Forty-Something Gem

Story by Dean Washington – Photos by Ken Sanders

There are so many different reasons why one chooses to restore a classic or vintage vehicle. For some it is the challenge and gratification of building something on their own. For others, the prospect of having something no one else has is the appeal. And then there are those who have a deep sentimental attachment to a vehicle. A feeling deep in their souls that only they can explain why this vehicle is so important to them, while others stand by trying to figure out why they chose that model or era. For most, the attachment comes from our youth. The first car we owned, the car dad drove, the one that we desired but couldn’t afford or, like in this case, someone that touched our hearts so deeply you refuse to give up the dream.

Reg and Doris Ogden of Cobble Hill, B.C. on Vancouver Island have owned this 1940 Standard Ford pick-up over 30 years, but it has been in their lives much longer. A friend of the Ogdens by the name of Tommy Ross, who was quite a character as well as a mechanic, previously owned the truck for many years. Tommy unfortunately passed away and left the truck to his nephew who shortly thereafter was killed in a freak accident. The family, knowing that Reg really liked the truck, passed it along to him. In need of restoration, it was stored along with other projects the Ogdens had on their property outside of Victoria. As in so many cases, even when we have the best intentions to get at a project, the days and months turn into years and the pick-up ended up sitting in pieces for almost thirty of them.

Enter Bill Lemon, co-owner of B&N Hotrod Fabrication in Port Coquitlam, B.C.

Bill and the Ogdens had become friends some 15 years ago and in that time Reg had told Bill that he wanted B&N to do a build for them but couldn’t decide which vehicle to choose. Bill’s advice was that the Ogdens get rid of five of the ten vehicles they had and from the rest, select the top three. They did, but still no final decision was made as to what to build. Reg was always very fond of the pick-up and shared many stories with Bill, which prompted Lemon to call up Reg in August of 2007 to let him know he would be over in two weeks to retrieve the pick-up. True to his word, Lemon hitched up the trailer and the pick-up was on the mainland a couple of weeks later.

What Lemon didn’t realize was how bad a shape it was in. Once the pick-up was fully stripped and examined, the call was made to the Ogdens to let them know the truck should really be discarded and a search be made for a new donor, as the rust was so extensive. But the Ogdens insisted that they wanted to go ahead and restore their old friend’s truck.
The biggest challenge of the build was, of course, dealing with all the rust issues. The only original pieces that could be salvaged were the cab, hood and front fenders. The doors and running boards came from a donor parts truck that the Ogdens had, with all the rest coming from parts sourced out by B&N. Of the ten months it took to complete the project, the majority of the time was spent replacing or fabricating new parts for the body.

The engine, which Lemon describes as the “heart and soul of the truck,” gave the builders much heartache as well. After trying three different motors without success, they turned to B&J Machine Shop located next to their facility to re-build the seized 1949 Mercury Flathead V8 that Tommy Ross himself had installed after the original motor had packed it in.

Next, the attention went to the paint which the Ogdens chose a Viper purple which was sprayed by Ed Koopmans and really makes the trim stand out. Speaking of the trim, many may have noticed this ‘40 looks more like a 1941 based on that trim. And you would be right as, although it has always been registered as a ’40, much of the trim came from a ’41. The grey interior that matches perfectly was designed and installed by Inside Edge Upholstery in Maple Ridge.
Although it was quite the feat to finish off this truck, the Ogdens are very proud of how this forty-something gem turned out, and that they could do it in memory of a good friend.

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