Russ' 1925 Model T Truck

Dan Brown once said that there is no love greater than that of a father for his son, but the author may not have considered the love both can share for a classic car. People inspired to work on project vehicles are often influenced by their dads, as was the case for Russ Evans. Evans is a host of the popular Under the Hood radio show, the largest nationally syndicated car talk show on the air, as well as a classic car aficionado. Read on to learn how Evans’ dad influenced the purchase and restoration of his beautiful 1925 Model T truck.

Q: Tell us about your collector vehicle.

Russ: To really tell the story, I have to begin with the truck, and then I will catch up to how it came to my family. The Ford Model T was purchased new by Telischak Trucking, a firm near Detroit, Michigan, where my family once lived. Telischak only operated the truck for about two years, then it was parked for the next several decades, often serving as a stationary “billboard” For Telischak Trucking

In 1975 when I was six years old, my dad, Ron, was operating his own insurance business in Livonia, Michigan. Dad bought the old truck to promote his insurance business, and to serve as a father-son project. With the help of a neighbor who just happened to be a Ford engineer, dad and I did a basic restoration on the truck. The truck was put in serviceable condition, painted, and adorned with “Ron Evans Insurance” signage.

In 1983, my family moved to Texas, and brought the truck along. However, I felt like something a little more modern suited me. My dad found a Mustang GT500KR that needed major repairs. I started rebuilding the Mustang to get it ready for street use. Dad tried to be involved in the Mustang project, but we argued about how best to do the project. Dad eventually backed away from the Mustang and let me do my own thing. Through all of this, the truck project sat neglected.

My dad passed away in 1987, and I sold my Mustang and the truck to “Richard” in Longview, Texas. After moving to Sioux Falls in 1989, I realized that I would like to get the truck back. Even though the relationship I shared with my dad could be complicated, I knew the truck offered a connection I deeply valued.

Q: Was there anything that surprised you when you started owning or restoring the vehicle being featured?

Russ: First, I had to get the truck back and I was determined to do so. In 2011, after several years of searching, I eventually got in contact with the current owner of the truck. This fellow had a vast Model T collection, and the entire collection was going to be sold at an auction. I promptly arranged to go look at the truck in New Orleans. Upon arrival, I explained the shared history between myself, my dad, and the truck, to the owner.

To better answer the original question, the price of the truck surprised me. It surprised me because the price wasn’t discussed until after the truck had already been loaded on my trailer. The gentleman sold the truck back to me for the same price I had sold it to “Richard” so many years ago! The seller believed the truck was going where it needed to be. The seller considered it “an investment in my soul.”

It was meant to be. In fact, when I was driving to purchase the Model T, I moved through a tropical storm. Much of the trip was in heavy cloud cover and rain. As soon as I pulled out of the owners’ driveway, the sun came out. It was definitely a sign from above!

Q: Tell us what you want us to know!

Russ: Here are some more details about the repair process. When I got the truck home, I began a proper total restoration. In all the years of sitting, the truck hadn’t rusted, but it was caked with dirt and grime. Dakota Media Blasting stripped the paint down to bare metal. Every nut and bolt was removed from the truck, and every panel was taken apart. AJ’s Automotive in Canton did all the rivet work and fabricated the panels that required replacement. AJ’s also did all the other metal repair required on the truck. A friend also did some extensive metal fabrication on the truck’s doors, after which he sprayed the truck with “Apple Green” paint. I painted the black areas of the truck myself.

To honor the truck’s heritage, I left things original whenever possible. The underside of the bed boards and their support boards were in original finish, as were the floorboards. The side boards had to be replaced, so I found vintage wood, aged it appropriately, and re-created the original side boards. The front seat that we had re-upholstered so many years prior was left as it was. The smells and the parts my dad and I handled so many years ago brought back fond memories of growing up. My dad always encouraged me to finish what I started, and with this restoration, it was important to complete everything as my dad would have wanted to see it done. I take a lot of pride in the finished product, and I believe my dad is smiling up in heaven when looking at the truck.

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This story was originally written by Tom Olsen and published in the August 2016 issue of The Motor Market.

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