1940 Ford Panel - Delivery Dancin' In The Desert's Dusk

The owner next towed the delivery to Sledsville Hot Rods & Kustoms in Riverside, California, for the extensive bodywork. Sledsville chopped the top, shaved the door handles, leaded the fenders, and prepped all the exterior panels for paint. Their work complete, Stan Howton, owner of Howton's Signs & Lines in nearby Beaumont, beautified the hauler with several coats of House of Kolors Tangerine, before clearing the topcoats.

Being a retired rodeo cowboy and lifelong horseman and rancher, Ron wanted the interior to have a western theme. He entrusted Eddie Ledesma, owner of American Auto Upholstery in Corona, with trimming the cabin in cream leather and tan suede, replete with custom-stitched longhorn steers. Like all the saddles he has used, two colors of thread were employed throughout the custom stitchwork. Once Eddie was done, Ron delivered the '40 back to RC Classics for fitment of the Vintage Air and stereo system, thus bringing the truck's construction to completion.

We've known Ron Segal for years now. He has been involved in the vintage automotive hobby for 40 years, and has owned many sweet custom vintage trucks and street rods. He never seems able to hang on to them for too long. In that regard, perhaps his habit of buying, building, collecting, and selling are akin to the cowboys of yore, who moved from ranch to ranch for the next big cattle drive or ill-tempered bronc' to bust. After riding in the same saddle for a while, Ron has to get a different one to make his own. The '40's current caretakers are Ron's good friends, Charlie and Kathy Knoedler. They're the beneficiaries of Ron's restless nature to create and ride something new/old. When you see Ron's current steed, we're guessing you'll be equally impressed. Stay tuned.