Editor's Note: Getting your truck into Readers' Trucks is a snap, of the camera, that is. All it takes is a stack of good-quality photos of your ride that are in focus and well lit. Due to the volume of mail we receive, we regret that we cannot return photographs. Send photos of your truck (no Polaroids or printouts) to: CCT, Readers' Trucks, 774 S. Placentia Ave., Placentia, CA 92870. It is important that you include a detailed description of the modifications you have made to your truck, including any interesting stories behind it.
The saga of Bob and Frances Earle's '55 Chevy Big-Window pickup began some 32 years ago when Bob owned a newer truck that was stolen, so Bob decided he wanted to get his hands on an earlier truck. Bob located the '55 in Van Nuys, California, and then immediately began to drive it to and from his job as a truck driver for Ralphs' grocery stores. After about seven years of daily use the '55 was getting a little ragged so Bob pulled it down to the bare frame and started from scratch. Every stock nut and bolt was replaced with polished stainless steel. Bob fabricated polished stainless tubing to function as radiator hoses to help keep the 4-bolt 350-inch small-block engine cool. Bob did a lot of the work on the '55 himself, but did look to some pros in the Lancaster, California, area to give the truck a custom touch. Randy's Custom Interiors did the upholstery. Wally's Sandblasting took the truck down to the bare metal and then, the bright-yellow custom paint, complete with flames, was done by Art and Harry at Affordable Auto Body. All Glass & Plastic handled the window tinting. A B&M hydro replaced the stock '55 hydro and a Ford 9-inch takes up the rearend chores. The oak bed floor is divided with polished stainless steel strips and sports 15 coats of hand-rubbed Tung oil, and no Bob doesn't own his own Texaco station that belongs to his buddy Gary.