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PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE AUTHORot rodder Todd McParlin of Centereach, New York, spent more than 30-odd years protecting and serving the community as a member of a local police force. “When I retired from the force in 2018, I decided I needed a project truck to kick off my newfound free time. What I wanted to do was build a restomod vintage truck that could be driven anywhere, so I set my sights on finding a suitable starting point for my dream ‘bedded’ hot rod.”
Once back at the garage, Todd checked over his purchase. “There were no real surprises,” he says. “It was in bad shape, but the bones were usable. It also had a nice patina to it, and right away I went to work on it knowing I was going to try and salvage what was left of the paint to keep the worn, vintage look. I christened the ride ‘Old Patina’ (‘Old Patty’ for short).”
As the frame came together, Todd then set his sights on the body. “It needed some minor bodywork, so I did that carefully so I could keep that perfect patina. I didn’t want to do any major surgery. Any bodywork was blended in with the original paint using varying shades of red and orange.” Once completed, Todd covered the patina with a few coats of clear to hopefully keep the weathered skin intact for years to come.
Extras include a Tanks Inc. gas tank with built in EFI fuel pump that has been relocated to underneath the bed out back. That sits adjacent to a Derale transmission cooler with a thermostat fan and a drop-down battery box. Sanderson headers get rid of the spent gases and send it through a pair of Cadillac mufflers. “I chose these particular mufflers because they are both big and quiet and give off a nice, deep rumble.” They system exits out under the running boards through 2 1/2-inch pipes and angled stainless tips.
The bed is a sight to see. It’s built around Brazilian teak hardwood planks, tied down with stainless strips with hidden fasteners. “I left it raw so it would age right and weather to match the truck.” Last but not least, Todd needed some top-notch wheels to make this ride really stand out. “I wanted a certain look to accent the patina body. I wanted to go big but not necessarily flashy. I picked a set of Riddler 605s. I liked the gray inserts with the polished spokes. They looked old school to me, but modern.” Todd picked out 17x7s for the front, and big 20x10s for the rear. They are shod with Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 rubber in 235/55-17 up front, and Mickey Thompson 29x15x20s out back.
“The building of Old Patty brought a new perspective to me that I hope I can share with other people. Now when I look at my truck I feel satisfied knowing that I completed a difficult single-man project with all the long hours, late nights, dirty work, and all the money spent. This is the first restomod truck I completed, and I will enjoy bringing it to cruise nights and car shows for other people to appreciate.”