Story and Photos by: Shannon Hammett

For most of us, there is that one car that stands out in our memories. The one we had when we were younger; the one we wish we still had. For Jimmy Parton, his '50 model Chevrolet pickup truck was “the one that got away.”

“I bought it in the late 60's off a car lot,” said Jimmy, “I gave $300 for it. When I got drafted and had to go into the Army, I had to sell it. I wish I still had it. I've always liked the body style of that truck.”

Throughout the years, Jimmy has bought and sold numerous classics. From Volkswagens to Monzas. But all the while, the memory of that '50 model Chevy pickup was in the back of his mind.

“I've fooled around with cars all my life,” said Jimmy, “I was into Volkswagens for several years; got out of them and got into the Monzas. I had been looking for a truck for a long time with the same body style as the one I used to have. Every time I would find one in the paper, I'd go check it out. But every truck I came across was just junk. My uncle told me that his neighbor, Bill had a truck like the one I had been looking for. Bill had passed away and the truck was just sitting out back. I went to check it out, and sure enough, there sat my 1948 Chevrolet truck. I talked to Bill's daughter about buying the truck. She said that her mother was planning on selling it. I asked what they wanted for it, but I couldn't get a price out of them. This went on for two or three years. One day, I offered them a price for it, and they finally took it.”

Once Jimmy got the truck home, he didn't waste any time in starting the restoration process.

“I brought it home and then Street Rods by Rudy started in on it,” said Jimmy, “Aside from the truck bed and interior, Rudy did most of the work on it. I fabricated the bed and Steve Holcomb from Pro Auto Upholstery in Knoxville did the interior. I got sidetracked on it at one point, so it sat in the garage for around three years. Then we started back in on it and got it finished. It took a total of four years to get it restored.”

Jimmy had originally planned on painting the truck green. But with a little persuasion from his wife, Anna and a '34 Plymouth, the green didn't stand a chance.

“My wife likes purple,” said Jimmy, “Rudy had a '34 Plymouth that he painted with a special mix of purple. I'm not really into purple myself, but I really liked that purple. It's got sort of a red tint when the sun hits it. So, I had Rudy paint the truck purple. My wife has been really good about all of this. She has been very supportive. She likes to come with me to the cruise-ins and car shows. I've just started getting it out and driving it. Since we got it finished, it hasn't done much but sit in the garage and wait out winter. I didn't want to get it out in the bad weather. My wife and I took a ride in it a few days ago and were both surprised at how well it rides. I tried to get her to drive it, but she wouldn't. I think she's afraid she'll put a scratch on it or something. I wouldn't mind at all if she drove it, but I doubt she ever will. She's always preferred to be a rider instead of a driver.”

The benefit car show at Happy Days Pizza on March 21st was the truck's 1st show. The crowd surrounding Jimmy's truck made it clear that the purple was a big hit.

“It draws a lot of attention,” said Jimmy, “When Rudy had that '34 Plymouth, he said that every show he entered it in, he would always win Lady's Choice because of that color. I was coming out of the Post Office this morning and there was a lady that said, 'Awww! I just love that truck!'. I don't know what it is about that purple, but women and kids absolutely love it.”