In retrospect I am not sure why the week seemed so busy. At the time, however, it seemed as though this was the most chaotic week of the year. So, a brief summary would be it was business as usual.

The Penske truck rental side of life, my primary source of income, was relatively slow until Thursday. Then it was as though the herd had been spooked or the migration began.

When I printed my reservation listing on Wednesday morning it showed ten trucks would be needed through March 1. On Thursday afternoon the reservation list showed twenty seven units for the same period. By close of business on Saturday, after renting a half dozen trucks, the reservation list showed a stunning twenty five trucks would be going out by the following Saturday!

Adding to the fun is this was also the week the great remodel began. I have little doubt that when it is finished this will be the classiest Penske location in the country.

The centerpiece will be a new shadow box counter with glass top where I can display a wide array of the automobilia and petrolania that currently resides in file cabinets. This stuff is meant to be displayed but to date this has not been possible with the exception of use as illustration in my books and articles.

Pictures will be posted on completion but that may be several weeks. In the mean time I will be operating from an old desk in the corner with a large portion of the office occupying the ladies room and the hall.

The owners goal is to convert the office into a mini museum of sorts. So, if you ever find yourself in Kingman stop by.

The rental car end of the business has been sluggish. There are, however, plans afoot to change this as well as promote the sale of a few books.

The yard at my wife’s mothers house is a never ending source of adventure. It seems there is no end to the surprises lurking in the brush.

The Jeep truck was my wife’s grandfathers truck. He bought it new at a local dealer in early 1961. As you can see to him a truck was a tool, not a styling statement.
He was a serious outdoorsman. After wearing out the old Hurricane six the truck received a 283 c.i.d. Chevy V8. For Harv, a gifted mechanic and master at making things work, the modifications were made without regard to looks. As a result the floorboards were cut and the radiator housing modified to make the engine fit.
When a winch was needed the front frame and grill were modified. Ditto for an extra fuel tank, custom holster for his pistol on the steering column and under seat gun rack.

The truck was parked in 1993 when the old Jeep was replaced by a Ford 4×4. With Harv’s passing the truck was left to my son. He recently sold it to a family friend so the sold truck is headed for Utah and a new life.

I wish Bill luck on this as it is the roughest truck yet encountered. Several times my son and I, with good intentions, planned on getting it running but a questionable trans, tired engine, frame with all kinds of welded modifications, frozen wheel bearing, a rear differential that screamed before being parked, wild array of wiring modifications, and questionable front differential kept us from doing more than opening the hood.

The pile of late 1920 Chevy parts is another interesting find. Most everything is in the pile with the exception of the frame, front axle and rear differential.

The components are in pretty good condition. The motor and trans were wrapped in a plastic tarp.

A friend of Joe’s, my deceased father in law, asked if he could store the stuff in the yard about thirty years ago. No living member of the family knows who it was and they have never come back!