Chuck Most

Maybe you saw the truck in it's previous form. If not, here it is... Now for part 2... On the last day of his sophomore year of school, 16 year old Scott Kearney landed a job with Wheels Magazine. No, not the well known Australian publication. This was an independent, regional rag published in Saginaw Michigan beginning in 1954. It was basically a do it yourself type magazine, and also went into coverage of new vehicles and auto related events. Scott, with his mullet and jean vest covered in NWOBHM band logos, was originally hired to be the errand boy around the office and property. But Wheels Magazine publisher/editor-in-chief Bill Lopez happened to be friends with Scott's English teacher, Mark Sullivan. Mark told Bill that Scott was actually an extremely talented writer. So it wasn't long before Scott was promoted to a contributor. Naturally, his F250 became the guinea pig for his technical articles. The December 1983 issue saw the F250 as the subject of "Budget Bodywork for Beginners", which saw the truck get some dents and rust addressed, and a rust free southwestern 8' Styleside bed to replace the service box. Scott outlined a few beginner's mistakes he made, as well as how he fixed or worked around those mistakes. His off-kilter sense of humor also shone through in his writing. The article went over well, guaranteeing the return of Scott and his (now primer gray) pickup. March of 1984 brought "Tunes For Tightwads", in which the truck got a new, budget oriented sound system. "The Lowered Above" ran in April, and this saw the installation of a lowering kit, along with swapping out the 3/4 ton running gear for 1/2 ton components. Obviously, the suspension was also rebuilt during this time, and that was chronicled in the May issue article "Whole Lotta Shakin' (No Longer) Going On". The June 1984 issue was the special "Six Education", focusing on six cylinder power. Splashed across the cover were a brand new Buick Grand National and a modified 1978 Regal Turbo. This issue contained "Not The 302 You Expected", where the '68's 240 was rebuilt with a .020" overbore and a 300 rotating assembly, netting 302 cubic inches. The engine was rebuilt to 300 specs, tested, and then fitted with a Clifford intake and tested again. Scott wrote: "The sixty additional cubic inches immediately made their presence known, not just in terms of power but sound. It just plain sounds more aggressive, even at idle. You can check the table to the right for the hard data, but from a pure "seat of the pants" point of view, the difference is night and day." He concluded with: "Although this 302 will probably never beat a 302 V8 in a drag race, you can't tow a tandem car hauler with a Mustang, and it makes driving the pickup a much more energetic experience on the whole." What wasn't visible in the black and white photos was the engine's new hue, definitely not the original Ford blue. A sign of things to come. After that, the August 1984 issue brought "On The Floor... NOW". This saw the 3 on the tree swapped out in favor of a four speed. And the September issue saw "Interior Motives", where Scott went through the interior upgrades, including the use of 1972 XLT Ranger door panels, a new bench seat, and detailing with paint and upholstery. The last big show for the truck came in the January 1985 issue. "Budget Bodywork for Beginners: Custom Edition" followed the same idea as the bodywork article, only geared more towards adding your own custom touches. Under the guidance of Ike Johnson of Harvest Moon Customs, the '68 got the most up to date street machine look for '85... Bright pastel monochrome with a few tasteful geometric shapes and squiggles for good measure. Scott got some minor flak for keeping the elephant ear mirrors, but since he intended to use the truck for actual truck stuff, he chose to retain them. By the time Scott graduated, he looked a little different than he had at the beginning of his career at Wheels Magazine. For one, his mullet had grown into a wild blonde Ride The Lightning era James Hetfield mane. And his jean vest sometimes stayed home in favor of a black leather jacket. But his truck had undergone an even more drastic transformation. And remember that wager Scott had with his dad? Not only had Scott kept the '68 running, he (with the help of his cohorts at Wheels and a couple of sponsors) had more or less completely rebuilt it into a new truck. That meant Scott was getting a new car for graduation. He ended up with a brand new 1985 Dodge Daytona, courtesy of his parents Frank and Rose. But... Maybe we'll get to that some other time. For the time being, just know that it's the beginning of the summer of 1985 and Scott's newly reborn '68 is looking at years of service to come, and a few more alterations over the years. The model is the '67 F100 that originally donated the service box for the original version of Scott's truck. It was fitted with the engine from the '69 Custom Cab and the Basset wheels came from a '66 Styleside. I robbed a carburetor and air cleaner from an AMT '67 Chevelle Pro Street. Paint is Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Seaside Gloss, and the geometric graphics are from a Revell Skip's Fiesta VW Beetle Cabriolet. The model itself was a project for The Straight Six Community Build in the Community Build section. And due to the magical time travel abilities available to us all as model builders, here we can see the before and after side by side at the same time.

Under Glass post to follow shortly.

I want to like that kit. Today in my lunch break I was watching the HPI Guy video on it and I thought I was warming up to it. But when I think about that kit right now I just kinda feel like I have COVID. 🤣

I mean, good God... That box top alone is doing the kit no favors. 🤣 The fact that the kit just looks "off" from pretty much any angle is one thing but it's readily apparent here. I know they're trying to highlight the dually fenders but... No. Just, no. I'm happy for everyone who is glad to see this kit back, and I'm going to love seeing what they do with theirs. Just not for me, I suppose.

I feel like I'd be better off using the Monogram bullnose. Those kits certainly have their flaws, but still. I think this might be the first time box art has made me recoil in disgust. 🤣

Well, Patty, who showed up back in December, is now a mom to be...

Local shop just got the '80 Ford Six Wheeler. I picked up the box, looked at it for a bit, said "eeeewww" and put it back. So there's my full review of that kit. 🤣

Nice to see one of these built. I keep wanting to get a couple but the thought of getting a windshield to work always gives me pause.

Lovely little tanker. Where do you find all these unusual Model T kits?

Never thought I'd use the decals from the Revell Skip's Fiesta VW Beetle Cabriolet, but 'ere we be...

Sure is. This is a week old and it's still sticky. Nowhere near as bad as Rust-Oleum of yore but still taking it's sweet time.

That's Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Seaside Gloss. I like the color but I'm not the biggest fan of the paint itself. Next time Tamiya has what looks like a similar color I want to try.

You might look at this careworn old Ford and just see an old junker. But for a 16 year old Michigan kid, it ultimately became the beginning of an automotive career that has so far spanned four decades. Two months before the end of the 1982-83 school season, Scott Kearney celebrated his 16th birthday. That day his father, Frank, handed him the keys to his would-be high school ride, a 1968 Ford F250. Originally a pickup but later fitted with a service body, it absolutely wasn't the raddest ride on the block, or anywhere else, but Scott certainly wasn't going to complain about the price. As Frank put it ... "I got the truck for free and I'm passing the savings along to you." But there was a string attached, if Scott was game. The stipulation was... If Scott could keep the truck on the road and not bang it up (any worse than it already was), there'd be a brand new car waiting for him come graduation time in 1985. Granted, Scott figured he could wreck the F250 next week and just get his own vehicle anyway, but he decided to accept the challenge. Little did Frank realize that Scott would go pretty far above and beyond just "keeping it on the road". But, that's for next time. This is essentially the '68 Ford F250, fitted with the service box from the '67 and the 240/3 speed manual combo from the '66 Flareside, obviously all Moebius kits. For paint I just used Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Satin Vintage Teal, distressed with powders and acrylics.

Beginning of a '68 F250 service truck. Engine and transmission stolen from the '66 Flareside.

Happy's Camping Grounds has been the primary source of both income and headaches in the Ward family since 1958. Sometimes not everyone is happy at Happy's, and it's the job of third generation owner Dave Ward to see to it that they don't stay unhappy. The bright yellow El Camino was purchased new by Dave's grandfather Irv, though it was white back then. It was originally Irv's own car, but it became the campground business vehicle in 1974, when Irv took delivery of a 1975 GMC Sprint. At some point it got a set of Cragar SS wheels and a boxy topper. Though the trusty old straight six still fires up and runs great, the old two speed Slip And Slide automatic transmission is really beginning to live up to it's nickname. Dave is debating restoring it, but questions if it's still structurally sound enough. Although it looks decent with it's backyard respray, that bright yellow is covering quite a bit of Bondo and chicken wire. And sometimes the doors won't open or close if the car is parked on less-than-level ground. But it's more than solid enough for work around the grounds, even if Dave finds himself using his 2017 F150 most of the time, leaving the El Camino parked by the sign at the end of the driveway. The model is a mashup of the AMT '64 Malibu and '65 El Camino, with the engine and transmission from the '63 Nova wagon. Paint is just some yellow hardware store stuff I had laying around. The wheels came from the El Camino kit, and I used AMT parts pack tires and a Best Model Car Parts 1964 Michigan plate. The model was built for The Straight Six Community Build Rides Again in the community builds section of the forum.

ElCo will be under glass pretty soon...

Love the paint and graphics on this one!

Ever since Seth Gager was a kid, he'd been pestering his dad's friend Jack Hull about the old yellow Ford in the abandoned barn on his old family farm. Jack, who lived a mile and a half east of what had been his childhood home, always declined getting rid of the Ford. Mainly for the same reason he never tore down his dilapidated childhood house or it's various outbuildings on the property where the truck lived... though he looks rough and tumble, Jack was prone to being sentimental. Fast forward to February 2025. Jack, newly retired after 25 years as a corrections officer, finally decided to take an excavator to the old house on an unseasonably warm day. With that task complete, he decided to clear out the barn and sheds. Seth was still interested in the old Ford, but wasn't in the position to take in the project, and so he encouraged Jack to "get whatever he could get for it". Jack dragged out the 1967 Ford F350, which he'd bought in 1985 to haul around his dirt modified, and slapped a sign on it. While he got a few interested lookers and even a few serious offers, none of the guys seemed "the right guy". He was actually surprised how many people were interested in a weird old wedge hauler that hadn't run since 1988 and had only moved 36 feet (the distance from it's spot in the barn to the end of the yard) in that time. In the first week of March, Jack "caught" Seth looking at the truck and surveying the rubble where the old house used to be. After a few minutes of conversation, Jack proposed a deal ... If Seth wanted to help with clearing the house debris, the truck was his. Seth and Jack dug a pit, bulldozed the debris into it, and with the guidance of Jack's friend Gary (who also happened to be the local fire chief), disposed of it with fire. So far, Seth has gotten the truck running and driving, but he says it's still a long way from functional. Eventually he's planning a full restoration, although quite a few people are trying to convince him to keep the patina. Time will tell if Seth caves. And Jack? He's just happy his old hauler ended up with "the right guy". The model is a mostly box stock Moebius kit, with Best Model Car Parts plates, and a little hook and cable detail. The for sale sign came from Spencer1984. For paint, I went with Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Satin Lemongrass, distressed with Vallejo and Tamiya paints. I also added a little rust damage to the cab, and replicated a missing gas cap with a piece of aluminum tubing.

From 1974 to 2001, North Star Speedway provided thrills, chills, and spills on it's 2/5 mile dirt track. And off the track? Suffice it to say there was plenty of excitement there too. Although likely not the kind you'd want. Endless, endless legends of disgusting bathrooms, dangerously neglected grandstands, sketchy vendors,drug dealers and scalpers, stolen coolers and other personal effects, and even brawls in the parking lot and in the stands loom large over the now overgrown and abandoned track, which even in its heyday had something of a shady reputation. No police reports back it up, but there's a persistent rumor that at least one person was murdered on the premises, and it's also rumored it might be a makeshift burial ground. In 1982, track owner John Swaggart lost a game of Baccarat, which upset him more than usual because he'd been cheating specifically to screw over the guy who'd ended up beating him. He relieved his frustration by drunkenly crashing the track's 1956 GMC push truck. Despite the GMC barrel rolling six or seven times and bursting into flames, Johnny was unscathed. But he was now in need of a new push truck. After putting out feelers, Johnny Swag landed a decent 1968 Ford F100 for $325... about a grand in modern money. A front bumper from a decommissioned wrecker was fitted to the front and the Effie was put to work pushing dirt cars around when needed. Over the years, the truck got a few modifications. Wide 5 hubs and Hoosier rubber appeared around 1985, along with an amber beacon. In 1988, driver Bill Lewis (known in his push truck driver capacity as Screwy Louie) forgot to make sure the hood was latched, necessitating a mismatched replacement. Originally a solid Holly Green, the lower body was sprayed white and festooned with sponsor stickers. When the track folded in 2001, Screwy Louie basically commandeered the truck, calling it a severance package. Shortly after, he fitted the truck with a vertical straight pipe exhaust fitted with a propane fed flame thrower. To this day, he can be seen at various dirt track races doing his thing. The kit is the Moebius '68 Mercury M100 that donated it's Mercury markings to another project. The bumper is from the wrecker kit, with tread from a Revell Firestone Pro Street tire attached. An old Chimneyville Code 3 MX7000 sits atop the cab. The rear window was converted to a slider, and the propane tank is an old Iceman Collections print. The wheels are old Fred's Resin Workshop pieces, and the tires are MPC Goodyear Blue Streaks with the lettering shaved off and replaced with Hoosier markings. The entire contraption was slung with a liberal amount of Vallejo mud. Screwy Louie himself is a modified Italeri figure, and he's accompanied by some girlie magazines I've had forever, along with a Hot Rod magazine and a V-belt from spencer1984. The project itself was inspired by a Chevrolet push truck built by Clay Kemp years ago.

Back to me griping about the grille... Learn from my mistake and DON'T try opening it up by removing material from the back. It looks like it might be just thick enough for that to work. But it's not. 🤣 And in hindsight, had that been successful I'd have likely shattered it during assembly.

Lyle Simpson is a car salesman's worst nightmare, because if he likes a vehicle, he keeps it forever. And his 25th birthday present to himself has been a gift that keeps on giving. On a sunny but brisk spring Monday, Lyle strolled into Jones & Sons Motors in Rockwood, Ontario, and placed an order for a new truck. By the time summer was getting started, Lyle was the proud new owner of a 1967 Mercury M100 Custom Cab 4x4, with an 8' bed, a 390 fed by a four barrel, and a C6 transmission, and finished in Pure White and Rangoon Red The truck served many uses over the years, from the expected farm duties, to things like pulling a parade float in 1971 (back when it still has the "big ugly hitch" on it), and rushing his wife Mary to hospital during a 1974 blizzard, after she'd unexpectedly gone into labor with their first daughter. Mom, Dad, little Denise and the truck all made it through just fine. By that time, Lyle had "updated" the truck with a 1972 Ford grille, Ranger XLT tailgate trim with a hand painted Mercury script, and during the summer months it wore white Jackman wheels, reverting to the factory white steelies during the winter. Lyle says the 1972 grille and Ranger XLT tailgate trim combined with the Mercury markings get some strange looks from people familiar with classic FoMoCo trucks, and he likes it that way. It's been entirely repainted at least twice, with what Lyle claims are enough touchups over the years to count as about five or six complete repaints. It still wears the Jackman wheels in summer, but as you can see, the original wheels haven't gotten a new coat of paint. Yet. And Lyle says he's had the seat recovered a couple of times. But other than regular maintenance and repair work, not to mention accounting for decades of wear and tear, the truck has been so reliable Lyle has never seen a need to trade up for something newer. Though he was tempted in 1980, just because he liked the look of the new "bullnose" F-Series. But that itch was scratched when Mary traded in her 1976 Granada for a 1982 Bronco... a vehicle she owned all the way to 2000, when she traded up to a Lincoln Navigator. Currently, the family car is a 2020 Lincoln Nautilus. Neighbors think the swanky crossover and boxy old truck are quite the odd couple in the Simpson driveway. While numerous cars have come and gone in the Simpson family since Lyle and Mary got hitched in 1972, the M100 has been a mainstay, always at the ready when some good old fashioned truck duties need to happen. Even if it's just being used a prop for a granddaughter's senior pictures, as it was recently. Granddaughter Cassidy Mallory is depicted in her senior yearbook photo smiling behind the wheel of the old Mercury. Even though he doesn't drive much these days, Lyle says that today, at age 83, he's glad he opted for an automatic transmission way back when. "My left knee and hip would have killed me by now.", he says. After 58 years and 200-odd thousand miles, Lyle never imagined he or the truck would still be around this long. The kit started as the Moebius 1970 Ford F100 4x4, treated to the hood and side emblems from the '68 Mercury M100, and a tailgate from the '72 F250 4x4. The tires came from a Revell first generation Bronco. I lifted the rear suspension a little (about two scale inches) and gave it a little grunge and a few blemishes. I was going for a "used but definitely cared for" look.

I suppose. But if that dainty little first generation Bronco grille can be molded open I'm not sure why this couldn't have been.

Somebody's been busy! They all look fantastic.