Kinja's Last Lap: Truck Story - Gather 'round Oppo

"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley) 11/12/2020 at 11:25 • Filed to: COFLWriting, Best of COFL

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!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Without Oppo, I would not have put this back on the road or devoted as much money and attention to it. Thanks everyone.

Some long winded ramblings on my truck, how I got it, how it factors into my life and relationship. I dunno, I’m not a great writer, but hopefully it is interesting to someone out there (I know it’s long).

As many of you know, I registered, insured and drove my truck for the first time this past weekend (November 11, 2017). I had not driven it since August 23, 2013, the day I got married. It’s been an amazing weekend, reliving many memories and good times from before my wife and I got married.

The truck still drives like it did back then, and smells the same too. It really is a five senses experience as we chug along, the noise of the air moving past and the engine surging fill the cabin along with the smell of oil and exhaust, so strong, you can taste it.

Back in my high school days

The rust has gotten a little worse in some places, but from 5mph or 5 feet away, the truck looks pretty sharp still.

I technically got the truck when I was in Grade 7 (2005), when my Grandma passed away. It was hers, although she hadn’t driven it for about 15 years at that point. My grandparents on that side were not well off, the truck is all I have to remember them. My dad and I spent good times fixing it up and turning it into what it is today, lots of junkyard visits and wrenching. Almost every part on the exterior is either new or off a different truck.

When I first got the truck, it was not well taken care of.

I officially got the truck when I was 17 and had my “Novice” drivers license. I took my then girlfriend (now wife) out for the first time in it the day I got my license. Since then, all of our major relationship moments have been in the truck, both good and bad. It took us on our first trips away from home, many dates and carried our Ikea furniture home weeks before our wedding.

Camping

I got married at 21 on August 23, 2013 and got handed the keys to a 2006 Mazda6 as a wedding gift. Life just kinda ramped up from there with a career, schooling and buying our first home.

The truck’s sat ever since my wedding day. Until Saturday, November 11, 2017 when that Slant 6 fired back up again and resumed its duty, taking my wife and I on a date.

The truck on my wedding day

Lots has changed since I last drove it. I have more time and money these days, hopefully the truck can rejoin my wife and I as a part of the family once more.

November 2017

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/14/2017 at 21:48

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I’M NOT CRYING, YOU’RE CRYING.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 11/14/2017 at 21:54

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It was an emotional two days, I’m happy to have it back and running.

Thanks for reading! I really appreciate it

John-Palazzo > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/14/2017 at 22:14

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Beautiful write-up, beautiful truck.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/14/2017 at 22:25

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Beautiful story, sounds like your first car will stay your forever car.

In some ways the story is similar to how I got my first car. After my grandmother died, I got her Peugeot 307, because I almost had my license. I didn’t end up keeping it, because it was way too inefficient, and a bit too big for what I needed (also it was an automatic, while I wanted a manual). However, I traded it in on the Twingo, which will probably be my forever car, and also gives me some feeling of connection to my grandparents, as their car paid for part of it.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 11/14/2017 at 22:30

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I’m glad that my feelings resonate with other Oppo’s, and I’m glad that your grandparents were able to help you get something you love!

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > John-Palazzo 11/14/2017 at 22:30

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Thanks! I appreciate you taking the time to read it!

shop-teacher > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/14/2017 at 23:25

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How did it get so dusty in here?

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > shop-teacher 11/14/2017 at 23:34

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Thanks for taking the time to read!

shop-teacher > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/15/2017 at 07:11

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You’re welcome!

19JRC99 > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/15/2017 at 12:13

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Old trucks really do just work their way into your heart, don’t they?

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > 19JRC99 11/15/2017 at 12:21

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Love for an old truck is like the rust it’s made out of. Once it starts, there is no stopping it.

Spanfeller is a twat > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/15/2017 at 12:36

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Oh isn’t it perfect.....

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Spanfeller is a twat 11/15/2017 at 12:41

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Thanks!

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 02/19/2018 at 11:09

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Jealousy is my favorite color

But seriously, fantastic write-up. I loved every second and it gave me a warm feeling. Either that, or I spilled my breakfast on my lap again.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 02/19/2018 at 11:18

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Thanks for reading and the kind words!

Longtime Lurker > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/12/2020 at 11:36

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This story gets better with age.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/12/2020 at 11:43

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It really does look good and I’m happy to see it gain new life.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 11/12/2020 at 11:45

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I’m happy too! Now that we’re 3 years later and it lives in a dry garage and gets the love it deserves.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/12/2020 at 11:57

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It’s amazing just how special an old truck can become because of the memories associated with it. I’m happy that you’ve since been driving it semi-regularly to keep it in shape. I read the article and *sniff* I really needed that. Thanks for reposting.

The paint in that top photo looks way better than I would expect for having sat outside its whole life. Sure, there’s lots of dents, but fate seems to have been very kind to it.

I hope to one day own my dad’s truck. It’s almost at 300k miles and needs a lot of suspension work but means so much to both him and us for the memories involving it I doubt he will ever sell it. It just keeps trucking. I grew up in the back seat of it so just about all of my childhood is connected to it somehow. 

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 11/12/2020 at 11:59

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The paint was all there, but felt like a chaulk board texture wise.

That’s a nice tundra, love the green.  Those should go for ever!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/12/2020 at 12:09

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I love that truck!

It’s a top trim TRD he bought lightly used as a truck was convenient while he was renovating our home. It’s done everything to road trips (with our family of 5 which wasn’t exactly comfortable) to yanking over trees, gazebos, and bushes to towing trailers and never once complained.

But perhaps the most special memories would be riding in the back on the way to my grandfather’s house every Saturday and falling asleep on the way back as we listened to NPR’s jazz program on 90.1. The smell especially really takes me back.

Though it needs a lot of work. There isn’t much left of the interior, nearly every suspension component is shot, and the paint is beginning to fail.

I still drive it every chance I get. It still looks and drives better than it has any right to after 18 years and 300k miles (480k kms). And that durable V8 will probably never die.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 11/12/2020 at 12:11

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For sure hang onto it, it’ll be worth something some day!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/12/2020 at 12:15

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I never want to sell it. It’s just so special to me. And with such high miles there will always be cleaner chassis out there. I kind of want to see if it can get to 400k. It’s also a blast to drive. It deserves to be driven and used. It’s still used to its full capacity multiple times a year between wood working projects, brush clearing, trailer towing, and dump runs.

Taylor Martin > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 11/12/2020 at 13:09

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That’s lovely dude! It’s incredible how even simple, mundane things like a work truck can hold so much value and meaning in the stories behind it and experiences had with it. Great story, one that’ll pass on through generations I’m sure, as will this truck.