Ever get the urge to rebuild a truck? You know, take an old truck, carefully disassemble it, get rid of the rust and crud until everything’s right and slowly put it all back together again until the finished vehicle before you is yours, truly yours? It’s much like a doctor resurrecting the almost dead patient, this truck lives because you stepped in. As cold weather gets closer and thoughts of garage projects pop up in our minds it’s easy to get that urge. Cold winds blowing outside the garage, you all warm in the garage with a kerosene heater keeping you and your truck at working temperature. Parts all laid out on your workbench as you bring small pieces together into functional assemblies and install them back on to “The Truck.” Yep, visions like this start lots of cool projects, … some even get finished.
John Jerome, living in rural New Hampshire, found himself in need of a work vehicle to help around his property, hauling things and doing all of the stuff a work truck needs to do. Not wanting to spend a lot of money, he went in search of an old rebuildable truck and this book, Truck: On Rebuilding a Worn-Out Pickup, and Other Post-Technological Adventures, is the story of his quest and project. The book was written back in 1977, the prices he cites reflect that, and I remember reading it about that time. Enjoyable read.
John settles on a range of possible vehicles, looking for pre 1960, and eventually finds a 1950 Dodge, one of those neat ones with the separate curved rear quarter windows, you don’t see that anymore, and proceeds to tell in this easy to read book, the story of bringing the Dodge back to roadworthy condition. This isn’t a how-to book, though he gets technical in the telling, this is a story that’s funny and philosphical, about all of the emotions involved as things progress, something a truck person will appreciate. If you like to read and think and laugh, you might want to add this one to your bookshelf.