The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Walters 65 Chevy shop truck - Pennsylvania

Hi all,

In the mid to late 60's, my grandfather drove a 64-66 Chevy truck. I remember riding in the middle having the shifter bang off my knees while he ran through the gears. I loved the looks of the truck then, and it's still one of my favorites today.

Here I am, 40 plus years later, now married with two boys of my own. My wife, knowing how much I love old trucks, tells me about the truck her uncle Walter has in his garage. She hasn't seen it since she was a little girl, and doesn't remember much about it except that it's red.

Uncle Walter really was a basic kind of guy. No chrome, no frills, just a three on the tree and a straight six made him happy. Upon his passing, the truck ended up in my hands, and I also appreciate a simple truck like his.

Imagine my surprise, when we enter his shop, closed down since the 70's and find his truck is a 65 Chevy! I went in expecting a 68 or 69, but to find one of my dream trucks, I was floored!

It has the 230 six, an inspection sticker in the window from 1973, and power nothing. White bumpers and grill, white wheels, hand choke, and no frills in sight. Mileage is in the mid 70,000 range.

He had drained the gas and water when he quit driving it in 73. After towing it home, I added gas, water, and a battery. She rolled over a couple of times and came to life, lots of oil smoke that cleared up after a few minutes. It idled as smooth as can be. My guess is that Walter, knowing the truck would sit a while, gave each cylinder a shot of oil when he tucked it away.

So here are a couple of pics of "Walters truck". I'm sure I'll always think of him when I drive it. A basic truck for a basic kind of guy.

Here we have it on the dolly, the first time out of the garage since 1973.
http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz268/DLeis/Walters%20shop%20truck/IMG_0666.jpg?t=1267725967

At my house, only gas, water, a battery, and a bath. http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz268/DLeis/Walters%20shop%20truck/IMG_0948.jpg?t=1318089062

I love these trucks all dolled up with the chrome bumpers and trim, but this one will stay the way you see it. One day I'll fix the wrinkle in the drivers fender and door, but for now I'm having too much fun driving it.

Thanks Walter.

That's great. I guess dreams can come true!

Good lookin pickup.

Welcome to the forum Dan... What a great story and congratulations...

Welcome Dan, Walter had good foresight. Neat to have a truck in the family that long. Good luck with it.

Leo

Thanks for the welcome everyone, and for the compliments on the truck. I also thought it was cool that clipped to the visor, he still had a handwritten IOU from when he bought the truck. Dates and amounts signed off by I'm guessing the original owner. That's how things were done.

I probably should have added that Walter was a mechanic. Who knows how many greasy motors and trannys he hauled in this truck. There were a few as the oil soaked wooden bed floor shows.

Quite a garage he had, like a step back in time. He closed the door on a fully functional shop and it never was touched since. Sun machines covered with blankets, armature growler, everywhere you looked it was old school, right down to the pit in the floor for working underneath.

Dan

how much better can it get!! look around inside and you may find money tucked somewhere, my grandpa was known for that

nice simple truck

Absolutely a nice story with a nice happy ending. I like it that you will keep the truck just like it was meant to be. That will make it even more special. Thank you for sharing and Welcome to the Stovebolt. Visit us often.

Great story and great truck - I'm jealous. I'm sure Walter would be thrilled to know his old reliable shop truck lives on in good hands.

Dan,

Welcome and thanks for sharing your story. These old trucks are pieces of rolling Americana, but when you have one with a great story they are living history.

Your a lucky man, Walter would no doubt be proud to see ole red out and about once again.

Thanks again

John

It's a story that I hoped you would understand. Thanks again for all the kind words.

Dan

Very good looking truck, well taken care of. Everything looks original, keep it that way and Walter would be proud im sure

Welcome to the Bolt, and congratulations on getting a family heirloom. Best of luck with it, and let us know if there's anything we can do to help.

Thanks for sharing that story, sounds like my family truck history. Glad to have you.

Ken

Great story! Will pass it along to Peggy to post!

Welcome Dan and Wow..... A true barn find!
Personally I would leave it as is,the bumps and scratches are part of the trucks history after all.
Glad to see the 'auld fella' had the foresight to put the truck into hibernation.
Enjoy your new 'toy' your Uncle Walter would be so proud.

Welcome...and great looking truck

Great family story with another great Stovebolt! A beauty! Keep her in good hands for the future! One day you'll be the Great Uncle or Grandpa!

Welcome Dan, what a great story and a nice looking truck.

Thanks once again for the warm welcome.

It's sure nice having this truck end up in my garage. Some of my oldest memories are of my Dad's 48 Chevy that was a shop truck also, at one time he had a 60 Chevy step side, my Grandfathers 64, 5, or 6, still looking for a pic of that one, and going down to the dealership with my Dad the day he ordered his 72 Chevy. Remember when people did that instead of choosing one off the lot? My brother also had a 69 Chevy fleetside 8' bed. Guess we've been a Chevy truck family for longer than I realized.

There isn't a year that I don't love the look of, they all have such character!

Dan