Grandad’s Pickup

My earliest memories of my Grandad’s 1950 Chevrolet ½ ton pickup are etched in my mind like a cherished snapshot. I recall being a very young boy, sitting on his lap as we cruised down the road, and Grandad would pretend I was driving. It’s a memory that has stayed with me all my life, but to fully appreciate the story, we need to go back to where it all began.

In 1950, my grandad, Claud Aiken, made a significant purchase from Bukove Motor Company in Prescott. He brought home a brand-new Chevrolet pickup, which quickly became an integral part of his 640-acre ranch in Chino Valley—the C. W. Aiken Ranch (one of the largest ranches in northern Arizona). For years, the Chevy was his reliable companion, assisting with cattle, hauling supplies, and tackling various ranch tasks.

However, the pickup’s story took a heart-wrenching turn in 1958. While checking on cattle at a remote part of the ranch, Grandad stopped to open a barbed wire gate. The truck, which had been left in gear, began to roll. In a desperate bid to stop it, Grandad leaped back towards the driver’s seat. Tragically, he was caught by the rolling truck and pinned against a fence post. He succumbed to his injuries that morning and was discovered at dinnertime that same day. The pickup, now a painful reminder of his loss, continued to work on the ranch but never felt the same.

Eventually, the pickup was retired to the ranch boneyard, a silent witness to years of ranch life and wear.

In January 2019, a phone call from my cousin set in motion a new chapter for Grandad’s old Chevrolet pickup. As the “car guy” in the family, I was thrilled to learn that the truck was available for me to restore. The price was right—$0—and I eagerly agreed to take it on.

With a goal to have the pickup roadworthy for the 2019 Southwest Fall Tour by September, the restoration journey began. I decided to keep the truck’s original patina, preserving its unique character. Friends rallied around to help with the disassembly and reassembly, tackling everything from wiring and rust repairs to glass replacement. The truck’s time in the boneyard had protected many of its original parts—emblems, dash pieces, and even the dome light lens were still intact. The truck bore the marks of its ranch life, including two bullet holes in the rear fender, which I chose to leave as a testament to its history.

A spare low-mileage 1950 pickup engine was installed, and the original engine was preserved for future use. The undercarriage was restored, the seat reupholstered in the original style, and the dash was painted to refresh the interior while maintaining its vintage look. An interesting detail came to light when I sent the dash gauges and speedometer to a fellow VCCA member for rebuilding. He found that the speedometer’s gears and shafts were nearly brand new, suggesting that the truck’s mileage was indeed the original 34,000 miles.

After months of hard work and late nights, a fellow VCCA member’s wife stenciled “C W Aiken Ranch, Chino Valley, AZ” on the door, paying tribute to Grandad’s legacy. The restored pickup made its debut at the Southwest Fall Tour in Cottonwood, where it performed beautifully.

Now, the pickup is a beloved symbol of my family’s past. I take it out for drives around Chino Valley, where it evokes fond memories of Grandad—those joyful rides when he’d take me to get popsicles or a Barq’s soda pop at the local Buckaroo Market. Restoring the truck has been a labor of love, reconnecting me with cherished moments and honoring the legacy of a beloved grandfather.