Of course, at one time old yeller wasn’t old, but brand spanking new, it wasn’t even “Yeller”, but a Maroon color.
It was my first new truck, I can’t remember what I did two weeks ago, but I remember driving my truck off the lot that day. It smelled new, it was quiet and powerful, I was in heaven. I drove around to my family members, and all my friends to show them my new truck.
It was a 1976 Chevy ¾ ton Custom Deluxe, if memory serves me on the price, it was $7,000.
The year 1976 was the country’s Bi-centennial, Jimmy Carter was the president, and “Rocky” was the box office champ.
That was One million ninety nine thousand, two hundred miles ago, two engines, three transmissions, many sets of Michelin tires, and a Yellow paint job.
I was hired away from a commercial mechanical contractor, by another company that had Yellow trucks, they offered foreman’s wages, a truck allowance and a nice two coat Yellow paint job.
I have had many new trucks since, have one now, a 2008 Ford Super Duty Power Stroke, 4-doors, leather seats, and all the niceties.
But I still drive my beloved Yellow truck on most service calls, she is a head turner, I keep the truck clean, wax it often and fix what breaks.
I have a hydraulic lift tailgate that will raise 1500 pounds on her, a real back saver. I hate to ask for help, with the tailgate and a good hand truck, I can handle most air conditioning unit changes by myself.
Oh, she has her quirks, the air conditioning guy’s truck air conditioner doesn’t work, the seat is a little broke down, and I usually don’t push her over 50 mph, because of the low geared rear-end. The rust grabs at my chamois when I wipe it down, but it starts at the touch of the key, and just a little of the oil runs out of the back of the transmission when parked level. (I try to park with the rear of the truck up a little.)
I just may be as in love with my “Old Yeller” as Arliss Coates (Kevin Corcoran) was his scruffy Mountain cur dog, in the 1957 move of the same name, that took place in central Texas in 1860.
My friend Larry Shikles said one time; “With an old truck, you just turn up the volume on the radio when it rattles and makes noises, and when you run out of volume, you get another one”. I try and fix the rattles, and still have plenty of volume, so I believe I will keep her.
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