Time Capsule

Fred and Jane Struckman’s 1936 Ford Pickup

JON HANSEN

WE’VE ALL HEARD OF RESTORED VEHICLES, BUT WHAT DO YOU CALL SOMETHING THAT’S BEEN REBUILT BETTER THAN IT WAS ORIGINALLY MADE? The word is “resto-mod,” and it’s best applied to Fred and Jane Struckman’s ’36 Ford pickup. The Struckman family lives in the small town of Fulton, Arkansas, and it’s easy to see that the couple enjoys the simpler things in life, like small-town living and antique automobiles. But they don’t like just any old vehicle; they’re specifically drawn to ’30s Ford pickups. Something about the simple lines strikes a chord in the pair, and they finally decided it was time to make one of their very own.

Once they located a suitable ’36 Ford, they agreed to make their truck different from any other. Their goal was to keep it original, but with flair and a few modern-day luxuries hidden throughout the build. Although they hadn’t decided on every change they’d make, there were a few things they were certain that they wanted from day one. Air conditioning, a more comfortable and unique interior, a better overall exterior look, and a powertrain that would make the truck more reliable and fun to drive than the original flathead V-8 was scheduled right off the bat.