Hey everyone, I usually lurk around up in the Dentside and 80-96 forums. I poke my head in here just to see whats going on from time to time and check out the trucks. With my Dad's passsing back in March, my family and I, especially my grandpap, have been doing some heavy reminiscing, and the topic of cars and trucks has been prevalent. My dad made his living as a trucker, so there's a strong attachment to anything automotive. Anyway, here's my story for the day.

In 1970, my grandpap bought his first new pickup, a 4x2 1970 F-100 Ranger XLT. It was a sharp truck, wearing black paint and all the associated chrome and woodgrain. It had a 360 backed by a three on the tree. My grandma leaned to drive a manual trans in this truck. Since my pap did and still does drive a tri-axle dumptruck, the F-100 earned its keep. Often times, it would chase parts, oil and grease, and haul tires. It took many a family vacation to the beach, and would be equipped with a cap for such purposes. My dad learned to drive in it, and when he got his license, the F-100 became his. Since Bumpsides tended to rot out fast in these parts, my dad had to patch up the doors and bedsides to keep the F-100 looking respectable. Being a teenager in the late '70s, my dad added the obligatory fat tires on all fours mounted on black steel wheels with baby moon caps. My pap borrowed the truck when he needed it, since he and my grandma also had an LTD at the time. My dad traded in the F-100 in '77 on a new F-250, or "Pearl" as she is known in family circles, which I still have. Pap also borrowed Pearl on a regular basis until getting his own new F-250 in '83.

Even though this all unfolded way before my time, I feel a strong connection to the old F-100. It started my family's love affair with Ford trucks. After the '70 and '77s, my dad bought a new F-150 in '89. He ran that until '99 when he traded it for a new Dodge Ram 2500 with the Cummins (that being the only reason he bought anything but a Ford). The Cummins connection is a story for another time.

I know I'll probably never ever see this truck. Bumpsides are pretty rare around here these days since most rotted away to nothing in a few years. If I could ever find just a piece of it, I'd be satisfied. As time goes on and I build a life of my own, I'd like to build a replica of the F-100 that started it all.

Sorry if I bored anyone with my story, but I felt the need to share the Bumpside connection. Thanks for looking.

 

Sorry bout your dad Casey, kinda had a hit like that close by last year, when our new grand son lost his other grand father.

Prolly your best bet to look out west for a truck and keep it garaged in the winter. Az, NM, Cali are all good places to find solid trucks.


guluk



John

 

Great story, Casey. Not bored here, not at all. No apologies needed.

It would be way cool if you could find your dad's old truck, but lacking that I think your plan to build up a replica is a good one. Keep you eye on the local classifieds and craigslist, you may find something that will be a good starting point, maybe even as a good price. There are still lots of these older trucks out there looking for a good home. Good luck.

 

I can't believe how many bumpsides run around my town. Not unusual to see 10 or more in a day, all kinds of conditions, from missing parts to mint.And I live in a small rural community. Mine is ready for a resto. Only thing wrong with AZ is the sun. Bakes, Cooks, Fries. Paint on my cab top and hood are going fast.
It's a testament to how tough the old Fords are, that there are these 40 year old relics running around town as daily drives and construction trucks!!
AZ is the place for old vehicles.

 

I love my bump side. I feel lucky to have it...but people like to diss it because she is not that pretty right now. I guess just people that don't know how rare they really are. I love big black, he is coming along nicely.

 

What is a Bump Side ?

 

Victor, it's a term of endearment given to the trucks this particular forum covers, 1967-72 owing to the convex body line that runs down the side of the truck, which we call a bump. The next generation, 1973-79 had a concave body line, so they're called Dent sides.

 

"I see said the blind man" Their both cool. I like my Bump Side, and see plenty of good ones out here in California.

 

Tons of bumpsides in NC, in fact I think I see more bumpsides than dentsides. I have a 69 LWB.

 

It's easy to have connection with these trucks. My son bought a '72 for a work truck awhile back. He chose this truck becuase it reminded him of the one his grandfather taught him to drive when he was 13 or 14 out on the farm. It needs alot of attention and he had hoped to fix it up one day. He did alot of odd jobs for extra money hauling old fences he would tear down for his boss. I was proud of him for doing the extra work to make it instead of begging me for it. I thought it was a cool truck too. My son passed away four years ago. I turned in his caddy to the finance co. but kept the truck. It ment something to Micheal and it meens more to me now. There is rust repair to be done in the usual places but I'm not worried. Some might think there is more work then it is worth. Not me. the truck is important to me and my youngest son. My youngest son's son is 6 and he expects to drive Uncle Mike's truck when he is old enough. I plan to teach him to drive it when he is 13-14 just like his Uncle Mike's grandpa taught him.

Kelly

 

Casey, that'd be such a cool thing to do, in memory of. Hope you get to it someday. These trucks are so much fun.

 

I wish you luck, Make sure you take tons of pictures of the truck, We LOVE pictures...(Well, I do anyway's...)
Your dad would be proud...Too young...My sister passed, So I know how it feels...

 

I am approximately the age of your Dad and I remember my Dad buying a new 1970 F100 Sport Custom with 302 and 3 speed manual. He taught my younger brother and I to drive at age 12 in that truck. He traded this truck for a new 1986 F150.We didn't know where the truck was for 21 years until Dad received notification from someone from another state in 2007 requesting information which Dad gladly provided. After his death in 2008, my Mother found the original bill of sale which I sent to the current owner. The current owner and his son are restoring the truck for the son to drive.

 

Hey Casey,

Great story...enjoyed the read.Well, I'm in Southern California, near San Diego, and in my neighborhood alone, there are about 6 or 8 Bumpsides that are sitting in fields, they look pretty good too (we get very little rain here in Valley Center)...and they could probably be had for a song....just sitting....waiting for someone to adopt them.

As Arnold says..."Come to Cawlifownia".

 

Do,it Casey.And,start with a nice Western truck,you'll be miles ahead.

I'm constantly amazed at the photos ,taken by members of "finds" they are hauling back home to begin restoring,usually from back East.You've got to admire the determination and hard work,but a trip out here with a car hauler ,combining work /pleasure, would yield a much better starting-point.Old trucks with very little rust are all over the dry parts of the west,often still in use,and good deals abound.Loosing interest in a project is probably not as common when you have a good truck to begin with,especially if you can drive it as you improve it.Steve.