Well it's been a while since I placed the Ole Alabama Sweet Potato Hauler in the gallery and thought I might post about how I came about acquiring the truck some 17 years ago. My first truck was a 1953 Chevy purchased in 1968 for $200 which I drove for several years. One day at work in Cullman, Al. in 1996 there was a nice looking 1972 Chevy for sale across the road. Before walking over to look at it a fellow worker told me that this same person used to have an old 50's Chevy truck also. As I was looking at it the owner walked up, an older gentleman of German descent. After looking at the 1972 I asked if he still had the older truck, he answered yes and without any thought as to whether it was for sale or not I ask if I could see it. Walking up to his barn he raised the door and there backed into the alley way and under a heavy tarp sat this 1952 Chevrolet truck. Removing the tarp I knew immediately it was something special even though it was dressed in white buggy wheels and jumbo mudders, greenish yellow shag carpet, old roll/tucked seat covers, overly large modern day radio in the dash, gun racks and a tall CB antenna. He begin to tell me about the truck, an only child his dad purchased the truck new in Cullman, Al. When he went to pick it up another man of German descent was purchasing a new 1/2 ton also, his was a 5 window and the additional cost was $35. Being a frugal German he did not want to pay the additional dollars but trucks where in short supply and high demand. Anyway, this gentleman's dad had ran a saw mill and used a larger tonnage truck most of the time. The 1/2 ton was kept in a shed and utilized for errands, family use and to haul sweet potatoes to the farmers market in Birmingham, Al. about 40 miles one way. As the son aged he learned to drive in it, took his drivers test in it and dated in it. When his dad died he inherited it and continued to drive it on a limited basis and even using it for deer hunting; therefore, the dressings. Eventually the truck had been placed in the barn for about 17 years, occasionally brought out, driven some and then placed back in the barn with the tarp over it. Yes, it did ran when parked and with 95k miles on it he stated that it used very little oil. As he talked I could see the real beauty of the truck and my mind went back 20 years ago to the 1953 Chevy I once owned. Without thinking I casually asked if the truck might be for sale and he answered in his heavy German voice, Ya, I been thinking about selling it. I'm getting older with no children and its time to sell it. Somewhat surprised I asked; if it was for sale what would he want for it? He promptly answered with a price. Not wanting to pressure him I again asked; was he sure wanted to sale it? Again he stated he was thinking about it. I asked him to think about it over night and asked if I could come over again tomorrow. The next afternoon after work I arrived and he was putting fresh gas and a battery in the truck preparing to start it. Priming the carburetor, a few revolutions of the engine, it fired up and ran, quite rough, but ran and with very little smoke. He was ready to sell and with no haggling I paid him in cash. He immediately started bringing out things: four wheels with 6:50 x 16 tires and hubcaps, the rubber floor mat, factory driver side door mirror, factory radio delete plate, extra set of keys and the owner's manual. So with weak brakes and a rough running engine i drove it to my work site so i could prep it for the trip to my house.
Almost immediately i begin to get different reactions from people concerning its purchase. My wife loved the truck but from her woman's perspective could not see the future beauty of the truck. Many others could not see it returned to its original condition either. Numerous people stated i should put a V8 engine in it. One co-worker even got mad at me because for years his dad had tried to buy the truck and could not.
Closer inspection revealed original paint, although thin in the expected places, top of fenders and hood, factory cab pin stripping, factory supplied spare tire, A Gum Coated Firestone. I started on the basic first, oil change, checking fluid levels, greasing, carburetor rebuild, tune up and soon the engine was running smooth. Next was the brakes, a kit in the master cylinder was all that was required along with the bleeding of the system. With the jumbo mudders off and replaced with the original wheels, tires and hubcaps it begin to take on a renewed look and soon was gaining the attention and praise of various folks. I also started work on the paint, using the finest rubbing compound I lightly went over the truck not once, not twice, but three times followed by waxing, not once, not twice, but 3 times. The truck had absolutely no rust and surprising very dings or dents. Next I focused on the under side; utilizing a creeper I scraped and cleaned as best I could and then painted every thing with flat black paint. Finally I started the interior by removing the seat and had it recovered in original like brown vinyl, removing the shag carpet and placing the rubber floor mat back in it. I also removed the radio and replaced the delete plate, removed the gun rack and CB antenna. Finally the ole girl was back to near it original appearance. Now, 17 years later, the Ole Sweet Potato Hauler sits in the garage with a cover over it. Like all of us that loves these trucks, I know every nut and bolt on it. We can tune them, start them when they are temperamental and keep them going. We love on them, pet them and do cleaning and repair work even if not needed. Well maintained and waxed yearly it is driven several times a month. With 106K miles it uses very little oil, has its unique sounds and whines from the drive train and on occasion the front brakes will grab if depressed too hard.
Soon the truck will come full circle, the original owner (deceased), the original owner's son (80's) and then myself (66). Fortunately for me and the truck, we have two sons that have a strong interest in it and after that, two grandgirls; yes, girls that loves PaPas 52.
