Family Tradition
For as long as Joseph A. Miele Jr. can remember he has dreamed of restoring the family's '53 International pickup truck. When his grandfather came to America as a 17-year-old immigrant, he started his own business, using a horse and buggy to pick up ashes and cinder. Eventually the business grew, and this '53 was the first brand-new truck his grandfather ever bought for the business. Now that the business is flourishing, Joseph wanted to restore the truck as a tribute to his grandfather's hard work over the years.
But Joseph didn't want to just clean it up and call it a day; instead, he opted for a full frame-off restoration. On the outside he put the truck back to the way it was when it was in service, but underneath that green paint it's a different story. Under the hood rests a 428 Ford powerplant with a C6 transmission and a Dana 60 rearend. Joseph also had a custom front grille fabricated along with the front and rear bumpers. In the bed diamond-plate was cut for a nice fit and finish, and a Mar-K oak bed with stainless strips was installed. The inside of the cab is highlighted by a custom dash Joseph built. He also installed a set of Auto Meter gauges and a Vintage Air A/C and heater system.