I bought Dixie new in the spring 1981. My first vehicle I paid for. $260.21 for 4 years at 17% interest. LOL. NO A/C. First date with my wife in it/College/ my life. Then, I had kids, more life, bills, travel, work, etc. and Dixie just got left in the barn. Listened to lots of Alabama, drank a little (sitting in the drive inn or the lake, not driving), stained the top with Marlboro 100's in a box, put a camper top on it and the wife and I had a lot of fun with that.

I'm starting to get to the place in my life now and in the mood now to resurrect her. This is her as she sits now:

I don't expect her to ever be what she was. Heck, I'm not. LOL. But..I do want to get her going again.
It'll take a lot of money I don't have, but...you don't live but once, right? No hurries though.
86K miles. Did have air added on it. Right now I just want to get her cranked. Last time I turned her over was about 4 years ago. But, I did try last fall and she'd kick, but wouldn't keep running. Just idle down. I'm good with some parts, but not carbs. Gonna get a guy down the road to maybe check the carb out. I've siphoned all the gas I could get out.

Shoot, she's in pretty good shape for 31.
Just wanted to say hi and let you know what I've got in front of me.
And yes, I know it'll cost more than it's worth. But, I also know what it's worth to me..and now my kids. They're PUMPED to get it going again. Kinda funny how it's leaked over into my daughter's boyfriend wants to help. Family project I reckon.

 

WELCOME...and enjoy!!!!!!

 

Can't see a picture. Not sure you actually linked it I cant even see a thumbnail icon or anything.Would like to see it.

 

I too would like to see this well preserved, if slightly under the weather vehicle.

 

Sorry, I had the album set to private..my bad.

 

would love to see some more pics of it...interior, shots from all angles of the outside. Fill in your location, may have some Yotatech experts just down the road who'd love to come help.

 

Looks good!

 

Thats awesome your the original owner! Good luck on getting her back on the road!

 

Looks really good. Love the original owner pics. Good luck on the rebuild want to see some inside shots.

 

Sweet! Welcome!

 

Awesome! Looking forward to seeing this build!

 

WOW!

That is a beautiful truck! Oh and you don't need to justify the cost/value to us...

Most of us have put way more into our rigs than they could ever hope to sell for. But from what I see, your investment won't be all that significant.

 

Here are some pix I added to the album:

 

I have the ashtray and air vent assembly. The vent assembly is sorta jacked up, but it might work. The ashtray is fine. That old center console is dry rotted. Inside is in pretty good shape. I had my name embroidered when I had the inside redone one year, can't remember when. I blocked my name out though for here. I mean..we just met. LOL.
I had the sunroof added in 82, I think. Fun story there, it got so hot one year, the sunroof literally exploded after sitting sealed up for the whole weekend. Sitting in the parking lot on a record setting day in 1987, over 100 for several days. Airtight booger she is.
My best bud is coming over Friday, he's pretty good with carbs and see if he can get it running. We'll see.
If so..next step is to find some tires and rims cheap. I mean, I just want it rolling again now. Would like to even get it to the house to work on it now. I have 2 VERY EXPENSIVE teenagers still at home. This restoration will have to fit in the budget for right now.

anyways.I wanted to thank you guys for a warm welcome. I'm getting excited about this resurrection. Unlike Jesus..it's gonna take FAR more than 3 days to resurrect her.
Thanks,
Mark

 

now thats the way to do it .. make your own BARN FIND

welcome



.

 

Gorgeous truck. Just a word of advice, as a 23 year old recent graduate from the teenage state of mind I would definitely keep it out of the hands of the kids...

After all the aggregation and money I caused my dad, and my new found wisdom of surviving that time, id be very careful with a truck like yours. It's definitely a gem.

 

car show

 

been going thru her old paperwork and here is my original window sticker.
Bought new 10-12-81. My dad co-signed, my first vehicle I bought.
Sticker was $9,220.50 + $3,694.00 FINANCE charge @ 18.4% interest.
LOL. Hey...I was 19, HAD to have it.
I remember on the way home, dad said..'you sure do shift a lot'. He passed away a couple of years ago.
Well, it was a lil trip down memory lane here I thought I'd share. I'm having fun resurrecting ole thoughts n stuff as I get started on this.

I used to go to this service station after I got off working in a factory,when I was 19 and had this truck and I'd just hang out with this guy that worked there, all I knew was his name was Chris and we got to be buds.
Then, time rolled on and we just never saw each other.
Then about 6 years ago, we visited a new church and I thought this guy looked familiar.
He walked up to me after service and said: Hey...did you used to drive a blue Toyota pickup?
hahaha, that was crazy funny. Turns out he lives just down the road from me.
But us guys will remember a truck before a name.

It's pretty rare to still have, and find, a window sticker and paperwork from a vehicle that you bought 31 years ago.
And, I can't find my electric bill from last week.

If I bore ya'll with this, just tell me to shut up. It's easy to get excited doing this. The stories and memories made with these vehicles just happen.
Still have the lot key tag and manuals too. LOL

 

Man that is sweeeeeeet!!!! I love retro papers ads anything. Very cool!!!!!!!!!!

Ummm yea and I need more post some more!!! Far from boring.

 

still got the truck?