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WAYNESVILLE— Mark Sundell is no stranger the world of automotives. A mechanic by trade, Sundell has spent plenty of hours with the four-wheeled vehicles that make the world go round.
It comes as no surprise then that Sundell carries his love for things that go vroom home with him.
His own garage is a testament to his love of cars. Sitting inside it after all, is a toy he’s always wanted— a hot rod.
The 1937 Chevy Truck is no ordinary truck. Not only does it not look quite like it did when it rolled off the assembly line 73 years ago, it also has a few modern amenities, including a 350 Chevy engine, a Hilborn fuel injection system and a 4L80E transmission. In short, Sundell is riding in style.
Like most car rebuild projects, there’s a story behind the man, and the car.
“I’ve always wanted a hot rod,” Sundell explained, sharing that he purchased the ‘37 truck from a person he knew after several years of asking for it to be sold to him.
“Finally, he called me one day and said he’d sell it to me,” Sundell said. That was nearly 10 years ago, and since then the truck has come a long way. The first five years, Sundell shared, he drove it as an original before deciding he wanted to do something more.
It’s time and labor intensive work to rebuild a car, but that’s what Sundell decided to do. Five years later, he’s received the NAPA Trick Truck award and is up for national award that only six vehicles from the United States are selected to compete for each year.
The truck, besides its upgraded mechanical parts, has a new front and suicide doors.
“It’s just different looking,” Sundell said, explaining its appeal. “People who know what a ‘37 truck look like can tell that this one’s different.”
Some might consider the new look a little unusual, but that’s OK by Sundell, who said he wanted it have a certain ‘racy’ appearance.
“I wanted to make it look a little more racy,” he said. “Most of the changes are in the nose.”
People at shows the truck has travelled to seem to like the changes. Sundell said he’s heard plenty of comments in the positive about the changes. Then there are those who are true to the original style, but even they’ve said the truck is one good-looking ride.
WAYNESVILLE— Mark Sundell is no stranger the world of automotives. A mechanic by trade, Sundell has spent plenty of hours with the four-wheeled vehicles that make the world go round.
It comes as no surprise then that Sundell carries his love for things that go vroom home with him.
His own garage is a testament to his love of cars. Sitting inside it after all, is a toy he’s always wanted— a hot rod.
The 1937 Chevy Truck is no ordinary truck. Not only does it not look quite like it did when it rolled off the assembly line 73 years ago, it also has a few modern amenities, including a 350 Chevy engine, a Hilborn fuel injection system and a 4L80E transmission. In short, Sundell is riding in style.
Like most car rebuild projects, there’s a story behind the man, and the car.
“I’ve always wanted a hot rod,” Sundell explained, sharing that he purchased the ‘37 truck from a person he knew after several years of asking for it to be sold to him.
“Finally, he called me one day and said he’d sell it to me,” Sundell said. That was nearly 10 years ago, and since then the truck has come a long way. The first five years, Sundell shared, he drove it as an original before deciding he wanted to do something more.
It’s time and labor intensive work to rebuild a car, but that’s what Sundell decided to do. Five years later, he’s received the NAPA Trick Truck award and is up for national award that only six vehicles from the United States are selected to compete for each year.
The truck, besides its upgraded mechanical parts, has a new front and suicide doors.
“It’s just different looking,” Sundell said, explaining its appeal. “People who know what a ‘37 truck look like can tell that this one’s different.”
Some might consider the new look a little unusual, but that’s OK by Sundell, who said he wanted it have a certain ‘racy’ appearance.
“I wanted to make it look a little more racy,” he said. “Most of the changes are in the nose.”
People at shows the truck has travelled to seem to like the changes. Sundell said he’s heard plenty of comments in the positive about the changes. Then there are those who are true to the original style, but even they’ve said the truck is one good-looking ride.
From old to “new”
Five years of work and a lot of custom parts brought the truck to where it is today.
Though Sundell did a lot of of the work himself— “Every nut and bolt on there, I’ve had a hand on,” he said— there’s been some help along the way.
Friend Bobby Dunn did a beautiful paint job, Sundell said, and also assisted him with the rebuild. A man in Kansas City did the creamy leather upholstery and the chrome was all completed in St. Louis. A few items came from California, but the majority of the “outsourced” items, Sundell said he tried to keep in-state.
“It didn’t seem like it was ever going to be finished,” he said. But a few hours each night and some weekends paid off. Now, Sundell is working on the trailer that he plans to pull behind it.
“The plan is to drive it next year to show and have a little bit more fun,” he said. Currently, the truck is towed in a trailer to its appearances across the country.
As for that national award he’s up for, Sundell couldn’t be happier. The results will come in October.
“That’s pretty good for a couple of guys from Missouri, from Waynesville,” he said.
Sundell’s not sure if there will be another project on the horizon, but does know that if he starts one, he’ll make it a little easier on himself.
“Next time I do one it will be something you can buy parts for,” he said. “Just about everything on this truck you can’t buy.”
