It’s a another beautiful summer evening and we’re cutting through the back of the South Eugene High parking lot on our walk when these two tough old trucks cause a brief interruption. At this hour in the summer, the drivers are here to play some sort of ball, most likely. And given the…um…nature of South Eugene, these would not likely be here during the school year either.
First up, the ’68 Chevy C30 one ton flatbed.
Old trucks are of course cool, and that applies to a big flatbed too.
The C30 range is nominally a one-tonner, but obviously actual payload depends on the springs and other variables. It’s pretty safe to say this one could manage two tons without too much difficulty, or more.
The shifter looks to have originated in the hardware store.
This is the long wheelbase version, and a pretty good length bed too. Twelve feet?
The gen1 Bronco is done up like most of its kind.
Ready to tackle anything.
I’ll take the flatbed Chevy, which might come in handy.
My high school parking lot had a few cars of note. My best friend drove a 1982 Datsun 280ZX 2+2. There was a kid with an early 90’s Camaro that he would show off every chance he got. Someone had an early 70’s Triumph that was a pretty blue color. There was a red 70’s Chevy with a short step side bed driven by the worst driver to ever hold a steering wheel. Other than that it was your normal mashup of second hand Craigslist beaters that the students bought themselves, and the nice newer cars bought by the parents of said kids. I drove a used up 2000 Accord sedan with an engine swap done by the previous owner that was an absolute nightmare when we found out it wasn’t stock.
As someone who knows exactly zip about Eugene, what exactly is the nature of South Eugene?
Really nice Chebby. Drove a few like that in my youth at my high school job in a plumbing shop. The granny first gear was a helluva puller!
The area of South Eugene is near the university and populated by generally well-educated and notably liberal folks. Meaning, gnarly old trucks are not what the kids drive there. You’d likely be branded a planet-hater. If it’s older, it’s going to be a Volvo or Toyota. Lots of hand-me-down Prii.
The trucks must’ve come from Springfield. (grins)
That bronco could use some of those half door things.
I’m reminded of my own high and its rival. My school served the southern portion of the county, which was within commuting distance of the nearest big city and thus was more suburban and wealthier. The other school served the more rural northern part of the county, and the students there were stereotyped as being, well, rednecks.
The Bronco looks more like what you would have seen at my school — a toy for someone with enough money to customize their truck and impress their friends. The Chevy, a truck that would actually be useful on a farm, fits right in with what you would have seen at the other school.
I didn’t have a car until I was 20 and out of college, but the few friends who did have a car in high school had, more or less, total shitboxes. The one I remember most was a friend’s 86 Hyundai Excel. The thermostat busted so he wired a switch to the dash to turn the fan on and off.
Mk I Fiesta I owned, as an adult, had the same issue and I fixed it the same way.
That. Is. Awesome.
Nice finds Paul and I like the original license plate on the Chevy.
Growing up in suburban NYC, these were the only “pickup trucks” I saw. They were all over town, filled with landscaping equipment. In the suburbs, no one would even consider owning a pickup as a daily driver or commuter.
Back in 69, Oshawa Ontario was Motor City of the north. The parking lot consisted of mostly rusted out, hand me down early 60’s full size “B” GM’s.
The richer kids (off spring of middle- upper management) would have 66-69 GM “A” bodies. Lots of Chevelle’s and Beaumont’s.
The real rich kids (Dad was a GM Executive) mostly went to private school.
With a few exceptions. even the teachers drove GM products.
A kid drove the Ford version of that truck at my high school (early 2000s.)
In NorCal rich kids had Benzes and BMWs cast down from their parents. A couple old Mustangs, an old Challenger, a Barracuda, a Starion, and one FD RX7 ; felt sorry for the kid’s brother who got the Civic. Clear favorites I guess. I was spoiled but didn’t know it; had a 98 Camaro V6 (quite new at the time.) Still not as impressive as a lot of other kids’ rides. I’d give a lot to get the particular car back at this point (though I have a 2000 Z28 now.)
Oh yeah- a couple lifted El Caminos (both Colonnade) existed. Only a few genuine beaters; the same old 80s Japanese cars I still shed a tear at when I find myself trying not to look like a creep at high school parking lots. Some things never die.
Going way back to when I was in HS, late 1960’s, European imports and Japanese motorcycles ruled. I, and many of my friends, drove VW’s. No trucks, unless a VW bus counts. The fastest car was a CHP Polara that a kid’s dad bought at auction because it was big and “safe”. 160mph certified speedometer just makes a kid want to see how fast it can go.