What Year Is Your Truck?
1973
How long have you owned your truck?
It’s been in the family since new. My grandad bought it, then passed it down to my dad, and now it’s mine.
When you purchased your truck, what kind of truck were you looking for?
Not purchased — it’s an heirloom. Handed down from my grandad to my dad, and then to me.
If you could only share one story or experience with your truck, what would it be?
At one point, our family had three Highboys: a Rangoon Red ’68 Custom, this Burnt Orange ’73 Explorer A, and a Wimbledon White ’76. This is the only survivor.
Some of my best memories are stuffed into the cab of this truck. All of my first hunting, fishing, and camping trips were in a single cab Highboy with me, my brother, my dad, and sometimes my uncle all jammed across the bench seat. We had to keep our legs clear of the gear shifter or risk being crushed.
When we spotted a deer or antelope, it was pure comedy — all of us rolling out of the cab with our rifles, trying to get a shot off. Those moments are etched into my memory forever.
What upgrades have you made to the truck?
Too many to count, but some of the big ones include:
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Rust repair
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Hand-repainting the vinyl stripes
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Electric power steering
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Brake booster
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Accel electronic ignition
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Full interior restoration back to original
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Fixed most of the leaks
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All mechanically correct
Most of the work was done during COVID with a buddy — piece by piece, bringing it back to life.
What are your future plans with the truck?
To hold onto it, drive it on weekends, and remember my dad and grandad every time I’m behind the wheel.
Anything else you’d like to share?
This Burnt Orange Explorer A is more than just a truck — it’s the last of three family Highboys, and it’s part of who I am. And yes, I’d love to see this exact truck replicated on one of your shirts.
