Time Traveller

Cruising Through 41 Years in a Big BlockPowered, LongbedBow Tie Beauty

- Travis Noack

NOSTALGIA. When you have owned a truck for more than 40 years, it’s difficult to not have a lot of it. Memories from the first time it graced your driveway, the many times you cruised it on familiar terrain and the many times you turned wrenches on it with Dad to the customizing stages and how it has evolved over the years all seem to enter the psyche every time the key hits the ignition and the air-fuel mix exits the pipes.

For Charles Mudd of Mesa, Arizona, the bond with his 1972 Chevy C10 longbed couldn’t be stronger. While in the Navy, Charles purchased the truck in 1978 at a local Chevrolet dealership in San Diego where the original owner had just traded it in. The timing was perfect, as Charles as a young man always loved the ’67-’72 body style and at that age gave no mention to a long- versus shortbed. As vehicles shuttle us through time periods in our lives filled with career changes, moves and family life, the C10 did the same for Charles. “His baby,” as it were, no matter what was going on, the truck was a consistent and reliable source of pride, fun and self-fulfillment.