The Gallery
 

1969 Chevy C-10 Fleetside

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"Maude"

Owned by J. Darren Peterson
"jdarren"
Bolter # 30566
Dothan, Alabama

Join the talk about this truck
in the Welcome Centre


 
05 November 2011
# 2921

Picture story on Facebook

From Darren :

When I was a kid, in about 1975 or so, my Dad bought a 1969 Chevrolet C-10 pickup, which he jokingly nicknamed Maude. He wanted it mainly so he could cut and haul home firewood for our fireplace. My sister and I had to help him with loading and unloading which we did once or twice a year.

We would also sometimes use the truck, which was my Dad's everyday ride, as a family vehicle because we could cram all five of us across that big bench seat. Between the firewood, my Dad driving me across town to school on his way to work, and family trips, I rode in the truck a lot.

After I turned 16, I didn't get my own car for almost a year. So I drove the truck a lot. It was the vehicle in which I learned to handle a manual shift transmission.

Even after I got my own car, a 1974 Volkswagen Beetle, I still drove the truck often. In the early summer of 1985, the truck was totaled in a wreck.

I missed the truck, but my Dad replaced it with a 1972 Chevy C-10, which satisfied what truck cravings I had at the time. The '72 was an automatic so it wasn't as much fun to drive! I drove the VW on through college, into marriage, and almost until my Daughter was born.

In 1992, however, I had truck fever again and bought a 1984 Chevy C-10. Then I upgraded to a 1996 Dodge Ram, and later to a 1998 Dodge Ram. I always loved that old '69 Chevy, though.

As my Daughter grew and our family expenses increased with the purchase of a larger home, I decided my truck days should be over and I traded in the Ram for a brand new 2003 New Beetle for my 60-mile round-trip daily commute to work. I still drive the New Beetle. I like it and I hope it lasts for several more years -- but I've always wanted to have a truck again.

A few weeks ago, I happened to mention during idle chit chat with a bona fide gear-head buddy at work that I've always wanted to have another 1969 C-10 like the one my Dad had. However, I had no intention whatsoever of actually purchasing another vehicle. Unbeknownst to me, that buddy searched local car websites for a week until he found a '69 C-10 for sale.

As a joke, he sent me the link to the website in an email. What he didn't know was that the truck for sale at an auction, a mere 30 miles from the town where I live was not only the same year and model as my Dad's old truck, but also the same white-over-green color with the same 250 cu. in. engine, manual three-speed transmission, and long, fleetside bed. In effect, the truck was an identical twin and all original from bumper to bumper, except for an added rear step bumper.

I had no sooner looked at the website than I knew that I had to have that truck. The situation was too sweet. After seeing photos and talking with the auctioneer, my buddy and I went to the auction loaded for bear with a borrowed truck, a rented trailer, and cash in my pocket. Although several guys looked at and asked questions about the truck, only one other bidder actually tried for it. After 20 seconds of auction, I purchased the truck for half of what I was willing to pay.

The only "mechanical" duties I have ever performed before were changing oil in the 1974 Beetle and changing the occasional flat tire. Now, two weeks later, as a total novice and beginner, I am very slowly learning to perform maintenance on the '69.

She has body issues, drive train issues, and electrical issues. With advice from my Dad, pointers from my Father-in-law, and help from my buddy, I will learn and do and actually become a restoration gear-head ... and Maude will ride again!

Here's a group pix of my "fleet."

-30-


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