In 1989, Pete Pappas decided that he wanted to find a Model T to restore. He found this one in Wisconsin and traveled to see it. The truck was very rough and incomplete, but it was a good place to start. He trailered it home and dismantled it. He was able to save the frame, motor, rear axel, the suspension and the headlights. He gathered parts from all over the country. Some were used; some were new old stock; and some were reproduction. Pete did all of the work himself except for the paint and had the truck on the road by the summer of 1991. The first show he took it to was the Hoosier Car Show and Swap Meet at the Marion County Fairgrounds. Pete has driven it as far as Rushville, Ind., and tries to get it out as often as possible for short drives. He has put about 2,500 miles on it since its restoration. Pete’s grandfather, Anthony Pappas, had a 1927 Model T pickup before Pete was born. Pete still has his grandfather’s repair manual, which aided him in his restoration. Pete also explained that the truck transmissions were different from the manual transmissions that were in the cars. The transmission is engaged by a foot pedal only and is shifted from low to high with the pedal only. There is no gear shifter in the truck! I invited him to bring his Roadster pickup to our next Southsider Voice cruise-in on Oct. 3 so maybe you will get to see it there. This will be our last cruise-in of the season so I hope we see you there! Until next week, Keep on Cruising! |
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July 2023
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