Since ’49
Chris Zynda

My 1949 Chevrolet truck became a family member the same day I did—January 31, 1949. It was my father’s first company truck. When I turned sixteen I was given the truck as a birthday present. After checking the title I noticed the date of purchase. When I asked my dad about this he recalled celebrating a new son, having a couple of beers and buying a new truck.

I drove the truck with the six-cylinder three-speed everywhere. It became my wife’s and my daily “driver.” Shannon drove our daughters, Brandy and Brenda, to school in it.

After moving to the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1977, the truck sat in the orchard rotting. In 1980 Shannon and I decided to fix up the old truck. I installed four-wheel drive and a Corvette motor. We showed the truck at many truck and car shows for nearly twenty years.

In 1998 it needed a new paint job. I completely disassembled the truck, built a new frame and a facing roll cage. The truck has now started another new life as a drag race truck. It holds the record for the fastest 4 x 4 in the one-quarter mile on asphalt. The engine sports a 541 cubic inch motor blown and injected on alcohol, delivering about 1800 horsepower.
It’s a blast to drive.