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1962 Chevrolet panel truck remains on the job

Trucks, whether new or old, are meant for work. John Dougherty sure gets that when it comes to his 1962 Chevrolet panel truck.

The vehicle's age hasn't deterred the Palatine resident one bit from putting it to hard use; he's even got “WRK TRK” license plates to alert passing motorists this bow tie is no trailer queen and still on the job.

Dougherty spent more than two decades searching for the right vehicle, eventually locating this one in 2003 in Rogers, Arkansas, where it had been an electrician's truck.

“I've had a lot of other trucks over the years but I like panel trucks the most,” Dougherty said. “All that interior space gives me the room I need. With pickups, you're confined to tighter quarters.”

When Dougherty took ownership, the vehicle was painted primer gray and was equipped with its original straight six-cylinder engine. The front passenger rode on a flip-down jump seat. While it wasn't pretty, it was still capable and road-worthy and Dougherty put it right to use.

He drove it for the next seven years, accumulating more than 100,000 miles. When 2010 rolled around, Dougherty set about giving his panel truck a complete overhaul.

The full refresh included numerous custom, cosmetic and performance touches. Subtle body modifications abound and include components sourced from other classic rides. The stock Chevy hood was dressed up with a tachometer off a 1969 Pontiac GTO and a hood scoop from a 1959 Ford Thunderbird. A grille “beauty bar” made for a 1957 Chevrolet coupe was installed between the quad headlights and the exhaust was rerouted to dump out on the sides of the vehicle.

The fabrication carried into the interior where a custom center console was installed, complete with a navigation system and screen. The stock seats were swapped for heated and powered units from a 2001 Tahoe. To give the seats a retro look, the headrests were removed, making them look more like traditional 1960s bucket seats.

While the factory would have left all the rear cargo space unfinished, Dougherty upholstered it for a more complete look.

Looking good is only half the equation with a vehicle like this; having a fast and rock-solid powertrain is necessary, too. A 520 horsepower, LS3 V-8 engine was added, along with disc brakes hidden behind “salt flat” wheels.

You'll need to think again if you're under the impression all this custom work would entice Dougherty to keep his rig off the road. Before everything was perfectly dialed in, he was behind the wheel and on the move.

“The engine was installed just before Thanksgiving 2013,” Dougherty said. “After a local test run of 100 miles, my wife, dog and I jumped in on Thanksgiving morning and drove south.”

The family drove through snow here in Illinois, plowed through freezing rain around Kentucky and Nashville, continued past Lookout Mountain in Georgia, finally emerging at their destination of Florida. “It was quite a break-in but everything performed flawlessly,” Dougherty said.

Since that trip, Dougherty has driven the truck around the country to such places as Texas, New York and even back to Florida on occasion. He's installed a trailer hitch and tows trailers loaded with other classic vehicles, as well as heavy work equipment.

“I deliberately picked an engine and other components that added performance but also ones that are readily found,” Dougherty said. “That way, no matter where I'm at in the country, I can stop at any parts store and pick up anything I need.”

• Email comments, suggestions to auto@dailyherald.com.

The restoration and customization project was completed in 2013.
In addition to a new center console, heated and powered seats out of a 2001 Chevy Tahoe have been added to the interior.
Though highly customized, Dougherty remembers what his truck was designed to do.
The panel truck was previously driven by an electrician and sported gray primer when Dougherty purchased it in 2003.
Dougherty has customized his truck, adding touches like this tachometer off a 1969 Pontiac GTO.
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