Sara’s 1969 Ford: The Truck Dad Thought He’d Never Own

The timeline and plans reflect the owner’s original account.

Sara’s dad had wanted this 1969 Ford for years. It reminded him of his first truck. While helping Sara with her own 1977, he kept asking a friend who knew the owner when he would finally get his truck. Year after year, the answer was that the friend was working on it.

Sara's 1969 Ford Highboy — Father-Daughter Bumpside 4x4

A coworker suggested Sara surprise him. She contacted the friend and learned that the owner would sell only to her. That same night, her dad said he was giving up. She nearly told him, but kept the surprise. The next day she arrived with a trailer and cash. Her parents were stunned, and her dad immediately began washing it and pulling the interior apart.

The work and the years behind it

The California truck had minimal dents and had been in good condition as a two-wheel-drive Ford. They found a clean Highboy frame in Colorado, prepared it and added the body and a rebuilt 390 GT. Daily work had it on the road in under two months for the 4-Wheel Jamboree. Both trucks covered more than 700 miles that weekend, though his had only eight miles of testing. A small problem and calls to parts stores interrupted the trip before they continued. About a year into ownership, new paint and exterior chrome remained ahead. Her dad had helped build her dream, and now she had helped build his.

Read the owner’s original account and build details

Shared by @s_white77

Truck year:

1969

Ownership when this account was shared:

1 year

How the truck came home

When I purchased it, it was in great condition since it was originally from California. It had minimal dents on the body. My dad wanted this truck since the day he saw it because it reminded him of the first truck he owned. This truck was 2-wheel drive, and he had in mind to find another truck to make it into a 4-wheel drive Highboy.

The memories behind the truck

I also own a 1977 Ford truck, and every time my dad helps me work on it, he mentions how much he wants this 2-wheel drive bumpside truck that he once saw sitting in a yard. For years, he talked about it and asked his friend (who knew the owner) to try to talk him into selling it. My dad would always say, “When am I getting my truck?” and the friend would answer, “I’m working on it.” But year after year, he had no luck.

One day, a coworker gave me the idea to surprise him. I texted my dad’s friend, and to my shock, he told me the owner would only sell it to me. I almost couldn’t control my excitement.

That same night, my dad admitted to me with a sad look on his face, “I’m giving up on trying to buy that truck. I’ll look elsewhere.” I came so close to telling him the surprise.

The next day, I showed up with a trailer and cash in hand. When my parents came outside, they were equally shocked to see the truck he had dreamed about for years. Before I could blink, my dad was already power washing it and tearing into the interior, ready to build it exactly how he’d always envisioned.

It was one of the most exciting days of my life — surprising my dad with the truck he thought he’d never own. My dad helped build my dream truck, and now I’ve helped build his.

Build details, in the owner’s words

We swapped the 2-wheel drive frame to a 4-wheel drive.

Plans at the time of the story

We are looking to fully restore it with paint and new exterior chrome.

More from the owner

We found a clean Highboy frame from Colorado, fixed it up, and added the body and a rebuilt 390 GT motor. We worked on it every single day and had it on the road in less than 2 months — just in time for the 4-Wheel Jamboree. We drove both of our trucks more than 700 miles that weekend, even though his had only 8 miles on it from a single gas station run. We hit a small hiccup on the way, but after a few calls to auto parts stores, we were back on the road.

It was an unforgettable weekend — two trucks, two dreams, and one father-daughter build we’ll never forget.