I have a 1953 3100 5-window that my Dad purchased new. He hauled produce to the market in Houston with it. He also had wood side boards on it so he could haul one cow in the bed and haul a second cow in a small bumper pull trailer. It was his primary farm truck from 1953 until 1968.
After that, my older brother drove it to high school from 1969 to 1972. Then my uncle (my Dad's younger brother) used it as his "weekend farm" truck until 1981. It was last registered and inspected in 1980...still has the expires in 11/81 inspection sticker on the windshield.
My older brother got it back in the summer of 1981 and it was not in running condition. It wasn't until February of 1988 that he finally got it running. I rode with him for the first and only test drive down the county road. Everything was going well until we went down a hill that had a sharp right curve at the bottom. He applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. Luckily there was an open gate straight ahead and we coasted off into a pasture. We discovered one of the new wheel cylinders had leaked and we lost all the brake fluid.
The truck went back into the barn for a wheel cylinder replacement that never happened. My brother became ill a few weeks later and passed away in June 1988.
The old '53 has been sitting, right where he parked it, in my barn ever since. No one has touched it except for the times when kids jump in an pretend they are driving.
I am now where I have the time and funds to perhaps do something with it. I'd like to be able to enjoy it, take it on weekend trips, maybe drive in a few local parades, take it to the local small town car shows.
In some ways I would like to restore it to original...but in other ways I would like to modernize it a bit, make it more comfortable to drive (A/C), add some safety features (Disc Brakes, Upgrade Lights, Seat Belts) and make it a more reliable driver (Newer Engine). Also, I have some knee issues and I have difficulty (pain) with a clutch...so an automatic transmission might be needed.
Anyway, just thought I would share to see if anyone had any comments, ideas or advice.
Thank You
Tim H
