If You Wait Long Enough

 If You Wait Long Enough

“All good things come in time “ or so I’ve been told. I have also heard that if you wait long enough and work hard and stay focused you can achieve most anything. Well Mark and Marcia Woollums of Dexter, Mo. surely believe in the folklore. Read on and I’ll explain.

Story goes that some 25 to 30 years ago a young Mark saw an old truck he took a shine to. It belonged to a friend’s uncle who had purchased the truck new. However, usage and time had taken a toll on the old commercial vehicle but not ruined it beyond repair. So a restoration project was begun. An ill-fated project as things worked out. As life got in the way the old truck was stored in the milk barn waiting its turn to become important again.

Although Mark spied and admired the 1933 Chevy ½ pick-up, he lacked the funds to acquire it, assuming of course that the old gentleman wanted to sell it. Which he didn’t. So he just made a mental note of it and went on to others things. The Chevy sat in pieces stacked in a pile for 20 years.

Eventually Larry Carlson, the owners nephew and Mark’s friend, obtained the truck and once again Mark’s interest was peaked. History DOES repeat itself in that now Larry was ‘going to finish her one day’. Mark was busy with a family, some more varied projects and maintaining a place of his own now so funds were still not readily available. So he just kept track of both Larry and the ole ’33. Skip forward another 10 years. The bowtie hauler is still in pieces waiting for reassembly albeit in a different barn this time.

Then one day while talking with Larry (about the truck) a deal was struck!! Larry would trade the pile of truck parts for the 750 Honda motorcycle that Mark had! Well, it didn’t take long to transfer that title! The little Chevy was loaded onto a trailer and headed for Mark’s garage in no time flat. Then the fun began. It was fun for Mark because 1) he just loves redoing old things, 2) he had already fixed up several old vehicles by now, and 3) he had already done this same truck many times in his head over the years.

Work began in earnest when the body came off the frame and modifications to just about every part were planned. When the dust settled and the old truck finally saw the world again it was a very neat street rod. A very neat home built street rod that would bring a smile to all who saw it. The old six got ‘deep sixed’ in favor of the reliable 350 V/8 backed by an equally reliable 350 turbo. An S-10 lost its rear and the ’33 found it tucked in the back under a much modified ’64 Chevy step side bed. The ’64 unit was sectioned, shortened, narrowed and capped to fit the size and shape of the old Chevy in order to replace the flat bed that came with the truck. The original ’33 fenders were then adapted to it.

Being a believer in doing things at home from scratch Mark pirated a Pinto front suspension and placed it under the boxed front frame rails. Once all the chassis and running gear was detailed and readied, attention turned to 60 plus year old cab. Again Mark made what he needed and altered things to his taste. While he was at it he added a tilt column, power windows, cruise control , remote door openers and air conditioning! Then in his small wooden shop he painted everything in an aqua color that looks great on the ole girl. Next they finished the interior in what Mark calls ‘mouse grey’ cloth.

Mark says that hardest part of the resurrection was the chassis as there was precious little room for all he wanted in there. The easiest he said was the interior. It had to be functional and comfortable. It is. Mark’s wife, Marcia, said that though she is new to street rodding (they have been married for three years) she enjoys the trips in the truck and all the attention it receives. They guessimate that it sees about 5000 miles a year. Might be more if one could get him out of the shop where he has three more projects progressing.

This is one fine entirely home built street rod. Although the little truck is rare today, it looks right at home on the road hauling the Woollums to and from events. Way to go Mark!