1965 Chevy Short Wide Bed

Owned by Ronnie Norris "cajunbowtie" Bolter # 6736 Louisiana

From Ronnie :

Here is my 1965 Chevy Short wide bed. It originally came with a 283 and 3 on a tree.

My Dad purchased this truck new in the Fall of 1964 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. I was 17 and went with him to buy it.

The original color was tan with a white top. I still have the 283 that came with it. I have installed BB 454 CDI (468), 400 automatic, 12 bolt 373 gears, front power disk brakes, and power steering.

My Dad and I worked on this truck together. Back when the 283 CDI was in, he was always tuning and performing general maintenance I learned a lot from him.

After he passed away in January of 1987, my Mother give me the truck and I let set for about three years. Then I started working on it.

I installed a 327 CDI, 4 speed and had it painted a 1974 GM Cranberry Red. It looked really good.

My son started driving it to high school and he took really good care of it. During his senior year, I purchased him a 1974 Nova and I let him have the engine out of the truck (to go in the Nova). He drove the Nova with the 327 for several years -- to drag strips, won some, and as an everyday driver. The engine finally give up. He still has the Nova and has plans to rebuild.

Hmmm ... I guess I got off the subject , but my son will get the ’65 when I’m finished driving.

Also the truck has been wreaked three times, not by me but by my Dad! He fixed it all three times. It was actually totaled out two of the times!

The guy that’s in the picture above is a friend that helped me with the drivetrain install. His name is Jude Kilchrist, and he is a legend in the area. He is 68 years old and still at it. He still loves to work on old vehicles. He currently is working on a 1956 Chevy two door hard top and completing a rebuild of a 19’61 Corvette (that belongs to his doctor). He loves to build and rebuild antiques, classic cars, dragsters and pro-street. He held a lot of drag strip records for a long time. There is a lot of history with Jude.

Also for your enjoyment, here is a picture of the ’65 in my shop holding the door back for hurricane Ike which hit last year. No damage, thank goodness.

I do have a 2006 GMC 4 wheel drive, but does not compare with the ’65. I guess this truck just has so much sentimental value.

The truck is in the paint shop now. A friend is doing the body work and paint so it may be done by summer. I will be painting it a bright red orange. I have a chrome grille, chrome bumpers, and side molding to put on then. It should be out of the paint shop in spring. I’ll send more pictures then.

Any suggestions on wheels out there?

Thanks for a wonderful site to share.

Thanks,

Ronnie

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