The Early Bird... Is Worth Saving
Rob Amsler, of Ocklawaha, FL, is the newest owner of this '62 Loadside. Rob purchased it from the estate of Harold Dexter in December, 2020. Rob shared the following that same month:
"I just acquired this '62 Loadside, along with a '61 Loadside Deluxe, and a '62 Corvan, from Harold Dexter's grandson. I plan to do a rotisserie restoration on the '62. It has serious rust and will likely require some significant donor vehicle contributions. All I have done so far is clean it up, by removing 15-20 years of raccoon (or some other critter) feces in the bed, and then giving it a nice power wash.
The original engine is gone but I have a '62 FC 80 HP engine that I will install in the Loadside (code V). The transmission and differential appear to be original."
This Loadside was produced during the first month of '62 production and has the lowest VIN of any known surviving '62 Loadside from either Flint or St. Louis, so it's definitely worth the effort that Rob is faced with putting into it.
In July, 2024, Rob sent this update:
"The rebuild required a lot of metal work, both sheetmetal and structural, including NOS doglegs, NOS rear fenders and side panels, and a NOS door. Paint and bodywork are complete and we are hoping to finish the drivetrain in the next few months, followed by complete re-wiring.
This is a period-correct restoration in the original Glenwood Green. The truck was delivered without a stripe but I thought it looked better with one so we added the Ermine White stripe.
I will send more photos when it is completed."
Rob shared this photo from March, 2024 showing the completed body and paint work:
Rob shared the following pictures in December, 2020, before the restoration began:
Information from the data plate
Description |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
STD |
Standard equipment |
503 |
Glenwood (Lt.) Green, solid color |
(Click on a heading in the table for more information on that item.)