After sitting, waiting for other auto projects to be finished, the Dodge began to reveal that some of the 17,000 miles had been acquired during rough use while working on a nearby farm. There were more hidden defects than they'd originally thought. But the dream of a neat custom street truck hung on for dear life. After several other projects were completed, work began in earnest. The Beatty family would not only restore the damaged Dodge, but they created a pickup a bit more different the typical. As mentioned, Bill, Susan, and their son Brian chopped the top of the cab 4 inches. Many more modifications followed. Additional modifications were made to the cab, bed, and chassis by friends like Mike Silvesky, Roger Evans, Jerry Tulenko, Kevin Welshans, Art Caldwell, and Herb Grubbs. "Thanks fellas. It never would have been as fabulous without your help," says Bill.
When all the modifications that the group of friends could think of were completed and the paint had been sprayed and buffed out, Roger Evans wired the truck while more aluminum machine work was created for the engine that would provide plenty of tire-spinning power. The fenders, hood and tonneau were fabricated out of 'glass, as was the custom nosepiece that surrounds the Chrysler LHS grille. The pickup also has remote-controlled windows, doors, tonneau cover, and purple neon lights mounted underneath.
Shortly after the purple pickup was completed in 2003, it sustained a bit of body damage while being transported home from the Pittsburg World of Wheels car show. Disgusted and a more than a little defeated, Bill let the truck sit in his garage for over a year before he could summon the energy to repair it. Finally in April 2005, Bill completed the repair and began to participate in local hot rod events, and soon thereafter the pickup began to collect Best of Show and Best Design & Originality awards.
As word of the purple pickup began to spread throughout the neighborhood, a senior citizen neighbor wandered into Bill's garage to ask, "What th' hell is it?" Bill, somewhat amused by her question thought, "Well, if this pickup had a name, that just might be suitable for a Dodge pickup that's decidedly different from all the rest!"
The Decidedly Different Dodge's rolling stock consists of 18- and 20-inch American Racing Torque-Thrust IIs. There are also strobe lights mounted behind each wheel, adding to the electric light show. Art Caldwell machined the wheel centers that mount a purple jewel in the center. |  |
The taillights are a combination of custom Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), mounted in the spoiler and Harley-Davidson taillamps. | 
The Sherwin Williams purple color was selected by Bill's stepmom. The unusual oval grille was taken from a damaged '01 Chrysler LHS and mounted in the custom nose panel. Harley-Davidson lamps serve as headlights. Notice the small wipers mounted over the windshield that were removed from the headlights of a Mercedes. Mike Silveski crafted adapters to allow them to work on the Dodge. |
Members of Fort Steuben Street Rods, Bill and Susan stand proudly behind their Decidedly Different Dodge pickup. Bill states that the project became something of a family affair as time passed. | |