long with a handful of recent cover and feature trucks from CTP, the highly anticipated “Keep on Truckin’: 50 Years of Classic Haulers” at the 2023 Grand National Roadster Show will also feature a number of historic trucks, and one that holds a special place in our hearts is the late Dale Hollenbeck’s ’74 Stepside, which is now in the hands of our close friend, his son, Darryl! Darryl was able to reacquire the Squarebody some years after his father died and has since performed a few updates, but we’ll let him tell the story.

“My dad, Dale Hollenbeck, bought the truck in the late ’80s from Harry Craycroft, a local Bay Area hot rodder who had bought the truck new back in 1974 and subsequently customized it for the 1975 or 1976 Grand National Roadster Show (when it was still local to us!). It had a vinyl top, padded tailgate … very ’70s style. Dad got it and removed the vinyl top and added his touches to it: side markers, taillights, quad headlights, floating bar grille, third brake light, frenched antenna, frenched door locks that actually open the doors, shaved driprails and emblems, smoothed tailgate, and so on. The truck is chopped 2 1/2 inches and lowered in front with Drop Shop lower control arms and in the rear, relocated rear spring mounts and shackles.

“The Stepside was my dad’s daily driver for 30 years from Concord to Oakland. The truck was sold after he [died] to a friend in Reno back in 2003. (We always knew where it was!) The only thing he did was install a new motor and trans. We were able to get it back two years ago—one year before my mom, Carol, [died]. I have been slowly fixing a few minor things and making it my own but still honoring Dad’s original vision. So far, I’ve updated it with 18-inch original-style Detroit Steel wheels, new bedwood, and an old-style radio with Bluetooth!”

We’re all looking forward to seeing the Hollenbeck Heirloom Hauler in person this coming February 3-5 at the Fairplex in Pomona—and we hope to see as many of you as possible there! For more information, visit rodshows.com.