Talbert Goldman’s ’48 Studebaker Pickup

Talbert Goldman literally grew up around cars. His father, Mike, has been building cars in their backyard shop for most of Talbert’s 15-year-old life. When he was around nine, Talbert showed interest in an old ’48 Stude that had been sitting out back. The truck had been in the family for years, having belonged to Talbert’s maternal grandfather, Charles Talbert. Mike had talked Charles, his future father-in-law, out of the truck more than 20 years ago and used it for several years after making it roadworthy. Mike parked the truck prior to marrying Sherry, and there it sat until a 9-year-old Talbert became interested in it. Mike told Talbert that the truck would be his as soon as he was able to tackle the task of rebuilding it himself. At 14, Talbert made a false start on the project, quickly realizing just how difficult it would be. He spent the following year planning and drawing his dream truck and finally, in February 2001, at age 15, he was ready to see the project through to completion. Sure, his father helped him with some of the larger tasks—like setting up the suspension—but Talbert did all of the actual work ‰ himself, from cutting and welding the boxing plates into the framerails, to narrowing and installing the ’59 Chevy dash, to painting everything on the truck himself.

Talbert fit all of this work in with the rest of the daily activities that consume a typical teenager’s life: school, football practice, chores, homework, girls, and so on. He set his goal for completion to coincide with the start of the NSRA Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky, in August 2001, where he planned the truck’s debut. As the date drew near, Talbert found himself a little behind schedule and began to worry about reaching his goal. With two weeks left and the truck far from complete, Talbert’s mom and sister, Natalie, left town for two weeks, leaving Talbert with just the opportunity he needed. Throwing the clock out the window, Talbert and Mike thrashed until well past midnight most weeknights, as well as pulling all-nighters in the shop on weekends. Thursday morning (the opening day of the Nationals) came and the Goldman boys found themselves tightening the final bolt at 5 a.m.

They loaded the truck on a trailer for the quick trip to the muffler shop for exhaust and then a front-end alignment. Thursday afternoon, they returned home, packed, and immediately left for Louisville, driving all night to arrive Friday morning. Although Talbert looked mighty weary when we bumped into him in the Vintage Air Under 21 Corral at the Nats—where he garnered a Posies’ Pick—his excitement and enthusiasm told the real story. When asked if it was all worth it, his response was a resounding “Yes!” We definitely agree.

Drivetrain: The engine is a 350 that Mike pulled out of a client’s car while swapping in a ZZ4. Realizing that Talbert needed an engine, Mike offered to buy it, but when Jerome Bradford found out that it was for Talbert’s truck, he donated it to the project. Talbert graciously accepted the offer, though he changed a few things to fit the theme of his project. Originally built by Bradford, the engine has a Weiand intake topped by an Edelbrock 600-cfm carb and HEI ignition. Talbert added chrome-plated finned valve covers and a ’49 Caddy air cleaner and installed low-mount brackets for the alternator and A/C compressor. Mr. Bradford also donated the attached TH350 transmission, as his car received an overdrive unit. Talbert ended up paying back the karma points by prepping and painting Bradford’s new motor and trans in return. Talbert’s motor blats through factory manifolds and twice-pipes with a pair of 14-inch glasspacks installed by PeeWee’s Mufflers in Meridian, Mississippi.

Chassis: Talbert Goldman boxed the rails with ¼-inch steel plate and installed a Fatman MII front crossmember, donated by Brent Vandervort of Fatman Fabrications. Talbert finished off the front suspension with Fatman tubular upper control arms and anti-sway bar as well as factory MII lower arms, springs, and spindles. Disc brakes from Master Power Brakes bring the hauler to a safe stop. Out back, Talbert C-notched the frame and installed a pair of Mazda pickup leaf springs mounted high and inside the framerails with a ’69 Camaro posi rear turning 3.42:1 gears and factory drum brakes. A Master Power Brakes power booster is mounted with a remote-fill master cylinder and a custom aluminum remote reservoir.

Wheels & Tires: All four corners roll on 15x8 Coker chromed smoothies mounted with 235/70-15 BFGoodrich Silvertown widewalls from Coker Tire.

Body: Talbert did all of the bodywork himself, welding in patch panels where necessary, filling the fuel neck hole in the cab and getting the entire thing straight and ready for paint. The nose of the truck remains stock with rechromed bumpers, while out back are a pair of repop ’50 Pontiac taillights with blue dots. The polished stainless fuel tank from Rock Valley Tanks was relocated to inside the bed and is an aftermarket piece intended for a ’32 Ford.

Paint: Talbert sprayed his truck with PPG K-93 catalyzed primer that he tinted with Super Red Concept.

Interior: OK, you caught him. Talbert farmed out the upholstery to Bill Harold of Antioch Auto Trim in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Harold built a custom bench into the cab and covered it with tan ultra leather; the door panels and carpet match. The dash came from a ’59 Impala and was narrowed to fit by Talbert; a set of Dolphin gauges fill the holes. Mike Goldman handled the installation of the EZ Wire harness. An ididit column mounts a Lokar arm and is topped by a tan-rimmed LeCarra steering wheel. A JVC head unit provides tunes through a set of Alpine speakers while a Vintage Air system provides a cool breeze.