USA Truck History.
Little is known about the truck before 1998 but in that year it was owned by Terry Cauldwell in Greenville
South Carolina. He bought the truck and restored it in that year. Significant funds were spent on many new
and reconditioned parts but the workmanship of the people he employed was not very high. It was in 1998
that the original straight 6 engine and manual transmission was replaced with the Chevy small block V 8 and
automatic transmission. The front suspension was upgraded to the Mustang 2 front clip, the rear suspension
is 1992 Chevy Caprice, the interior was re-upholstered and the whole truck was painted. In June 2007 it was
purchased by the current owner, David Craig, who saw it on e-bay, flew to South Carolina and shipped it to
the UK. It was transported to Baltimore docks and then shipped to Liverpool and driven home. It was
registered in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Since then many new parts and much work has been done.
The Truck's home in the USA.
Garage apartments - better than a
shed at the bottom of the garden?
There are garage apartments all over the USA. Typically it takes 4 full sized cars. There is room to store two
twenty foot long cars end to end and also two cars wide through the automatic doors. There is a sitting area,
storage area, kitchen and bathroom all on the ground floor and a basement underneath. The one in the picture
had the 52 Chevy truck inside and one other classic car. These apartments may be on the same piece of land
where the main house and double garage is and then provide overflow accommodation for vehicles and
guests. Or, they may be just for a person who wants to live with his or her cars. In the picture you can see the
truck parked outside the day before shipping it.
USA Engine History.
The picture was taken before the truck left the USA in June 07.
The engine was fitted during the restoration in 1998.
See part 3 for a picture of the engine now.
Plans for the cab upgrades.
The original cab seats were re-upholstered when the truck was restored in 1998 and they are still in perfect
condition. (between 1998 and 2007 the truck had only done about 1000 miles) but these bench seats (like many
old vehicles) are not very comfortable. In the driving position you tend to slide towards the door. Modern
10-way powered front seats (like the ones in my 2005 MC Yukon Denial) will eventually be fitted. A modern radio is
fitted in the dash, and someone has cut the metal to fit it in! This will be taken out and the metal made good in
such a way that it will look like the panel has never been tampered with. Hot Rod type gauges have been fitted.
These will be taken out and original gauges will be re-fitted. The original gauges look great and suite the truck.
They are expensive but very worthwhile. The steering wheel will also be changed.
Some cab upgrades can be seen at
Cab upgrades part 1
1947 - 53 catalogue.
Everything is available for a 52 truck from a catalogue and everything is manufactured new today. It is
interesting, however, to custom design and make items that have not been thought of before.
This was done with the lights. We are still working on an LED front, side light assembly. See part 1b
