Back around '55 when my father was hired by Green Giant Company (GGC) he was thrilled! However the employment came with a catch. He had to have a pickup. He purchased a '52 five window half ton with three on the tree for $800. My mother used to talk about the purchase and that she was literally sick to her stomach as they had to borrow the money and at the time that was an awful lot of money!
During pea harvest my father often worked 16+ hour days and they were able to pay for the pickup at the end of the first harvest.
Dad later put a four speed on the floor in it and drove it for years. In fact that's the rig I learned how to drive a clutch in.
Dad sold it in 1966 for $200 when he purchased a used 1965 Chevy pickup from GGC for $1500 (they used to buy new rigs every year). Then in 1975 dad sold the GGC rig for $800 and bought a brand new Chevy 4X4 pickup. He drove the '75 for 20 years and then let my youngest brother have it and much to the disbelief of the family he bought a Ford Ranger!! :banghead:
After dad passed mom traded in the Ford and her car to get a new Chrysler. Mom was only 5 ft 2" tall and the Chrysler's had electric seats that not only went back and forth but up and down. So then mom could see the road better.
How I fondly recall these events, damn I wish I had that medium blue '52 five window! Oh Well.