The Old Ford

The Old Ford is a heartfelt tribute to a rugged little truck that has survived fire duty, family misadventures, mechanical overhauls, and the passage of nearly a century—86 of its years in one family.

Manufactured in Long Beach in 1932, the Ford began its service with the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department. By 1939, it had passed into the hands of the Bullock family, purchased in a trade involving a Model A and a saddle horse. What followed was a lifetime of memories—starting with dirt roads, hunting trips, and engine swaps, and ending with a painstaking, multi-year restoration.

Told with warmth, wit, and vivid detail, The Old Ford is more than a restoration story. It’s a personal journey through California’s Central Coast history, a boyhood forged in grease and gasoline, and a tribute to a father’s practical wisdom and mechanical grit. Along the way, readers will meet colorful characters, from hardware store fix-it men to a possum with questionable taste in nesting sites.

Packed with over 40 color photographs, this book is perfect for vintage car lovers, restoration buffs, and anyone who understands the bond between a family and their vehicle. Whether it’s welding a cracked fender or remembering the thrill of fording streams, The Old Ford reminds us that the best stories aren’t always found on the open road—but in the garage out back.