40 Tries

Not many things these days have stood the test of time for 70 years except, maybe Grandmas secret cookie recipe.  At some point, something was changed or tweaked or just went away.  Whether it’s technology, ingredients or marketing, there is always “the next best thing” that may or may not succeed in replacing the original.  I’m guessing by now, when you flipped the page and saw the bright yellow truck in the pictures and the big WD-40 logo on the door, you can already see where this article is headed.  We all have a can, many of us have multiples, in the garage, under the sink, in the utility room.  Some of us might have to hunt for it when that one hinge on the screen door starts to squeak, but you know you have a can somewhere.  17 minutes of searching for a 2 second spray of WD40 to quiet that hinge for the next several months.  Water Displacement and 40 attempts to get the recipe correct is the meaning behind this label we all have come to associate with stopping squeaks.

At the time of this article, the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) had just ended in Las Vegas.  Besides being a show filled with all the latest and greatest from thousands of manufacturers both small and large, it’s also a fund raiser for various charities.  SEMA Cares is one such charity that donates its proceeds to various children’s programs, this year the WD-40 truck which will be auctioned off in 2022 on bringatrailer.com, was built to benefit Childhelp which is an organization to prevent and treat child abuse. 

Trad Ronfeldt of Team Racing and Development is the builder of this old school one of a kind truck.  Starting with a 1951 Chevrolet 3100 truck, it was of course gutted and torn down.  A custom utility storage box that can house a variety of WD-40 products was designed, fabbed and welded up.  The 92 hp 216 ci 6 cylinder was turned into a boat anchor and replaced with a ground pounding 600 horse 383 small block and a 4L60 trans, no “stump puller/granny low” stick shift anymore!  Holley Sniper on the top half of the engine to feed and help it breathe at the same time.

Yes, that’s a dualie rear end under there.  A custom frame and chassis was handmade since you can’t just call up your favorite chassis company and order this set up for early Chevy trucks.  A Dana 60 with bullet proof Currie Enterprises components holds the 4 rear tires and wheels in place. 

Inside you’ll find a custom bench seat wrapped in distressed leather, and period correct Dakota Digital RTX gauges.  Outside that’s a custom patina paint job to give you the visual of wear and tear from mother nature and the abuse that was dished out to a hard-working truck.  There’s a perfect blend of old and new school in this build.  And I’d bet a paycheck that it doesn’t squeak, now, or ever!