Hot Rod pickups...objective or accident?

[Fat Hack]

I dig trucks as much as anyone else, and I've owned quite a few of them. However, when I think of hot rods, my thoughts don't fall to pickups by nature...I normally conjure up images of early Ford coupes and sedans.

But, that doesn't mean that I can't be swayed by a sufficiently cool hot rod that just happens to be sporting a cab and a bed, either! I ran across one tonight, and it's haunting my every waking thought right now! Just one of those freak encounters that has me trying to figure out what miracles I might be able to pull off to score another vehicle that I don't really NEED, and wasn't LOOKING for in the first place! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I can make all kinds of sound arguments in favor of adding a pickup to my personal fleet...the utilitarian nature of them makes having one around real handy, and you never know when you might need one!

So...do those of you who build or own hot rod pickups do it to kill two birds with one stone, or do you have other reasons for it? I can appreciate and understand the value of a shop truck, customized and built up to promote a car-oriented businees, as well as serving to provide a practical work vehicle for said business...but I was just wondering if anyone had happened into a hot rod truck project by accident or fate, rather than by design or intent?

I see so many cool truck projects being built, and I've even got one of my own cooked up, but stumbling across this one particualr pickup today has got me seriously distracted from my noraml routine...and trying to figure out a way to squeeze it into my life and budget! I suppose that can happen to any of us with anything...an unexpectedly cool truck, car or bike comes along...one that is done 99.5% the way we'd do it ourselves, and our destiny meets a fork in the road as we ponder the wisdom of diving into something new and completely unplanned!

Anyone else ever find themselves suddenly obsessed with the idea of owning a hot rod pickup when they normally tend to gravitate toward other things?

(Just looking for some of your personal annecdotes or comments on the subject of sudden and unforeseen shifts in your project/hot rod focus or pursuits!!)

[plan9]

shit, id like to have a sedan or coupe.. but they are way over the top in $$$, and the mid 30s trucks are plentiful and cheaper than other stuff out there. for me, the body is easier to modify (1st ground up build for me).... come to think of it, aside from a piece of crap 83 skylark i had for 6 mo. i have never owned a passenger car, always been a truck/van/truck hybrid... the 56 olds i just got is the first car... in fact i picked up parts for almost 2 35 p/u's for well under 2 grand...

i have been obsessing over building a hotrod drag car for the past 2 yrs... finally getting around to it

[four-thirteen]

I picked up a '32 ford truck cab last week. I bought it because it was cheap and I couldn't stand to see it lay out in the field any longer. My plan was to build a chassis for it, based on deuce rails. Why build a truck? My reasons were cost, availablity, utility and coolness. You can bet it wouldn't have been sitting in the mud if it was a '32 five window, and if it was, it would have been out of my price range. The cab is all I need to build a truck, I can fab up a box and the rest of the sheet metal with ease.

My current plan for the finished truck is: Chopped a few inches, but still be able to sit in it. Make a factory looking box. Get it down real low with a modified set of deuce rails and drop axle. 401 nailhead with 4 or 6 holley 94s, laselle tranny, 57 olds or poncho rear. I think that would make for some cool trips to the parts store. Dave

[blueskies]

http://home.rmci.net/blueskies/truckinfall.jpg

I've had my hot rod truck for about 22 years, and I still drive it daily, haul shit with it often, and love every minute of it. It's got a 350/350 and Mustang II so it's easy to drive anywhere. It's got the same lousy paint it had that was ten years old when i bought it, and the wood in the bed is a sheet of plywood, so I'm not worried about scratching it... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif If I painted it I wouldn't be able to drive it anymore! Now it's the parts chaser for my Plymouth project.

Pete

[Rocky]

Sedans suck...coupes are cool, wagons are too big but pickups kick ass...
I'm comfortable in a truck. Kinda like the feeling I get wearing an old pair of jeans that fit just perfect.....with my rodders digest hat on and a HAMB shirt..I'm right with the world.
I suppose I'm showing my lower/middle class upbringing, learning to drive a 41 chevy pickup through the cherry orchards of north central Oregon while my dad sits over on the passenger side of the pickup with a half-a-Blitz beer, workin on his drinkin problem while I'm in heaven, driving that old uclid green pickup.
I know pickups....I love pickups. I buy pickups on purpose.

[Corn Fed]

My current project Pick Up just kinda landed in my lap. I bought the remains of a shortened 28 sedan that had been rodded in the early 60's because it was dirt cheap and had a bunch of real nice parts with it. I was gonna just part it out, but the thing just kept begging me to put it back to the pick up it was ment to be. So I put my coupe project on hold and started wrenching on the PU.

[OGNC]

First of all, most of America was built buy guys that drive pickups. They hauled materials to the job sites, they have hauled some of the happiest dogs on the planet and in the right hands they've hauled ass.

I like the utility of a truck, always have and always will. I like being able to toss my tool box, cooler and duffle bag in the back and head off to a show. I like the fact that my dad owned more F-100s than I can count while I was growing up and that I learned to drive stick in a butter yellow 1959 F-100 with a 390 and a 3 speed. Right now I own 8 vehicles and every one of them is a truck. From the 28 RPU to a 42 ford to my 2002 Chevy every one has a bed on the back and every one makes me smile.

Maybe it is because I have a little bit of retard in me. Maybe it is because I can remember going on a summer road trip with my parents every summer every year and every year it was in a pickup truck. Maybe it is just it is because there is nothing cooler than being able to drive a hot rod to the swap meet and get thumbs up from everybody on the freeway when you have a complete 9-inch and a tranny in the bed. Maybe I am just a guy that likes trucks (and yes I have owned my fair share of cars).

[metalshapes]

I supose I could have made my '66 Ranchero live forever, But it did not grow up around here, somebody had done some really nasty rust repairs to it and I needed something with more towing capacity. So I started looking for a early 50s to '66 Ford truck ( not because I'm a Ford fanatic but 'cause it was going to get the rebuild Engine, tranny, rear axle and any other good parts I could take off that Ranchero ).
I found my '60 truck, lowered it 13", put all those Ranchero parts on it , plus the seats, most of the exhaust and the tow hitch. I cant tell you how much I miss having a truck. All it needs now is plumbing and wireing, so in a couple of weeks I should be rolling again.

[plan9]

another good thing about trucks is having a fine broad slide over to you on that spaceous bench seat... also, its a good excuse not to drive when hittin the bars.. "what the fuck bitch?.... i can ONLY fit 2 people in this thing!!"

[DrJ]

A Pickup truck is a parallel vehicle style to a three window, (and sometimes five window) coupe with (usually) a much larger trunk capacity than the coupe.
They are popular for making hotrods for the same reason(s) new ones are popular to new "car" buyers. (and I'm not sure what those reasons are either. Next door neighbor bought an SUV so she could be up high enough to see what's going on in traffic...I asked her if she was going to paint flowers on it like her old micro-bus back in the "old daze")
Yea, I bought my 40 GMC on a whim because I saw it in the Pennysaver and had to take a look.
I wasn't looking for a coupe at the time.
If I would have been looking for anything it would have been a two door sedan.
I wasn't really looking for anything.
It just happened along.
and I traded a 55 Olds 88 for it straight across

[lowsquire]

my 31 A project was originally going to be a modified type thing(not narrowed)but working it all to look right wheelbase wise left it being a bit wrong looking,so RPU here i come!plus Ive been swayed by Zibo's ride and it answered lots of questions such as wheres the battery gonna go? and gives more room for upper rearend links.Early pick ups do seem to be ín fashion'at the moment.not that i care. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[delaware george]

i love coupes,but stumbled into my 29 rpu...i love it,it's like a big t-bucket with more room

[50Fraud]

About 15 years ago I was looking for something entirely different, and found this '67 Chev for sale. I couldn't stop thinking about it either, so I bought it. Good deal, useful, fun, reliable. Never regretted it.

[Humboldt Cat]

Pickups were an were an accidental reality for me that turned out to be a hidden blessing. It's always been cars I've been in to for hot rodding, but in '01 after my Nissan was totalled, armed with a check from the insurance company I shopped around from something old 'n fun, and the '57 F-100 happened to be available.
I wasn't sure exactly what way to go with it, when I bought it, I just knew I was gonna end up having fun with it either way, and I am. It'll be a lil' more fun when this endless prep-for-paint job is finally over...
Just when you think you know cars well, working/building up on a truck gives you new angles to learn about, such as the bed that I've been dismantling for clean-up 'n primer. Never knew how it's formed together, or how many >%$# rusted bolts it takes.
It's sure not as aerodynamic as my friend's low '69 Mustang shark-on-wheels, but that 390 can really holler and SCOOT me down the highway. It's just a whole buncha unexpected fun.
'30s-era street rods have long been my dream car, lately I've been thinking about rpu's...

[Iceberg]

I wanted to build a cool thirties hot rod and not spend my kid's college fund. Good Ford coupes and convertables were too expensive, the ones that I could afford were hammered. I've built my '35 Ford pickup for just over 10 large, the price of a good coupe body. Flatheads rule!

[raven]

What started me was an old memory of my dad driving me to grade school in a '56 Chevy pu with a Pontiac 389 with 3 deuces and a four speed. I looked to re-create that memory in some was but stumbled on a '54 instead. Now that's my daily driver and I'm still not done with it.
My next project was going to be a roadster of some typw, but Injected A had an offer that was too good to pass up on a '46 Chevy pu.
So now that's the next in line.
All this while I have a '49 Chevy Fleetline that is a weekend away from running and it still sets.
r

[orange52]

I think it was fate for me. My truck has been in the family since new. I learned to drive in it. That cab and steering wheel sure seemed a lot bigger back then. This is my first streetrod project and since its special to me, I want to build it right. I've always felt more at home in a truck. I think that straight six, whining trans, huge steering wheel, and bouncy ride just got me hooked!

[Cword]

Yes, we found ourselves with a hot rod pickup and took it to an extreme.
There was some fate involved, in that we wanted to run in a roadster class, and we already had the pickup body available.
The whole crew is happy with the result.
http://www.fsra.org/cdnrodder/1149.jpg

[praisethelowered]

Rods by definition are stripped down and utilitarian. Pick-ups have that same quality. My F-100 has an all-metal interior (except the seat-duh)and a rubber floor mat. There is a simplicity to it that I think is sort of like s stripped down '32.

[bdrake]

I set out to build my truck and one of the reasons I joined the HAMB, a lot of trucks being built here. When I sold my coupe I wanted to build a truck, had the '37 stored for a friend and I wanted it from the day he brought it out. Finally worked it out and work began.

I remember reading a rodding magazine as a kid when I ran across an article on trucks. They were a little different than all the coupes and roadsters but still looked good. When I saw a '40 Ford pickup sitting just right I knew I would have to have one someday. You can still use it as a truck and have fun doing it. You will also have a few new best friends that will want you to carry something.

[plan9]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, we found ourselves with a hot rod pickup and took it to an extreme.
There was some fate involved, in that we wanted to run in a roadster class, and we already had the pickup body available.
The whole crew is happy with the result.
http://www.fsra.org/cdnrodder/1149.jpg


[/ QUOTE ]

cword, that rpu is top notch man!!

[dondanno]

I got a phone from a friend selling his rpu the price was right so I bought it....Danny

[mtflat]

accident - I only drive p'ups but this started with headers and duals to breathe better, upgrade to merc engine, 9" rear swap, next comes the Thickstun/97's, and when the tranny goes it'll get a C4 or T-5 depending on how old I feel at the moment. Pickups are hotrods!

[Docfranknstein]

Most times I don't go looking for one kind'a body type or another, I just happen upon something and go with that, I just like making one off stuff. When I found My 32 Chevy truck it was a one ton stocker with a flat bed that was so big it could have been a car hauler, the old man that had owned it was trying to fix it up and had blown a bunch of money on the 6 banger only to put in the wrong throw out bearing by mistake, well that was the end of that, My buddy Greaser Frank got the truck next and He is a Ford guy thru & thru, so I ended up with it, GF also gave me a Ford 9 inch rear and the 57 Ford rear clip, He called it Me cleaning up His yard, I called it the begining of the "Golem". My Son also has a truck project in the works, so via la trucks. Von Doc

[Rolf]

Yup, somebody said this country was built on American trucks, I agree. I use this thing as a driver as well as haul stuff.
With several leafs removed from the front springs, lowering blocks in the rear, and a 1956 pressure oil 6 cyl, I haven't spent too much money , so I just keep it around.

One observation: Women dig this thing. Actually, they throw their underwear at me... Just like Elvis! Something about being non threatening, or something...

It's a 20 yarder...

http://www.classicroad.com/hamb/52low.JPG

[rodnkustom]

Rolf is really modest about that truck, it's gorgeous!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
-peter

[brjr51]

Hey Rolf,how's that thing drive with the leaves removed? How many did ya take out?

[Cword]

Hey Thanks Plan9!
RPU's blend the best of roadsters and pickups.

[Jeff Norwell]

I dig pick-ups,I bought my 32 about 12 yrs ago and the old warrior had ALOT of history......HOTROD PICKUPS JUST DO IT FOR ME
sorry,got a bit carried away there.....
Here is quick drawing of her rebirth.

[Jeff Norwell]

and here is the heart and soul....
were getting the frame done now.

[SKR8PN]

[ QUOTE ]
Sedans suck...coupes are cool, wagons are too big but pickups kick ass...
I'm comfortable in a truck. Kinda like the feeling I get wearing an old pair of jeans that fit just perfect.....with my rodders digest hat on and a HAMB shirt..I'm right with the world.
I suppose I'm showing my lower/middle class upbringing, learning to drive a 41 chevy pickup through the cherry orchards of north central Oregon while my dad sits over on the passenger side of the pickup with a half-a-Blitz beer, workin on his drinkin problem while I'm in heaven, driving that old uclid green pickup.
I know pickups....I love pickups. I buy pickups on purpose.

[/ QUOTE ]


Yup.........me and Rocky musta had the same old man.......I learned to drive in a 1963 GMC 1/2 ton pickup,w/ladder racks and tool box's on the side. God I miss that truck,,,,,,AND my Dad........
And yes......I buy pickups on purpose also.......

[HOTRODPRIMER]

Just an every day truck for Hank for the past 4 or 5 years,,,,

[nvr2red]

I like pickups, so I guess it isn't an accident. I remember standing in the front seat of the pickup between my parents so I could see out the window of a 49 Willys, and Grandpa's 56 GMC. I've had new ones and old ones - used them for work and play. I think they have as much to do with taming the west as six-shooters. Now I have this 86 GMC I bought and used as a shop truck because the owner was moving to Hawaii and only wanted to take one car. He built it to race the Silver State 100 and got it to go over 124 MPH average http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. I would like to start another '55 or '56 Chev, and have been gathering parts, so one of these days this one will have to find a new home.

[Tinbender]

I bought and built my Stude so I could haul my bikes(not to mention all the other shit I need to haul) I'd like to build a car, but I'll always have a p/u. My 33 ford p/u was based on the fact that it was cheaper to buy, and I want a bare bones hot rod. Light as possible = fast.

[Rolf]

brjr51 : I think I removed 4 blades, the shorter ones does not do much anyway. It drives fine, if I slam it in to one of thoses nasty Seattle pot holes, it may bottom out, but crusin' aroung town or highway it's fine. A clip would obviously be better, but I am spending every cent on my A build up.

Peter: Thanks, they all look good on pictures, that why I dont buy cars on eBay, unless they are local.

[nvr2red]

FatHack I pmed you.

[CURIOUS RASH]

<font color="green">MONKEY
http://photo.starblvd.net/~ron_n_tracy/3-3-3.jpg
FTF
http://photo.starblvd.net/~ron_n_tracy/6-1-1.jpg
Lil Toot
http://photo.starblvd.net/~ron_n_tracy/4-1-1.jpg
FLT-BLK
http://photo.starblvd.net/~CURIOUS_RASH/2-2-4.jpg

Always have thought of these AS HOTRODS.

RASHY</font>

[brjr51]

Thanks Rolf,it looks real nice. By the way, my sis lives in Bothel and my little 5 year old nephew keeps talking bout a blue truck like his uncles'. Could be.

[av8]

Rolf -- Your Chevy is a stunner! It reminds me of the work that was being done to new pickups in the early and mid '50s, bright non-truck paint, wide whites, simple and tasty restyling.

I've always thought of pickups as hot-rod worthy and never thought of them as a compromise. Although they've traditionally been less costly to get into than coupes and roadsters I don't think that that's what motivated most folks to hot rod pickups.

I've had two distinctly different pickup projects on my design pads for a long time, one of them approaching 30 years and the other 8 years old at this point. The first, a roadster pickup takeoff of Frank Mack's '27 T roadster, will probably never be done by my hand -- just not enough time. The second is an homage to Chuck Porter's F-1 and this looks doable at times because Kent Fuller is interested in collaborating to build it, but it's also a low priority for both of us.

I've had a couple of interesting "opportunity" trucks along the way but wasn't sufficiently in thrall with them to expend the time and effort to pull them off. Then, a few weeks ago I began collecting pieces for another pickup project, a Deuce-style highboy -- a concept I've liked since the '50s. I have a nice '34 cab, hood, and radiator, '40 front wishbone for a spring-in-front suspension, spindles, etc.

That project went on temporary hold today when I learned of a pristine '48 F-1 for sale locally. This one is a sweetheart that needs no more than a rubout of the oxidized but otherwise excellent paint, a dropped front axle, dual exhaust, a tonneau cover, and big and little wide whites to turn it into a worthy shop truck/push truck for Fuller's 'liner and a fine daily driver.

Yes, I'm a pushover when it comes to hot-roddable pickup trucks, and I admit that some of my very favorite hot rods over the years have been pickups.

Look for pictures in the weeks ahead! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif