2009 Carlisle All-Truck Nationals

Some 20 years ago Mike Rudy set this '38 Ford truck on fire by connecting a 12-volt battery to its 6-volt system. Then she sat in his dad's basement for 20 years. Today she's a true hot hauler; a home-build with a to-die-for PPG Lions Mane paintjob and powered by a 350 Chevy crate motor with a Turbo 350.

Here's John Gauntt's '57 Stepside from Mt. Holly, NJ; one of the cleanest examples of this particular breed at the show. Power comes from a 350/350 combo, a '76 Nova Posi rearend puts the power to the ground, and up front a Camaro subframe and suspension helps John keep the power headed in the desired direction.

Robert Keller has owned this ultraclean '55 GMC 100 Stepside for 22 years. The paint maintains the original color scheme, but the brakes have been upgraded and under the hood is a 350 Chevy.

From Sicklerville, NJ, Bob Crean's '50 Chevy was originally a Pied Piper Ice Cream truck from the North Jersey area.

From Coatesville, PA, Tom and Jill Baker's '41 Ford pickup body is mounted on an '89 Nissan chassis, shortened 17 inches, with a Mustang II frontend and is running a 350/350 with an 8-inch Ford rearend.

Driven in from Mertztown, PA, this '48 Chevy panel sports subtle body mods, a 350 Chevy with Brodix aluminum heads, and a '75 Nova front suspension with Fatman A-arms.

This truck originally belonged to Staub Chevrolet and was used as a parts truck at the New Oxford, PA, dealership. Tim Hagarman of Hanover, PA, is the third owner of this bone stock '66 Chevy C10 longbed, and he finished the restoration in '92.

On every count, New Cumberland, PA, residents Dwane and Sherry Gordon's '55 F-100 with Dakota Digital gauges, Dan Carpenter oak bed wood, American Racing wheels, and a 289-inch Ford with a C4 Cruise-O-Matic was one of the nicest examples at the show.

Ron Donoflio's C10 Cheyenne features a late-model bed and American mags.