By Darryl Hollenbeck – Images by Tim Sutton
CTP’s Legacy Series is devoted to preserving the history of the hobby, be it legends who paved the way for us today or the trucks that have persevered and/or have been preserved for us to appreciate today … it’s all about the history! This month we pay homage to our close friend Darryl Hollenbeck’s late father Dale’s OG work truck: his ’74 Stepside Squarebody.
Read More: Legacy Series: Pat Ganahl’s 1956 Ford F100
“My dad, Dale Hollenbeck, bought the truck in the late ’80s from Harry Craycroft, a local Bay Area hot rodder, who had bought the truck new in 1974. [Craycroft] customized it for the 1975 (or possibly 1976) Grand National Roadster Show, then held at the Oakland Coliseum (often referred to as the Oakland Roadster Show). Back then it had a vinyl top and a padded tailgate … very ’70s style! Dad got it and removed the vinyl top and added his touches to it: side markers, new taillights, quad headlights, floating bar grille, third brake light, frenched antenna, frenched door locks that open doors, shaved driprails and emblems, and smoothed tailgate replacing the padded one. It was Dale’s daily driver for 30 years, from Concord to Oakland and back.
“Dad’s truck was sold after he [died] to a friend in Reno in 2003 … I always knew where it was and was able to get it back two years ago—just one year before my mom, Carol, [died].
“I have been slowly fixing a few minor things and making it my own with honor to his vision. One of my fondest memories, besides working with my dad, was commuting to work with him toward the end of his career and looking at the glovebox in the truck that he had someone paint, giggling to myself how cool it was. Now, many years later, every time I look at the glovebox of the truck I get that same feeling.”
Click on this issue’s cover to see the enhanced digital version of LEGACY SERIES: The Dale Hollenbeck Chevy Stepside.
