Grandpa's truck in the river - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ToonMan · 12-02-2021, 07:54 PM

This is an article that appeared in the local newspaper in 1974 when my grandfather's truck drove itself directly down the boat ramp and into the Willamette river. My mom came and picked up my sister and I at school and drove us down there so we could see it get pulled out. The truck was either a 60 or a 61. I was 9 years old at the time.

yuccales · 12-02-2021, 08:14 PM

What a cool story (bummer about the truck) to have. I wonder if that old truck is still out there somewhere running down the road?

ToonMan · 12-02-2021, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuccales

What a cool story (bummer about the truck) to have. I wonder if that old truck is still out there somewhere running down the road?

That would be very interesting to know if it's still around. After this happened my grandpa got rid of the truck and ended up buying a 68 Long fleet side. And he had that truck up until he passed away

CG · 12-02-2021, 08:36 PM

Neil Young ... Down By the River (revised)

Be on my side. I'll be on your side, baby.
There is no reason for you to hide.
It's so hard for me staying here all alone,
When you could be taking me for a ride.

She could drag me over the rainbow,
Send me away.

Down by the river,
I sunk my baby.
Down by the river....

57taskforce · 12-02-2021, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CG

Neil Young ... Down By the River (revised)

Be on my side. I'll be on your side, baby.
There is no reason for you to hide.
It's so hard for me staying here all alone,
When you could be taking me for a ride.

She could drag me over the rainbow,
Send me away.

Down by the river,
I sunk my baby.
Down by the river....

Op, that’s cool to have a classic documented in the paper like that. Sure that is something my family would laugh about today.

Ronnie Van Zant said it best… “a southern man don’t need him around anyhow”

just funning CG

Skynyrd has long been one of my all time favorites, their “feud” is kinda interesting to me.

**cwcarpenter98** · 12-02-2021, 10:12 PM

Oh man, that's cool you still have the article today. I wonder if those cars are still down there...

CG · 12-03-2021, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

Op, that’s cool to have a classic documented in the paper like that. Sure that is something my family would laugh about today.

Ronnie Van Zant said it best… “a southern man don’t need him around anyhow”

just funning CG

Skynyrd has long been one of my all time favorites, their “feud” is kinda interesting to me.

Yeah I love the southern rockers too (especially Molly Hatchet). I also like Neil Young ... Im aware of their differences, the song just seemed appropriate =)

**special-K** · 12-03-2021, 05:58 AM

Cool story to have in the family. You even get a newspaper story with that one. I wonder if the police would still get involved for that public service these days. Maybe all that is a fire dept thing now. I wonder what the other two cars down there were.

Big question: How did your father's truck "drive itself" into the river?

Steven Stills is a southern man and he sure didn't mind having Neil Young around. I like both Skynard and Neil Young, and I get the message in the song

**Dieselwrencher** · 12-03-2021, 07:32 AM

Toolman, I've got a similar story but this one didn't make the paper. When I was a kid, 4 or 5? We were at a closed down gravel pit that was privately owned by my Grandfather's friend/boss. My parents would meet his parents and sister here and have picnics and fish to gather fish for the family reunion fish fry they had each year. Needless to say they spent many hours there. One of these times I was playing in my grandpa's truck, a 73 F250 Camper Special, pretending to be driving. I'm pretty sure he yelled and had me bring him a beer so I was out of the truck standing next to his lawn chair and I turned around and there went grandpa's Ford creeping towards the bank which was a cliff on that side. I can still see the topper door flying open as it hit the water. My grandpa's jaw dropped and my Dad was dying laughing after he saw my face. My grandmother and mother were furious because my dad saw too much humor in it. I can't blame him. (I wonder if he'll think it's funny now if his grand kid would to it?

)

Luckily Dad worked at a local service station and was the tow truck driver. Dad used the tow truck to get it out and Denny the farmer/boss/friend put on his diving suit and dove down and hooked the truck up. I can't remember how far it was down there but it was deep. That truck sat on Denny's farm for a few years and eventually Dad made a box trailer out of it. He always laughed because that box was rust free until the day we scrapped that trailer. He said that gravel pit dip preserved it.

That was the end of my playing in vehicles at the gravel pit unless there were no tires on them.

There was a late 30s Chevy 1.5 ton truck in the weeds with some other gravel extraction equipment I would mess with. Sadly Grandpa and Denny both are gone now so I haven't tried to go to the gravel pit to see if it still looks close to the same. It's weird out of all the child hood memories of my early days the only vivid memories I have are with my Grandpa and that farm being with him.

57taskforce · 12-04-2021, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CG

Yeah I love the southern rockers too (especially Molly Hatchet). I also like Neil Young ... Im aware of their differences, the song just seemed appropriate =)

For sure, definitely appropriate. I saw the golden opportunity to quote RVZ is all haha. I agree Molly hatchet is awesome. I’ve got a fitting Molly Hatchet related picture I’m going to find and post tomorrow... Sorry for the hijack op. Haha.

Ryan, my dad would have beat my butt and my grandfather would have been the one most likely to laugh. I bet that’s another one to laugh at over family holiday dinner.

**special-K** · 12-04-2021, 07:49 AM

I have at least two 'truck ran off on me' stories myself. Never put a truck under water, though... Yet!

12-02-2021, 07:54 PM	#1
ToonMan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 575	Grandpa's truck in the river This is an article that appeared in the local newspaper in 1974 when my grandfather's truck drove itself directly down the boat ramp and into the Willamette river. My mom came and picked up my sister and I at school and drove us down there so we could see it get pulled out. The truck was either a 60 or a 61. I was 9 years old at the time. Attached Images __________________ Rob the ToonMan 56 Chevy Cameo----Custom, [Turquoise] 67 Chevy C10 Short Fleetside (Black & White) 63 Trailorboat-------Teardrop Style Trailer 69 Honda CM90

12-02-2021, 08:14 PM	#2
yuccales Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northern Calif. Posts: 3,577	Re: Grandpa's truck in the river What a cool story (bummer about the truck) to have. I wonder if that old truck is still out there somewhere running down the road?

12-02-2021, 08:36 PM	#4
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Monroe, Wa. Posts: 19,767	Re: Grandpa's truck in the river Neil Young ... Down By the River (revised) Be on my side. I'll be on your side, baby. There is no reason for you to hide. It's so hard for me staying here all alone, When you could be taking me for a ride. She could drag me over the rainbow, Send me away. Down by the river, I sunk my baby. Down by the river.... __________________ … … … … … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … … Monroe Swap meet May 18-19. Mike has the same spots for the NW guys he's had forever. Lunch time BBQ at the spaces. If you have stuff to sell bring it along. If you have a question PM stllookn (Mike) here via the board. https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=851291

12-02-2021, 10:12 PM	#6
cwcarpenter98 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Hickory Flat, GA Posts: 4,421	Re: Grandpa's truck in the river Oh man, that's cool you still have the article today. I wonder if those cars are still down there... __________________ Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here 1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson

12-03-2021, 05:58 AM	#8
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,859	Re: Grandpa's truck in the river Cool story to have in the family. You even get a newspaper story with that one. I wonder if the police would still get involved for that public service these days. Maybe all that is a fire dept thing now. I wonder what the other two cars down there were. Big question: How did your father's truck "drive itself" into the river? Steven Stills is a southern man and he sure didn't mind having Neil Young around. I like both Skynard and Neil Young, and I get the message in the song __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

12-03-2021, 07:32 AM	#9
Dieselwrencher 6>8 Plugless........ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Prairie City, Ia Posts: 17,132	Re: Grandpa's truck in the river Toolman, I've got a similar story but this one didn't make the paper. When I was a kid, 4 or 5? We were at a closed down gravel pit that was privately owned by my Grandfather's friend/boss. My parents would meet his parents and sister here and have picnics and fish to gather fish for the family reunion fish fry they had each year. Needless to say they spent many hours there. One of these times I was playing in my grandpa's truck, a 73 F250 Camper Special, pretending to be driving. I'm pretty sure he yelled and had me bring him a beer so I was out of the truck standing next to his lawn chair and I turned around and there went grandpa's Ford creeping towards the bank which was a cliff on that side. I can still see the topper door flying open as it hit the water. My grandpa's jaw dropped and my Dad was dying laughing after he saw my face. My grandmother and mother were furious because my dad saw too much humor in it. I can't blame him. (I wonder if he'll think it's funny now if his grand kid would to it? ) Luckily Dad worked at a local service station and was the tow truck driver. Dad used the tow truck to get it out and Denny the farmer/boss/friend put on his diving suit and dove down and hooked the truck up. I can't remember how far it was down there but it was deep. That truck sat on Denny's farm for a few years and eventually Dad made a box trailer out of it. He always laughed because that box was rust free until the day we scrapped that trailer. He said that gravel pit dip preserved it. That was the end of my playing in vehicles at the gravel pit unless there were no tires on them. There was a late 30s Chevy 1.5 ton truck in the weeds with some other gravel extraction equipment I would mess with. Sadly Grandpa and Denny both are gone now so I haven't tried to go to the gravel pit to see if it still looks close to the same. It's weird out of all the child hood memories of my early days the only vivid memories I have are with my Grandpa and that farm being with him. __________________ Ryan 1972 Chevy Longhorn K30 Cheyenne Super, 359 Inline 6 cylinder, Auto Trans, Tilt, Diesel Tach/Vach, Buckets, Rare Rear 4-link and air ride option Build Thread 1972 GMC Sierra Grande Longhorn 4x4 1972 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20 Long Step side tilt, tach, tow hooks, AC, 350 4 speed 1972 C10 Suburban Custom Deluxe 1969 Chevy milk truck 1971 Camaro RS 5.3 BTR STG3 Cam Super T10 1940 Ford 354 Hemi 46RH Ford 9" on air ride huge project *Tired of spark plugs? Check this out.*

12-04-2021, 07:49 AM	#11
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,859	Re: Grandpa's truck in the river I have at least two 'truck ran off on me' stories myself. Never put a truck under water, though... Yet! __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

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