Eric Pesci's

1957 Chevy Suburban Carryall


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20 March 2006
# 1479

From Eric:

         Hiya fellas! Well this is it - the end of the road. Here's my last truck. I need to go buy some more so ya'll don't get bored! Actually, I still have the tractor, more Harley's, classic cars and horses and if I wanted to be a real pain in ya'lls posteriors, I could send pics of my monitor lizards and force the creation of a new category! haha I'm not short on obsessions.

         Anyway. This is my 1957 Chevy Suburban Carryall. This is not a Napco. I wish it was - I can make it one. But for today, I've got enough projects to keep my great grandkids busy.

         I found this truck up in Amarillo, Texas. I'm known for being able to find the proverbial needle in a haystack and I found this truck in about 1997 or so (before eBay!). My wife and I used to tour around with the Grateful Dead and we always went to concerts in the Pacific NW / California / Utah / NM, etc. We found ourselves always traveling through the Texas panhandle into Colorado on our way to Oregon. I couldn't help noticing the absolute plethora of old iron once we hit Wichita Falls. So, when I was trying to find a nice '57 suburban 10 years ago, I remembered this area. I got a phone book and called the first used car dealer who sounded like a classic car enthusiast. The guy who answered the phone happened to recall an actual '57 Carryall sitting in a driveway nearby. He knocked on the door, struck a deal and I got the truck for $900.

         The last registration was in 1968. It's bone stock except for wheels / paint and really one of the most solid, complete, unrestored carryalls I've seen yet.. I thought the paint was '57 Sand Beige but it turns out to be black. And in texas, black is not a good color.

         The driver's side hinge pocket was wasted so I fixed that first thing. The truck didn't run and after I got the gas tank boiled and rehung, replaced all the plugs and rotor etc. and rebuilt the carb, I found a bent pushrod. So I stole one from my '58 Carryall 235 and she runs great. I redid the brakes, got new tires and wheels and bought a used SM420 4 speed off eBay for $200 because the local tranny shop wanted $1200 to rebuild the original one.

         I still need to recore the radiator, get new shocks and rewire the old girl but that's small stuff. Unfortunately, Houston did in a few years what North Texas didn't do in 30 - rust. I now have a rust hole on the passenger side hood over the hinge support. I try to ignore it but it's definitely there. Luckily there's no shortage of '57 hoods out there but still - Houston is so damp my stuff rusts in the garage.

         Anyway, my son wants this truck he says. My oldest daughter doesn't want anything old even though her friends love my classics. She'll come around.

Thanks,

Eric Pesci
"Old iron fanatic"
Bolter # 10147
Terrebonne,Oregon (formerly of Bellaire, Texas)

         Be sure to check out Eric's 1950 GMC 250 1-Ton 4 x 4 Flatbed Dually, 1958 Chevy NAPCO 3200 Fleetside, 1951 Chevy 5-window, 1957 Chevy Napco 3200, 1956 Chevy NAPCO 6400 Rescue Truck, a 1958 Chevrolet Napco Suburban Carryall and 1950 Harley Davidson -- FL Police Bike in the Alternative Gallery ~~ Editor


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