My Classic Car: Joe’s 1970 GMC Custom Deluxe

Growing up in the 1970s I got to see cars and trucks from 1950s on up. My brothers and I would sit out front of the house play the car game. The cars and trucks passing by we would need to name the make, model and year.

My Father was the heavy influence on our love for cars. He had a new 1970 GMC Custom Deluxe with a 307 V8 and three on the tree in Cardinal Red.

I fell in love with that truck. Every day I would ride to work with my Father as he had his own business and each day was a treat.

My Father kept the GMC until 1982 . It only had 77,000 miles on it and of all things he traded in for a new Ford F250. It was a nice truck but not the same.

Every day on the school bus I would pass the dealer that had the GMC for sale and every day I would see my old friend. To me it was like losing a member of the family.

Well, time had passed and I wanted a classic car of my own. I restored a 1972 Chevelle SS and had it for 10 years and then a 1947 Chevy street rod for the same amount of time, but I was not happy. I finally realized that that car I always wanted was my Dad’s 1970 GMC.

I searched all over for I wanted the same color and model. I wanted a restored truck as I now have three children and no time for another restoration.

I found a 1970 Chevy CST short bed in the same color and same trim package as the one owned by my Father, who is now 81 years old. I bought it this past April and went to my Fathers house.

I pulled out of the garage his 2007 Ford F150 and backed in the 1970 Chevy. Then I asked him to come down to the garage as I had something to show him.

Well, when he opened the door and saw the truck his eyes lit up. We went for a ride, Dad driving and I alongside.

Every now and then, if you’re, lucky you get a chance to relive your memories.

My youngest child is a boy and yes he loves cars and now I get to look over when driving the truck and see what my father saw. New memories are being made.

— Joe Schall, Norristown PA