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Editor's note: This is part of a series at KSL.com featuring some of Utah's coolest cars. If you own a customized vehicle — from sports cars to semitrucks — email fjolley@ksl.com with a photo of the vehicle and a brief description for consideration.SALT LAKE CITY — Two years ago, Terry Pilon and P.J. Riley were complete strangers. Today, they carry on Riley’s father’s legacy, with the help of his 1979 Chevy C10 show truck.
It’s hard to decide which is more noteworthy — the ’79 Chevy or the story of how Pilon and Riley built a bond of respect and trust through the classic truck. Both of these components go hand-in-hand, and each helps to make the other a little more beautiful.
For Pilon, the story began in 2010. Pilon was involved in a serious car accident that left him with a head injury that threw off his equilibrium. Pilon was forced to give up his passion — riding his 1999 Harley-Davidson Fatboy. Pilon listed the Fatboy, which only had 300 miles on it, and the Herriman resident was later approached by Riley.
Riley’s father, who had spent a good portion of his time restoring vehicles, passed away 18 years ago after succumbing to cancer. He left behind his pristine ’79 Chevy to Riley. The truck spent nearly all of its time since then in Riley’s garage, as he was wary of driving it for fear of damaging it.
“He thought that if he put a scratch on it, his dad would rain down hell and fury from heaven above,” Pilon said.
Then in 2016, Riley came into contact with Pilon and proposed a straight-across swap — his ’79 Chevy for Pilon’s Harley. Pilon agreed and his new passion was born. Pilon and his family now show the Chevy at car shows all over the state, and they do so in honor of Riley’s father.
The Chevy, nicknamed “Ol’ Root Beer,” still retains its Arizona license plates. A plate with the Arizona flag in front and a vanity plate reading “PJSDREAM” in back are kept handy by Pilon. The truck is licensed in Utah, but Pilon swaps out the plates to display the originals when the truck arrives at shows. The Chevy was the last vehicle that Riley’s father restored before he passed away.
The ’79 C10 is unique. Ol’ Root Beer stands out for its premier condition. It’s rare to find square body trucks that have been restored and cared for as well as the Chevy.
Underneath the hood of the Chevy sits a modified 350 engine. The truck’s engine compartment is “big enough to sleep in,” according to Pilon. The chrome and aluminum engine is not just clean enough to eat off — it’s clean enough for a surgeon to store his tools on. Pilon spends time polishing everything underneath the hood in preparation for shows.
The truck is loud, just as you would expect it to be. Pilon proudly spoke of how it won a trophy for having the loudest engine, clocking in at 110 decibels. That’s especially impressive considering the Chevy has a muffler; the only other vehicle to top him at the show was uncapped, Pilon said.
Its glistening copper and root beer paint job pops. Pilon estimates that over $20,000 have been put into the paint job in total. He refuses to allow any soap to touch the truck’s paint, washing it solely with water. No chemicals come into contact with the ’79 Chevy aside from Armor All and tire dressing.
The interior is just as nice as the exterior. The paint on the inside is matched to the body paint, and its aftermarket tan Recaro seats provide a clean look and are very comfortable.
To keep the ’79 Chevy in tip-top shape, Pilon keeps it off the road. The Chevy is only driven to shows and back. Pilon’s favorite shows to enter the Chevy in are cruise nights, such as those at Jim’s Restaurant, Freddy’s, Valentine Pub and Cruising for Kids. The Memorial Day Cruise In and Veteran’s Show are also places where the Chevy has taken home awards. Best of Show and People’s Choice trophies have all been won by Ol’ Root Beer at these car shows.
“I don’t care about the awards as much as I care about the story behind the truck,” Pilon said. “My goal is to have at least five people at each show stop and talk to me and hear that story. That means there’s five more people out there that are going ‘Oh my gosh, what a fantastic story.’”
Pilon has been into classic cars for over 30 years, as he owned an auto body shop for two decades. The father of four is currently working on restoring a 1939 Ford Pickup. Pilon takes pride in envisioning Riley’s father’s appreciation for sustaining his legacy.
“I like to think that he’s shining down on us,” Pilon said. “The story behind the truck is just as responsible as its beauty for the awards that it has won.”
Wes Mangum is a Utah State University student and a citizen of Logan. He can change his own oil and always keeps his blinker fluid reservoir full. Wes can be reached on Twitter @hjmangum or by email at mangum953@gmail.com.
