Matching orange trucks: A birthday gift that keeps on giving

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Although father and son Steven and Aaron Price won’t be at the Newcastle Shine and Show Car Show this weekend in Dow Park, Aaron says that the best part of owning vintage trucks with his dad is attending car shows with him. 
“I knew that my father had always really enjoyed the way the restoration turned out, so I decided to surprise him and give him the truck on
his 55th birthday,” Price said of the 1949 Chevy that was his first restoration project. 
As far back as Price can remember, he had his eyes set on an old ’49 Chevy that was rusting away next to Gertrude Burns. Driving past the truck on several occasions, Price would always tell his dad how bad he wanted the truck and his father’s tireless pestering eventually made his dream come true. 
“My dad had asked Louis Shook multiple times if he’d ever sell it, which he always declined,” Price said. “Then in November 2005, Louis called and said he had the truck sold to a fella in Nebraska, but if I kept the truck in town and kept the truck original with the original motor, he would sell it to me for $500.” 
Without a second thought and a minute to waste, Price headed over to his dream truck to collect his purchase. 
“After countless hours, we finally got the motor to run,” Price recalled. “We then took it to Rapid City to get an original blue paint job done, but after a series of unfortunate events, it didn’t get completed.”
The results of what at first was a disappointing situation for Price turned into his iconic orange truck after he opted to change plans that has driven the streets of Newcastle since 2006. The truck accompanied Price to school, sporting events and even a fair share of dances. 
In 2009, Price acquired two 1954 Fords while attending auto body school in Casper from his paint instructor, Emil Williams. 
“I spent the next two years piecing parts of each truck together, to make one complete truck. Once it was done, I signed up and attended the Newcastle Shine and Show Car Show,’ Price said. “After the show, I was next up to do a burn out, and the motor that was in it couldn’t even chirp the tires.” 
Needless to say, the embarrassment of that moment led Price to upgrading his newest orange truck, putting a 383-stroker engine in it. 
“So, now I had two very sentimental trucks, but the ’49 Chevy just wasn’t fast enough for my taste,” Price said. 
The need for speed, you could say, led Price to gifting the iconic truck to his father in celebration of Steve’s 55th birthday. The gift just keeps on giving, providing plenty of opportunities for the father and son duo to make memories and share endless hours showing off their vintage orange trucks. 
“Who knows, maybe there will be a third orange truck driving around Newcastle in the near future,” Price said. 
Checkout all of Newcastle and the surrounding area’s vintage and supped up vehicles at Newcastle’s 13th annual Shine and Show Car Show on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Dow Park. 
“We currently have 35 pre-registered vehicles, the most we have ever had,” Bonnie Rich, event organizer said. “Last year, when it was all said and done, we had 125 entries.” 
Be sure to check out the 48 vendor booths at the 13th Annual Fall Festival and Shine and Show on Saturday.