I recently inherited my Dad's 1959 Chevrolet truck. He bought the truck in 1974 and we "restored" it in the early 80's. I put "restore" in quotes because if Dad wanted something different, he did it. I have a long list of all the parts on the truck and where they came from. It has a 350 engine. The seats are out of a Cadillac. Remember the fiber optic light indicators on the fenders of Cadillacs? It had those and an electric radio antenna. Dad owned a service station and later a garage so the truck was a shop project for many years. I drove it to high school in the 1980s and it was driven daily until the shifter broke in the late 1990s. He did not have time to work on it so he just parked it in the shop. When he retired in 2000 and closed the garage he moved it to his mother's barn. When my mother died in 2011 he dragged it into the basement of his mother's house and stripped it to the frame. He worked on it until he got too sick to do so in October 2021. He had a lot of distractions and setbacks in those 10 years. He got remarried and ended up spending half of each year out of state. He had problems finding people to do some of the work in a timely matter. The seats were at an upholstery shop for years before he had to finally go get them and take them somewhere else. It was at three different shops before it got painted. My sister and I kept encouraging him to spend the money and get it finished so he could enjoy it. He wanted to do as much as possible and kept saying he could not afford to pay someone to finish it. He finally got it painted in the Spring of 2021 and was making good progress getting it put back together. He was driving it around with no glass and a 5-gallon bucket as a seat.
In January 2022, it became obvious that Dad was not going to recover. Some of his friends from church asked if they could get the truck and finish it for him. He agreed and they gathered up everything they could find and finished it as best as they could. They parked it outside his bedroom window on January 28, 2022, so he could see it. Dad died on February 19. His wife wanted to take him to the cemetery in the truck but the engine was not running well and the brakes were not that great. (gas had gone bad and wheel cylinders were leaking from sitting so long) His friends brought the truck to the church and parked it next to the hearse. When we returned from the cemetery I could not resist so my aunt and I drove laps around the parking lot. It was my first time driving it in 25 years. One of his friends asked me what to do with the truck after the funeral and that is when it fully hit me that it now was mine. I told them to take it to his house and I would put it in his garage.
Earlier when Dad was taken to the hospital in really bad shape he sent word he wanted to talk to me the next morning. I made it there in three hours but it was two days before I could sneak into the ICU to talk to him. He wanted to know if I was going to finish the truck or if I was going to hire someone to do so. I told him I wanted him to finish it. He spent the rest of our time together going over each part of the truck and telling me what needed to be done. Now the truck is in my garage and my sister and wife are encouraging me to hire someone to finish it so I can enjoy it. We will see.
Thanks for listening. Curtis
Last edited by Peggy M; 11/07/20231:12 AM.
1959 Chevy Apache Follow in the DITY Gallery "It IS my Father's TRUCK" "It all does not have to be done at once." - Grandma
Curtis, what a great tribute to your Father and your time spent with him. There are many great folks her who are full of wisdom and encouragement, so please make yourself at home. Ask all the questions you what and you will get more answers than you hoped for.
I fully understand your Father's comment to doing his truck his way, I have a '59 myself.
Last edited by Peggy M; 11/07/20231:10 AM.
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
Curtis, welcome to the bolt and although a somewhat sad ending it is a sweet story to cherish. I've always had a liking to the twin headlights and that is a sharp looking truck. Several members here from Tenn. Also drop by the southern bolters forum and see whats been going on and maybe plans for the future. If down around Spartanburg let me know. Hot dogs and a cold Pepsi are on me!!
Nice truck and a great story. Unfortunately, my only son has no interest in my truck. I had a 1960 MGA for 43 years and it was in great shape and I offered it to him, NOPE.
Ron, The Computer Greek I love therefore I am. 1954 3100 Chevy truck In the Gallery 2017 Buick Encore See more pix 1960 MGA Roadster Sold 7/18/2017
That truck sure doesn't look like it needs much body work. It's beautiful.
If it starts and drives and sort of stops, I think you have a pretty good chance of getting it roadworthy without too much fuss.
Fuel system is likely the cause of the driveability issues. New fuel tank and fuel lines are readily available if yours has rusted inside. Fuel pump and carburetor can be rebuilt by you or professional services.
Brake parts are all available if a complete rebuild is needed.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
Wow what a story. The best part for you once it finished (however you do it) and drivable every time you get in it you will be reminded of your Dad and all those memories together
Welcome to the ‘Bolt! Nice start to your project and great story and history. I can’t see why, if your willing to get your hands dirty, with our help and guidance you can’t tackle finishing the truck yourself, making your Dad proud. You can do it!
With that list fresh in your head, write it down and tackle one item at a time and soon you’ll see that your making progress. It’s OK to farm out some of the work if you feel it’s out of you capability but when you work on your truck, I bet you will feel like Dad is with you guiding you thru the process. I know my when I’m working on my truck, my Dad is with me, especially when working with tools he had in his hands.
And of course please post more pictures. We ‘Bolters love pictures. Again, welcome to the forums!
Last edited by Phak1; 07/17/202312:36 PM.
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals
1952 Chevrolet 3100, Three on the Tree, 4:11 torque tube Updated to: ‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters, 12v w/alternator, HEI, PCV and Power front Disc Brakes Project Journals Stovebolt Gallery Forum
I worked on my 1950 3100 for 5 months on Tuesdays only with a mechanic friend. (Here's the "Truck Tuesdays" in my DITY Gallery thread.) It had sat for 31 years in a barn. I had bought many parts and made an order most every Tuesday after working on it for parts we needed for the next Tuesday. I am no mechanic, just a good helper. The time went by fast, started in May and finished Oct 3rd. It is home now and I am piddling with it in my shop. He and I drove it to Cruise night and had a blast. i now have 60 miles on the new speedo/odometer. While working on it we had frustrations and fun. With help from the Forum members the frustrations were fixed. Look under my name and the topic was Truck Tuesday.
That is a nice truck you have, I bet it won't take much to make it a reliable driver. And help remember your father. I got mine going to remember my younger years when it was my daily driver, owned it for 41 years, I am now 67 and it will always be a part of my life.
Last edited by Peggy M; 11/05/20233:10 PM. Reason: added link to Truck Tuesdays :)
I bought my '54 in 1983 for $1250. I am not a mechanic but I did some of the initial work but when It got complicated, I farmed it out for 2 years. I have a 1979 Nova rear end in my 54 with 2.73 gears and drive any highway speeds.
Now I read your bio and the part about the Plymouth hurts. I have always wanted a mid-30s one, and at times, even being 80, I still have hopes to get a mid-30s Plymouth.
Thanks for posting and good luck.
Last edited by Peggy M; 11/05/20233:05 PM.
Ron, The Computer Greek I love therefore I am. 1954 3100 Chevy truck In the Gallery 2017 Buick Encore See more pix 1960 MGA Roadster Sold 7/18/2017
I recently inherited my Dad's 1959 Chevrolet truck. He bought the truck in 1974 and we "restored" it in the early 80's. I put "restore" in quotes because if Dad wanted something different, he did it. I have a long list of all the parts on the truck and where they came from. It has a 350 engine. The seats are out of a Cadillac. Remember the fiber optic light indicators on the fenders of Cadillacs? It had those and an electric radio antenna. Dad owned a service station and later a garage so the truck was a shop project for many years. I drove it to high school in the 1980s and it was driven daily until the shifter broke in the late 1990s. He did not have time to work on it so he just parked it in the shop. When he retired in 2000 and closed the garage he moved it to his mother's barn. When my mother died in 2011 he dragged it into the basement of his mother's house and stripped it to the frame. He worked on it until he got too sick to do so in October 2021. He had a lot of distractions and setbacks in those 10 years. He got remarried and ended up spending half of each year out of state. He had problems finding people to do some of the work in a timely matter. The seats were at an upholstery shop for years before he had to finally go get them and take them somewhere else. It was at three different shops before it got painted. My sister and I kept encouraging him to spend the money and get it finished so he could enjoy it. He wanted to do as much as possible and kept saying he could not afford to pay someone to finish it. He finally got it painted in the Spring of 2021 and was making good progress getting it put back together. He was driving it around with no glass and a 5-gallon bucket as a seat. .jpg)
In January 2022, it became obvious that Dad was not going to recover. Some of his friends from church asked if they could get the truck and finish it for him. He agreed and they gathered up everything they could find and finished it as best as they could. They parked it outside his bedroom window on January 28, 2022, so he could see it. Dad died on February 19. His wife wanted to take him to the cemetery in the truck but the engine was not running well and the brakes were not that great. (gas had gone bad and wheel cylinders were leaking from sitting so long) His friends brought the truck to the church and parked it next to the hearse. When we returned from the cemetery I could not resist so my aunt and I drove laps around the parking lot. It was my first time driving it in 25 years. One of his friends asked me what to do with the truck after the funeral and that is when it fully hit me that it now was mine. I told them to take it to his house and I would put it in his garage. 
