Hey Bill and Tim,
I'm really wishing now that I had some more concrete evidence of what year cab this was exactly! It seems with the original V.I.N. tag missing, we may get within a couple years of what it could have been. (Are there any other places on the truck I could look for evidence to "get closer"?) As Bill stated and I believe, this truck may have been "ressurrected".
I found a paragraph in "Who built the first 4x4" that states: It's not easy finding one that is restored correctly. So many were built over the years, so many running improvements were made, and so many were kept alive for so long on the streangth of boneyard finds, that a '57 truck could be wearing a '55 grill and have '59 mechanical bits under it. Additionally, these are a favorite with the hot-rodding crowd, were orginality means far less than sheer cool. As always, caveat emptor.
With that being stated, unless you have a truck that has been in the family since new, or pulled out of a barn after a 40 year nap, or just really lucky, and they are complete and untouched....... close to original, is about as good as it's gonna get. Then you have to add personal preferance, a whole nother can o worms! HA Ha!
If when I'm done with "Maters Cousin" I can honestly say, "Yes, these were options available on this truck at that time, I added that which was not, and I like this two-tone paint." I will be happy! Yes, I like the knowledge and true facts (Or else I would not be asking questions!) Some, I can incorperate into the truck
and some, I have to work with what I have, or can obtain.
You two have provided much knowledge from personal and articles I have never heard of or might never have come across, all very valuable! Still, I have so many questions!
Thanks again,
