Walker Truck Hits the Road

There was no mistaking the sound that rang out last month – the 1935 Walker Ford V-8 truck that had been parked next to the Saugus Train Station at the Santa Clarita History Center rumbled to life with one of its mechanics behind the wheel. After a good-natured call of “get out of the way,” the vehicle with the glorious rusty patina rolled toward the front of the station, cheered on by a small crowd of volunteers as it headed up toward Feed Trough Canyon.
Donated to the SCV Historical Society by the Walker family of Placerita Canyon, the truck sat on blocks for a few months before an article appeared in the November 2022 issue of élite Magazine asking for donations of time and money. Members of the Santa Clarita Valley Corvette Club jumped at the chance to be involved with such a unique project. The irony of a bunch of Chevy enthusiasts working on an old Ford is put aside, as these guys have pooled their skills and passions for a good cause.
After 87 years of being a workhorse, which included surviving the Thomas Fire in 2017, the truck came back to Newhall on the back of a flatbed, donated by Frank Walker’s grandson, Bob. It needed a lot of work – a new engine and transmission, new clutch and muffler, gauges, wires, plugs, pumps and a new gas tank, among other things. The seat has been reupholstered and will be installed now that a fabricated floor is in place. The stake bed has been reconstructed, the hood hinge fabricated and installed, and new rear tires are coming soon.
These days, visitors to the History Center will find a handful of determined mechanics working hard to restore the truck to its former mechanical glory (and were recently rewarded by the successful drive). The crew includes Ron Nolan, a local attorney who has a deep interest in cars and restoration; Dave Jewett, a retired fleet mechanic for the Gas Company who is the most experienced mechanic on the team, having worked on trucks, vans, and cars during his career.
Bob Haas is a local real estate broker who specializes in wood and metal fabrication and has been able to create many of the hard-to-find parts required to finish the job; Al Aird, a retired law enforcement officer who was a hot rod racer back in his youth. Dennis Monden, whose dog Bailey serves as the project supervisor, is a retired FedEx worker and a big fan of the cars from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. His knowledge of classic car trivia is legendary.
All are members of the SCV Corvette Club, except for Brad Inch, who was walking his dog in the park when he came across the crew and was invited to join them. He brings experience in building sand race cars, fabrication and transmissions, he quickly set to build one for the old Ford.
It’s fair to say that the project has gone beyond just fixing a vintage truck. The camaraderie while they work, helping each other get it right and cheering each other on when something comes out as planned, is a great illustration of preservation at work. While the truck has rambled around the canyons of the Center, the big plan is to get it running to drive in the 2024 Fourth of July parade. And when it’s ready for its closeup, you better believe that there will be a celebration.
To make a donation to the Walker Truck project, visit www.scvhs.org or click their PayPal link at https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=Y4BH6EZMNMCDW.

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