I like a nicely painted truck as much as anyone. However, some of the rusty and weathered trucks look great too. My 1963 C10 definitely qualifies as a “patina truck“. Rather than spend thousands of dollars on a total restoration, I decided to keep the patina and make sure everything else was mechanically sound, especially the drivetrain. I’m sharing some pictures of what has become a very popular and easy way to improve and preserve the look of a patina truck. I mixed 4 parts boiled linseed oil to 1 part odorless mineral spirits. I had previously used car wax on the panels (some panels only have rust). So before applying the linseed oil mixture with a rag, I wiped down the truck with wax remover.
Wipe the BLO on with a rag and wait 15 minutes. Go back over it with a dry towel. Just like you would if you were washing the truck. It gives a satin sheen to the rusty areas and brightens the painted areas a little. Just thought I’d share.