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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 vvo-duc@deseretdigital.com with a photo of the vehicle and a brief description for consideration.SALT LAKE CITY — Michael “Jolly” Goodfellow has always liked oddball stuff. He has also always liked old trucks and car shows — that makes his 1965 GMC Rescue a perfect fit.
He owned a 1962 GMC Suburban years ago and was a fan of the Big-Block V-6s engines. GMC made the big sixes in five sizes from 1959-1974, from 305 to 478 cubic inches.
Manville, New Jersey’s Volunteer First Aid and Rescue put its vehicle up for sale in 2000, but Goodfellow didn’t have the money to buy it then. He believes Manville put the rescue back into service until 2004 when it was retired after almost 40 years on the team.
In 2012, Goodfellow saw it for sale again and made his move. One of his old-truck-fan friends offered to haul it out west for a dollar a mile if “Jolly” could be flexible on the delivery time.
Goodfellow was, and he got his rescue with 8,021 miles on the odometer.
Goodfellow had to do some work to make up for the years of sitting, including brake and clutch cylinders. Due to the modified body, the fuel filler hose was in the cab. He moved that, which cleared the cab from fumes.
Aside from basic maintenance, Goodfellow said he has done little to the truck, keeping it as it was “a historical piece of equipment,” as he called it. It has the original 305-inch V-6 with a four-speed manual transmission. He said it was built for torque, not speed, but gets going pretty good on the freeway.
Goodfellow likes taking the rescue to car shows and cruise-ins, showing it off and telling people about its history. He clarifies to people that it is a rescue truck, not an ambulance, comparing it to Squad 51 from the 1970s TV show “Emergency.”
You can catch it when the Northern Utah Graffiti Cruise Nights start up again in April. On the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, Goodfellow has plans to be at Peach City Drive-In in Brigham City. It’s pretty easy to spot.
Brian Champagne has reported on cars for more than nine years. He holds a master's degree in communications from the University of the Pacific and teaches at Utah State University. Contact him at iaabfl@yahoo.com.
