If we believe the definition of legacy as "what someone is remembered for or what they have left behind that is remembered" then Gilbert Bugg's 1934 Ford pickup fulfills the definition. Now owned and driven by his son, Bubba Bugg of Rossville, Tennessee, he has plenty of memories of the two of them attending rod runs, drag racing, and indoor shows. But it's the memories Bubba is making today with his son that will perpetuate the truck's long and proud history. (Editor's note: I first photographed this pickup back in 1971 at the Waco, Texas, rod run. Both Gilbert and the pickup provided me with many worthwhile street rodding memories.)
Gilbert and Mary Bugg seen...
Gilbert and Mary Bugg seen here during the '80s with the '34 Ford pickup painted in its then-trademark '57 Buick Seminole Red.
Gilbert Bugg bought the truck in 1953 and sold it in the late '50s but was able to buy it back a year later. He proudly drove and showed the pickup until his death in 1997. Gilbert's wife, Mary, would later sell the truck to their son Bubba who took it upon himself to bring the truck back to its full glory, while adding a few personal touches.
Two early identifiable markers of this '34 Ford pickup were the color, '57 Buick Seminole Red, and the unmistakable front nerf bars built in the '60s by Gilbert. The truck was rebuilt several times during its "life", always maintaining the brilliant red color and the nerf bars. Bubba agonized long and hard over the color change through the use of House of Kolor's Pagan Gold paint applied by Darryl Hollenbeck of Vintage Color Studio in Concord, California. He did retain the truck's definitive marker by utilizing the distinctive nerf bars. Gilbert's nicely executed 3-inch top chop was also retained.
Guiding Bubba through the one-and-a-half year rebuild process was Roy Brizio and his craftsman at Roy Brizio Street Rods in South San Francisco, California. In its current iteration the bodywork was handled by Guy Ruchonnet (Manteca, CA), reading the cab, Mack Products bed, Jack Haggeman aluminum hood, and the original grille shell with a Dan Fink stainless steel insert. As mentioned before, Hollenbeck applied the Pagan Gold paint while the Tommy the Greek-style pinstriping was handled by Rory (Hayward, CA). The headlights are OTB Gear (Walnut, CA) resting on a dropped headlight bar while '41 Chevy taillights are used. You can find a stock exterior mirror and a '37 Ford interior mirror.
Sid Chavers' stitchwork covers...
Sid Chavers' stitchwork covers the custom-made bench seat, door panels, and headliner in black and white leather while the carpeting is black nylon loop covering Dynamat insulation.
The '34 Ford frame kept its stock wheelbase and used a Pete & Jakes (Peculiar, MO) front four-bar and The Deuce Factory (Santa Ana, CA) rear triangulated four-bar. From here a Super Bell (Peculiar, MO) tube axle; spindles and brakes; P&J tube shocks; Posies (Hummelstown, PA) spring; Wilwood (Camarillo, CA) proportioning valve, calipers, and 11-inch rotors; ECI (Vernon, CT) brake booster; and a Brizio Panhard bar were positioned. Steering is handled by a combination of Vega box, Borgeson (Torrington, CT) steering column and U-joints, and a Brizio banjo-style steering wheel. The rear suspension is based on a plated Ford 9-inch with 3.50 gears, 31-spline axles, 11-inch drum brakes, and Carrera (Lakeville, MN) coilover shocks. All of the truck's chrome plating above and below the sheetmetal was handled by Sherm's Custom Plating (Sacramento, CA). At the corners are Billet Specialties (La Grange, IL) wheels reminiscent of '62 Corvette hubcaps, but are billet wheels, and BFGoodrich/Coker radial narrow whitewall tires. All the wheels utilize a 3-1/2-inch backspace with the fronts measuring 15x6 and 15x7 in back. To these "early style Corvette wheels" are the BFGoodrich/Coker radials measuring 165R15 and P235/75R15.
Trademark or distinctive,...
Trademark or distinctive, whichever term you would like to use, the front nerf bars/bumpers are as prominent and recognizable today as they were 50 years ago. They now sport fresh brightwork by Sherm's Custom Plating.
A Borgeson hot rod tube column...
A Borgeson hot rod tube column is topped with a Brizio banjo wheel while a Lokar shifter is used along with a Pete & Jakes pedal assembly.
The original '34 Ford dash...
The original '34 Ford dash is fitted with a SO-CAL Speed Shop insert and VDO gauges.
The headlights are painted...
The headlights are painted OTB buckets with a chromed ring resting on a dropped headlight bar.
You don't often see side mounts...
You don't often see side mounts but this '34 pick'em-up pulls it off nicely with Billet Specialties early Corvette-style ('62) billet wheels covered in narrow pinstripe BFGoodrich/Coker radial rubber at the corners.