Hi Lucille, Yes , the original wood used was "southern yellow pine" which is much harder than the pine that is commonly used in building construction today. The S U P was painted black in all the trucks. If you find S U P (hard to do), it doesn't stain evenly and can look blotchy.
If you varnish your wood, pleas eremember to use "marine or spar" varnish- it isn't quite as hard as indoor varnish and will expand & contract with tempature changes, thus lasting longer before cracking and needing redone.
Good luck.
