When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I just realized last week that I have had my '54 F-100 for 30 years this month! I am not sure of the exact day, but I bought my truck from my grandfather in June of 1977. Grandpa owned a big dairy farm and used the truck hard on the farm. He retired from farming in the early 70's and moved into a new home he built. My '57 Chevy I was driving while in college had tranny problems and I needed a vehicle to get from home to a nearby college for summer classes and then to my construction job with my brother. My Mom said Grandpa wants to sell his truck. I should make him an offer. I took the cash I had ($300) and went to see him. I asked him how much he wants for the old Ford Truck and he said how much do I want to pay. I said $300 and he said he can't take $300. I thought I will have to work another week to raise more money. Then he said "I'll take $200!"
It has served me well these 30 years and has given me a lot of memories!
what a neat memory. I know everytime you drive her you think of your grandad. My truck doesn't have that kind of history with me but I have tools that belonged to my dad and granddad. Everytime I set up my dad's old transit I think of good time we shared using it... you can't buy that stuff can you ???
happy anniversary to you and your truck... hope to be around to hear you celebrating your 40th and 50th...
Great story and you have done what should have been done, kept it as close to stock as possible. I hate to see trucks with a bloodline to family history being heavily modified, it just takes away from the charm of the story and nostalgia of the vehicle.
Thanks for sharing those personal memories, brimgs back some of my own.
As for the anniversary, Vehicle anniversarys are better than people ones, the vehicle doesn't wine, if you forget you don't have to put up with the couch/crouch, and you can still go for a ride.
Thanks guys! It is hard to believe that the 30 years went so fast! I went from a college kid that beat the heck out of the truck soemtimes with too many frosty ones with a college grilfriend to a happily married guy with a 15 year old son, a house, a career, and 2 mini-vans!
Just used the truck tonight. My wife got a new bike, so we hauled our 3 bikes to a local park to ride.
I bought Willard in 1977. I do not remember the month. The previous owner was the father of a friend. He bought it in Downtown San Jose in 1962. It already had gone to the dark side since it had the 1956 nailhead Buick when he bought it in 1962!