it .

I have a metal drawer cabinet in back of my truck for weeks now just waiting on a place to put it in my shop. Im out of room really but free works for me ,need to build another shop .

[flashed]

The video was cool ,thanks for taking us along for the ride .

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by flashed

The video was cool ,thanks for taking us along for the ride .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Thank you.

I love to see what you guys get up to in the States as well, often the background is as interesting as the pic you post to us guys over here.

[Grizz1963]

Not much to show, hurt my back a week or so ago, and when I went out to the garage last night, I made it to the garage door and decided to come back indoors and be sensible.

This morning a combination of two cats and my back woke me early, so I had a cuppa tea and went to the garage for a bit, to tidy up stuff and just make a bit of dust, as the rest of today belonged to Nicola, it is the 7 year anniversary of our first date, and we had agreed to go out and do stuff in Rochester where we had our first date, it was meant to be a quick coffee, but had ended up in a four hour date followed by 5 hours the next day and culminating in her marrying me two years later.
It's not all been smooth sailing, but I would not trade this girl for most. How many women tell you to buy a truck, motorbikes, tools and toys?? ( sure, she gets her share back, but it's worth it every day)

So this resulted in a small bit of progress.



Clean metal around the screen, peak next and then some primer and white paint to get it ready for the insurance to replace the screen that got smashed last year. I would love to delay installation till all the paint is done, but they have jobs to do too.



A few pics for our American readership from Rochester high street.

Not sure if you can see the crazy angle of this building.



Looking down the high street toward Chatham.



Rochester Castle, it has three square abutments (towers to me) and one round one. If you want to know why, go ask Mr Google.



Eastgate House.



And looking at the plaque, it has been here for a while.



Tomorrow it is off to Essex for the NSRA Swapmeet, let's hope there are some bargains.

Last year Mate Martin picked up a door for £100.00 for his truck, as well as a new front screen rubber for £10.00 and a complete cab mount kit for £35.00

I do live in hope.

[Micmac]

Cool stuff Rian, thanks. France is nice, I went to EuroDisney in Paris in 1998 with the wife and Kids. I visited Jim MORRISON's grave. Oscar Wilde is also interned there. I had the pleasure of seeing the Doors preform back in the day, courtesy of my older brother Artie. We got our a&^%$ kicked by the 'ol man when we got home as I was 16 and very drunk! Artie was on leave from the US Marines fresh home from the "Nam. Sadly in May of 2013 the cofounder of the Doors Ray Manzarek joined him in Rock n Roll heaven.

[Justin@EntropyRad]

Cool setup across the board...how does MOT and VAT apply to classics like that?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

The video was cool ,thanks for taking us along for the ride .

No worries mate.

I love seeing the USA from my armchair too.

So when you guys post up runs, or even a visit to breakers yards etc, I love to look at the scenery around the truck or car..

Originally Posted by Micmac

Cool stuff Rian, thanks. France is nice, I went to EuroDisney in Paris in 1998 with the wife and Kids. I visited Jim MORRISON's grave. Oscar Wilde is also interned there. I had the pleasure of seeing the Doors preform back in the day, courtesy of my older brother Artie. We got our a&^%$ kicked by the 'ol man when we got home as I was 16 and very drunk! Artie was on leave from the US Marines fresh home from the "Nam. Sadly in May of 2013 the cofounder of the Doors Ray Manzarek joined him in Rock n Roll heaven.

No idea what went on in my head when I was writing up.

Originally Posted by Justin@EntropyRad

Cool setup across the board...how does MOT and VAT apply to classics like that?

Hi Justin

MOT is a yearly road worthiness test for all vehicles older than three years and all manufactured since 1960.

For instance, if you have a llight in the dash of your 4 year old car either not functioning, or indicating an error, it is a fail, even if the error does not exist.

Everything has to work, rust in structures are automatic failures etc, you can go online and Google UK MOT rules and read more about it.

VAT is a flat rate 20% on all purchases in shops etc, if you are talking about VAT, it is also raised on importation costs and the taxes associated with it, like import duties etc.

However, if you are speaking of road tax the it is free for all vehicles with valid MOT and road use insurance that were manufactured before 1973.

So my truck is on free road tax, despite having a huge engine and belching CO2 while burning fossil fuels.

I hope this answers your questions.

[Justin@EntropyRad]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Hi Justin

MOT is a yearly road worthiness test for all vehicles older than three years and all manufactured since 1960.

For instance, if you have a llight in the dash of your 4 year old car either not functioning, or indicating an error, it is a fail, even if the error does not exist.

Everything has to work, rust in structures are automatic failures etc, you can go online and Google UK MOT rules and read more about it.

VAT is a flat rate 20% on all purchases in shops etc, if you are talking about VAT, it is also raised on importation costs and the taxes associated with it, like import duties etc.

However, if you are speaking of road tax the it is free for all vehicles with valid MOT and road use insurance that were manufactured before 1973.

So my truck is on free road tax, despite having a huge engine and belching CO2 while burning fossil fuels.

I hope this answers your questions.

Does indeed, thanks!

[mjh1965]

All I can say is I hope you have your trainers on as there is going to be a race with me you and Kerry and possibily Paul all going

[disasterbus]

Originally Posted by mjh1965

All I can say is I hope you have your trainers on as there is going to be a race with me you and Kerry and possibily Paul all going

you won't beat me to the bargains - I'm taking this............



(excuse the rubbish phone pic taken in the dark)
Same size as a Hog but without the V twin! Was going to take it along to the swap meet tomorrow to try and flog it.

[mjh1965]

Originally Posted by disasterbus

you won't beat me to the bargains - I'm taking this............



(excuse the rubbish phone pic taken in the dark)
Same size as a Hog but without the V twin! Was going to take it along to the swap meet tomorrow to try and flog it.

Looks like I will need some skates and my Rottweiler to pull me along . As his legs are longer than your Bassett hounds Kerry