My dad bought this 1963 Chevrolet panel truck brand new when I was 8 years old. I remember the day he brought it home.

It was white with only a single driver seat, no radio, 230 6 cylinder engine and a 3 on the tree manual transmission. This was to be his work truck for our family business, Ralson Painting and decorating.

Shortly after he brought it home, he got it ready for a family vacation. He put in a passenger seat, radio and put some 2 x 4’s across the 3″ shelf that was about 18″ up from the floor. He put plywood across the 2 x 4’s with a cloth and blankets on top and a mattress below.  Mom and dad slept on the bottom, my sister, Cynthia and brother, Brion, slept on the top. I slept across the front seats. Cynthia just reminded me of how cold it was with no heater in the truck with out the engine running. Shortly after that, mom and dad got an air mattress and more blankets for Cynthia and Brion’s bed.

We went down to Death valley and then to Bryce and Zion national parks before seeing the Grand canyon. Then it was off to South Dakota where mom and dad were born and raised.. We hit Yellowstone at some point in time for a very memorable family vacation.

My dad died in 1974 of a 2nd heart attack and I got the truck when I was 19 years old. I put an 8 track player in the glove compartment and a couple of newer seats in the front. I proceeded to move friends who were in need and haul fire wood as well. I painted the truck a brown color in 1976. I moved to Oregon driving this panel on August 28th 1978. I was pulling a homemade trailer with my Harley in it along with my tools and clothes. A lot has happened since the truck became mine a few decades ago.