Last August the crew at Galpin Auto Sports announced that they had found the lost 1956 Ford F-100 pickup of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. The pickup, which was noteworthy because it was the first custom truck done by Roth. Originally used as advertising for Roth’s pin-striping business, the truck featured a Packard V-8 engine. Roth completed the look with his signature red flame pinstripes and a mural on the tonneau cover along with a host of chrome-plated parts.

The truck had been sitting in a barn in Oklahoma for over 30 years when the former owner contacted Galpin Motors. Which was the exact correct thing to do. Galpin Auto Sports is led by talented car builder and customizer Dave Shuten, the man that believes it is his job to keep Ed Roth’s Spirit alive. Shuten spends most of his time figuring out new ways to introduce Roth’s work to new enthusiasts.

The Galpin Auto Sports team made the three day road trip to check out the truck, buy it, and bring the truck back home for restoration. There was an obvious pride in bringing a major piece of automotive history back to life for safe keeping in the Galpin Auto Sports stable.

Builder Dave Shuten (Left) and Rod Authority fan Craig Maiorana (Right) at the GNRS debut of the Roth pickup restoration.

According to legend, Roth sold the truck to a small used car dealer in the San Fernando Valley sometime in the 1960s. Somewhere along the line it was purchased and driven to Oklahoma, painted green, and used as a farm truck for a number of years. At some point it was determined that it was no longer useful as a farm truck and was stored in a barn for the next 30 years.

The owner, who knew Galpin already had some of Roth’s customs, reached out to the custom shop and asked if they’d like to purchase it. The owner, realizing the value of this vintage truck, felt Galpin could do the best job restoring the truck and giving it a proper home.

The way the truck looked when it was retrieved from Oklahoma.

The truck made it’s restoration debut at this year’s Grand National Roadster Show, where we got our first look at the historic piece. Well done to Dave Shuten and t the crew at Galpin Auto Sports.