Rides – Truck triplets: Foote family restores ’50s farm classics

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This article was published 06/04/2018 (2952 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Originally intending to restore only one 1950s-era farm truck, Dean Foote sealed his fate when he agreed to pass it on to one of his three children when he was done with it.

Two more classic truck restorations later, and each of his triplets, now 28 years of age, have called dibs on a vehicle apiece.

Joined by family matriarch Heather, the five started the restoration projects approximately six years ago.

During the first three years, the triplets worked on the vehicles with their parents on a regular basis at their Killarney home, during which time they completed the first two.

With the second vehicle completed, they branched out on their own professional paths, with Braden becoming a mechanic in the area, Kelsey becoming a teacher in Dauphin and Stephanie becoming a nurse in Edmonton.

Still, Dean said that whenever they came home for visits they remained eager to lend a hand whenever possible on restoring the third and final vehicle in the collection.

“I couldn’t have done it without him,” Dean said this week.

Not only that, but he said that spending so much time with his children made the undertaking all the more enjoyable.

“It just seems like it takes forever to build something, but in the end you have something that you’re so proud to have done with your family and others who have helped, and now you can go out and enjoy it,” he said.

The years-long process began when Dean tracked down a 1951 Chevrolet 3100 1/2 ton truck, which had been locally driven until the 1960s and he said needed “some tender loving care.”

The family tore the vehicle down and rebuilt it from the frame up, mounting the body on a S10 chassis and installing a 350 engine and five-speed overdrive manual transmission.

This vehicle was topped off with a copper colour paint job.

After pledging it to one of his children, Dean said that the renewal of two more vehicles became necessary.

Next up was a 1955 9430 GMC one-ton truck, which they were able to restore to its original condition.

What’s perhaps most impressive about this truck is the fact that its components are all original, Dean said, with the parts’ serial numbers all matching its original paperwork.

This truck was painted green.

The final of the family truck trilogy was a 1950 Chevrolet 3100 1/2 ton truck, which they put onto a S10 chassis and installed a 5.3L fuel injection engine and automatic transmission.

This vehicle was painted blue.

The trio of vehicles, all originating in Manitoba, were completed in time for Canada’s 150th anniversary, as well as Kelsey’s wedding last year at Clear Lake, where the three vehicles made an appearance.

Although the vehicles will still go to the triplets when their parents are done with them, Dean said that Heather and himself are still having a great deal of fun hitting the road.

“It just makes my day when I receive a wave or a smile while driving these trucks, whether it’s going for the mail, going to a car show or just out for a cruise,” Dean said. “They’re for leisure driving and for the enjoyment of driving them; just good times.”

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

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