What a cool story.

 

http://www.kare11.com/story/news/local/land-of-10000-stories/2015/01/01/prinsburg-pickup-chevy-bob-sportel-75/21169665/

I dunno.. a truck that dependable deserves to be taken care of at least on basic things.  He didn't buy a new muffler? I can see not painting it... but at least bondo up the holes in the body so it doesn't spread more. Get a seat cover for the seat, etc...

True, but those are aesthetics, not functionalities. 

WOW, Awesome ride. I of course would fix the things not working but would still drive it also. Sweet ride.

True, but those are aesthetics, not functionalities. 

 

well no... preventing the spread of rust or the further deterioration of the seat is not just aesthetic.

I disagree. IMO if the rust is merely a hole in a fender, its an aesthetic. If the headlight falls out, it's functional/structural. The line is where the functionality of the vehicle is altered by the rust.

 

Seat performs the same if there's padding or exposed springs- I had a daily with exposed seat springs once. Add some folded towels & a blanket over all; still drove down the road fine. NBD.

That is fantastic. 

Poking the Butt with a steel spring is a failure in my book, seat needs to be fixed or replaced. Unwanted Pokes are not appreciated.

... what about wanted pokes?

Quote from one male co-worker to another from a sexual harassment video I had to watch as part of my new job on Friday:  "shame to let that cute thing go to waste". 

... what about wanted pokes?

That is a totally different kind of fun for some! LOL

Well this thread somehow managed to go from an Old Truck that should (or shouldn't have been, Im not going to argue) had some aesthetic fixes to something a bit less PG friendly.

Well this thread somehow managed to go from an Old Truck that should (or shouldn't have been, Im not going to argue) had some aesthetic fixes to something a bit less PG friendly.

Buncha dirty old men!!!      

I still think all rust should be addressed on an auto and any springs poking through should be fixed. No duct tape for me.

I can get why it lasted 38 years on minimal maintenance--such a simple beast that there is very little to go wrong..   But I can't imagine driving something so old and worn out and bare-bones day after day, year after year...

Well, I am sure there has been a lot more mechanical maintenance required on a truck of this vintage.  A whole lotta grease fittings, maybe valve adjustments, plugs, points, condenser, etc. - did these have paper air filters?  Carb adjustments, oh man... but I am sure it's all stuff he could have done himself.

Pretty positive '57 still had the oil bath air cleaner (compressed steel element, reusable indefinitely. 
My '64, which when I got it had been sitting since 1971, still had an oiled steel element (tho not an oil bath air cleaner).

I just posted a link to this story in the Chevy Truck thread, and now I see you beat me to it balthazar!!