I started out to make a beater because I will use it for my everyday work truck. I upgraded suspension, existing sbc engine, brakes, and rear end. I decided to paint it while I had it all apart so I painted it after cleaning it up and rust encapsulating all the insides and bottom. Then I decided to paint it, but I painted it myself and I am far from a paint and body professional. It will look ok from 10 feet, just don't expect a flawless paint job. :-drink

I guess I qualify there too. I keep telling people that I am not making a show truck. I am trying to get the mechanics straightened out first. Paint will come when I can afford to fix the few little places that need body work.

The camper is called a teardrop and I built it in 08 to be pulled by my 53. You can find some pics of it in post #18 of this thread https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...orge-tn-2.html

The plan is to eventually paint this thing.....but, I'm kinda stretching the definition of eventually....

I am going to try and get the interior painted this summer

My truck is a beat beater... maybe a beat up beater. I got it from my aunt 15 yrs ago a week before she was gonna scrap it, did'nt even know she had it. Trailered it 200 mile home and had a great time fixing it up. I made it safe, relitively safe, brakes, brake lines, bearings, tires, wiring harness, windows. Since it was my first attemp at body work, welding, bonbo, paint, etc. it looks like a well used dump truck but i love it! It runs maybe 80 % of the time.....

I think any definition coming from Muscle Car Magazine is irrelevant

I consider my truck a beater....:-X0A6

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=234296&.jpg

im going the reliable beater route aswell. not that my paint is that bad but it verymuch shows age in spots. i just want to get a good drivetrain in it with a 9" and disc brakes then drive the **** out of it
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...LMANN/49-3.jpg

Mine will be a beater if i ever get to that stage. Right now I just want to get chassis put together with running motor. Then I will start thinking about the body and paint. I want to use it as a truck though and maybe take it to a show every once in a while.

What I have learned in my truck build is if I make the sure as nice as my 65 fastback I will not drive it much because of the fear of scratching paint etc etc

That's one of the reasons my 53 hasn't been painted :)
Another is the fact that when I take it to shows folks can bend over the fender and take a look at what I have done, there is no little sign that says "DO NOT TOUCH". I have noticed at a lot of shows the beaters or project trucks get much more attention because of this.:-roll
But, the main reason mine hasn't been painted is the fact that I have way too much fun driving it to tear it apart for paint and body work :-X04

mechmagcn- I think you said it best right there. "I have way too much fun driving it to tear it apart for paint and body work" I've been thinking that lately...:-X04

I'd say mines a beater most definately, and yes, I'm gonna haul stuff in it, park in the front of the parking lot, pretty much treat it like my daily driver.

Maybe... just maybe someday it will get painted. :-X0A6

My '50 will be a "beater" or maybe you could call it a "farmer restoration". Not much of a patina left as the PO sprayed it, chrome, glass, and all, with red lead primer. Will get it safe to drive, repair all of the rust holes and a 20 footer paint job. At 71 years of age, I want to have a little time to drive and enjoy it. Hope to have it on the road this summer. Still need to finish the brakes and rewire to change to 12V. The body work and paint will come after I have driven it for a while. It's a pretty solid old truck. Low mileage, 226 flat 6 with a 3 speed. Only bad rust is the normal places on the fenders. Planning on forest green hood, body and bed with black fenders and running boards.

Gil

jeezz guy's .. how hard do I have to work to get to BEATER status..that's a long climb to be that good !!!I aain't gonna tell you how bad mine is ..but I stuff newspaper in the corners to keep out the rain ..and carry a rag to clean the windows on the inside...

Here's my beater.http://killbillet.com/picture.php?al...pictureid=9798