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**FirstOwner69** · 03-07-2014, 01:01 AM

Our 69 CST/20 was the 4th vehicle we bought. My wife and I had driven to Utah from our home in Fullerton, CA, on a whim in Oct. of 1969 after I read an article in an outdoor magazine about SW Utah. We slept in the car in in a campground in freezing temps. On our way home we met numerous trucks and campers, most pulling Jeeps, apparently heading north for the Utah deer season. I'd wanted a truck camper since I was 16 when I saw a unit from California in a Wisconsin campground. So, before we even got home, we stopped by a RV dealer Sunday night in the dark and looked at campers. About 5 weeks later, the truck, a leftover new 1969, and a new cab-over camper were at our place. I was 24. We've probably had 35-40 vehicles, but this one just stuck around. We moved to Wisconsin late in 1971. The truck wasn't driven in the winter after about 1980 and was permanently stored in the garage since 1987. This truck is where I learned everything I know about working on vehicles. So, it was only fitting that I bring it back to its new state. Starting in 2010 I stripped everything from the chassis except the cab. I gave the bed and other sheet metal to the body shop and also had them remove the cab. I then took the frame and drivetrain. In November, 2012, when we'd each done our thing, the shop picked up the chassis and re-married it with the cab. They returned them, and I then reassembled the remainder. The truck originally came equipped with buckets/console, A/C, 350, TH400, wood bed and all the options that made it eligible for the Custom Camper nameplate. I've now added some options that were missing or not available in 69 such as tilt, shoulder belts AM/FM, a fancy oak bed, and full gauges plus tach and clock. I also replaced the original 350 with a GMPP 350/330 crate engine and have stored the original. Due to lousy weather last fall, it's only been driven to the shop for A/C charge and alignment. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to spring!

Pictures below. Top- first week of Dec.1969; Middle- summer of 2010 before resto; Bottom- Sept, 2013 finished except front bumper.

03-07-2014, 01:01 AM	#13
FirstOwner69 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin & Arizona Posts: 4,854	Re: "Your" truck story Our 69 CST/20 was the 4th vehicle we bought. My wife and I had driven to Utah from our home in Fullerton, CA, on a whim in Oct. of 1969 after I read an article in an outdoor magazine about SW Utah. We slept in the car in in a campground in freezing temps. On our way home we met numerous trucks and campers, most pulling Jeeps, apparently heading north for the Utah deer season. I'd wanted a truck camper since I was 16 when I saw a unit from California in a Wisconsin campground. So, before we even got home, we stopped by a RV dealer Sunday night in the dark and looked at campers. About 5 weeks later, the truck, a leftover new 1969, and a new cab-over camper were at our place. I was 24. We've probably had 35-40 vehicles, but this one just stuck around. We moved to Wisconsin late in 1971. The truck wasn't driven in the winter after about 1980 and was permanently stored in the garage since 1987. This truck is where I learned everything I know about working on vehicles. So, it was only fitting that I bring it back to its new state. Starting in 2010 I stripped everything from the chassis except the cab. I gave the bed and other sheet metal to the body shop and also had them remove the cab. I then took the frame and drivetrain. In November, 2012, when we'd each done our thing, the shop picked up the chassis and re-married it with the cab. They returned them, and I then reassembled the remainder. The truck originally came equipped with buckets/console, A/C, 350, TH400, wood bed and all the options that made it eligible for the Custom Camper nameplate. I've now added some options that were missing or not available in 69 such as tilt, shoulder belts AM/FM, a fancy oak bed, and full gauges plus tach and clock. I also replaced the original 350 with a GMPP 350/330 crate engine and have stored the original. Due to lousy weather last fall, it's only been driven to the shop for A/C charge and alignment. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to spring! Pictures below. Top- first week of Dec.1969; Middle- summer of 2010 before resto; Bottom- Sept, 2013 finished except front bumper. Attached Images