Man drives $75 Chevy truck for 38 years

[balthazar]

What a cool story.

 

http://www.kare11.com/story/news/local/land-of-10000-stories/2015/01/01/prinsburg-pickup-chevy-bob-sportel-75/21169665/

[Drew Dowdell]

I dunno.. a truck that dependable deserves to be taken care of at least on basic things.  He didn't buy a new muffler? I can see not painting it... but at least bondo up the holes in the body so it doesn't spread more. Get a seat cover for the seat, etc...

[balthazar]

True, but those are aesthetics, not functionalities. 

[G. David Felt]

WOW, Awesome ride. I of course would fix the things not working but would still drive it also. Sweet ride.

[Drew Dowdell]

True, but those are aesthetics, not functionalities. 

 

well no... preventing the spread of rust or the further deterioration of the seat is not just aesthetic.

[balthazar]

I disagree. IMO if the rust is merely a hole in a fender, its an aesthetic. If the headlight falls out, it's functional/structural. The line is where the functionality of the vehicle is altered by the rust.

 

Seat performs the same if there's padding or exposed springs- I had a daily with exposed seat springs once. Add some folded towels & a blanket over all; still drove down the road fine. NBD.

[ocnblu]

That is fantastic. 

[G. David Felt]

Poking the Butt with a steel spring is a failure in my book, seat needs to be fixed or replaced. Unwanted Pokes are not appreciated.

[Drew Dowdell]

... what about wanted pokes?

[ocnblu]

Quote from one male co-worker to another from a sexual harassment video I had to watch as part of my new job on Friday:  "shame to let that cute thing go to waste". 

[G. David Felt]

... what about wanted pokes?

That is a totally different kind of fun for some! LOL

[kittyworker]

Well this thread somehow managed to go from an Old Truck that should (or shouldn't have been, Im not going to argue) had some aesthetic fixes to something a bit less PG friendly.

[Drew Dowdell]

Well this thread somehow managed to go from an Old Truck that should (or shouldn't have been, Im not going to argue) had some aesthetic fixes to something a bit less PG friendly.

Buncha dirty old men!!!      

[G. David Felt]

I still think all rust should be addressed on an auto and any springs poking through should be fixed. No duct tape for me.

[Robert Hall]

I can get why it lasted 38 years on minimal maintenance--such a simple beast that there is very little to go wrong..   But I can't imagine driving something so old and worn out and bare-bones day after day, year after year...

[ocnblu]

Well, I am sure there has been a lot more mechanical maintenance required on a truck of this vintage.  A whole lotta grease fittings, maybe valve adjustments, plugs, points, condenser, etc. - did these have paper air filters?  Carb adjustments, oh man... but I am sure it's all stuff he could have done himself.

[balthazar]

Pretty positive '57 still had the oil bath air cleaner (compressed steel element, reusable indefinitely. 
My '64, which when I got it had been sitting since 1971, still had an oiled steel element (tho not an oil bath air cleaner).

[GMTruckGuy74]

I just posted a link to this story in the Chevy Truck thread, and now I see you beat me to it balthazar!!