Classic of the Month: Next Generation Keeps Hobby Alive

Brian is no stranger to classic vehicles, and he’s made sure his sons aren’t either.

Brian’s Mom and Dad were into street rods. As a matter of fact, his first car was a ‘48 Chevy Sedan that he drove to high school.  

“And so it was a no-brainer that when my kids came of age, my Dad and I had many conversations, we wanted to make sure they had a vehicle,” Brian said. 

When Brian’s sons were little, he bought a ‘50 Chevy for himself. In about three months, he took the truck from just a body and frame to road-worthy. When Brian’s oldest son, Garrett, turned 13, he was able to find a cab from a ‘48 Chevy. Now, his youngest son, Brady, is 17, and they’ve started work on a ‘49 cab.

“It’s awesome that my grandpa and Dad were able to build it completely from the ground up for me,” Garrett said. “I know a lot of kids can’t say the same thing about having a ‘48 Chevy pickup or just another classic car that they can enjoy.”

Broady and Garrett’s grandpa passed away a few years ago, so Brady is driving his grandpa’s ‘49 while they work on the other ‘49 cab the family purchased. Before their grandpa passed away, they went to the Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky.

“My youngest son rode with him everywhere. And my dad had a blast,” Brian said. “We had all three trucks down there and it got them interested. And you know, the hope is to carry the hobby on to other people in that generation. If not just the hobby is going to die. Which I don’t want to happen. So, we would have never been anywhere if it wasn’t for my dad, you know?”

When he was 13, Garrett wire-wheeled the frame down. His grandpa also taught Garrett some welding. While Brian’s father did 90% of the work, Garrett walked away with skills and lessons about vehicles. He said learning this will help him down the road.

“It drives almost as great as my daily driver, which is a little Honda,” Garrett said.