NCS Garage December Spotlight: Dan Boboltz’s 1970 GMC C1500
My first vehicle was a 1970 GMC C1500, the same make/model/color/engine as my current truck. During our junior year of high school in 1983, my wife and I began dating, and we cruised around in that truck for two years until I headed off to college. Countless dates were spent trying to start and keep the truck running. With cardboard and rags filling holes in the rockers, cab corners, and floor it was worth every penny of the $700 I spent to purchase it.
After I left for college, my dad used the truck for work and eventually sold it for $100 around 1987.
In 2017, I fulfilled a longtime wish to find a truck like the one from my youth. After years of searching, I located a match in Granbury, TX. This original Texas truck, originating from a closed GMC dealer in Cleburne, TX, was nearly perfect, except the previous owner had replaced the original “Three on the tree” with a 5-speed. He included the old transmission and linkage in case I want to convert back to original, but I have enjoyed the 5-speed and opted to keep it.
Upon purchase, the truck featured bucket seats, a modern steering wheel, chrome details, and unattractive wheels. In about a year, I restored it to its original OE configuration, apart from adding “Vintage Air” and that I had to have the mid 70’s Rally Wheels. Front disc brakes are on the agenda this winter, completing the transformation into a safe, dependable driver. The fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror are a nostalgic touch from 1981.
While not a show truck, it stands as a decent representative example of its original condition. We enjoy taking it for drives around our lake house and grabbing ice cream at the local DQ.
NCS Garage December Spotlight: Thad Cook’s 1970 Mach 1 Mustang “Ms. Suzie”
Meet “Ms. Suzie,” a 1970 Mach 1 Mustang that I acquired for $500. I rescued her from the weeds, as she had been transformed into a race car. Over time, I’ve tirelessly worked on upgrades, primarily focusing on paint work to gather the necessary parts for the restoration. The car, named after my business-minded grandmother, has become a racing champion, winning numerous races and a track championship. The sentimental connection with my grandmother is what inspired me to name the car Ms. Suzie.
Interestingly, I also own a second Mustang identical to Ms. Suzie, which I got at the age of sixteen. People from my school days often assume I dismantled it to create this race car, but to their surprise, I still have it and am currently undertaking a full restoration.
My journey into auto work began at fourteen when I initially aspired to be a mechanic. However, a persuasive uncle led me to pursue autobody repair at the local vo-tech school. With almost 40 years of experience, I’ve spent 26 years working in a paint store, adding to my credibility as the go-to person for car painting advice in town. I’ve also been teaching painting and refinishing at the same college where I received my training for 22 years.
Ms. Suzie, a back half car modified by “The Weld Shop,” features a nine-inch Ford rear end with a 5.45 gear, Moser axles, and a Strange spool and carrier. The engine, a 395-inch Windsor from M&E Engine Service in Shelby, NC, boasts aluminum heads and a roller cam. Loyd Trivette Automotive in Lenoir, NC, built the Powerglide transmission with a Greg Slack Torque Converter designed for a pro-tree start. The car’s distinctive paint job, bodywork, and art were all personally executed at my home. The two shades of blue (Ford Denim blue pearl and SVT blue pearl) with House of Kolor blue ice pearl and custom-made Axalta paints create a captivating effect.
The true fire flames on the car, painted with my own blend of colors in the Axalta paint line, required four hours of meticulous work. The cartoon on the hood, now a trademark, was created over two days in my living room before being cleared in the shop. Despite the time-consuming efforts, the car stands out at the track, earning me the nickname “The Paint Man” for those seeking advice and supplies on their own paint projects.
NCS Garage December Spotlight: Tobey Taylor’s 1965 Ford F-100 Short Box
Tobey Taylor’s ’65 Ford F-100 Short Box (Ranger) is a rolling story that began in ’78 as a father-son endeavor and has been a “family project car” ever since. The truck had been upgraded with a 428FE motor, C6 trans, and finished with Axalta Centari paint.
I have since converted it to modern brakes, rebuilt all of the drive train and lowered it 3 inches with my son. Built, not bought – it’s not just a truck; it’s a family story on wheels.
As Tobey enjoys the ride with his wife, the next chapter awaits, passing down this classic beauty to the next generation.
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