FEBRUARY 2011 OLD TIME TRUCKS
JOEY’S CHRISTMAS SURPRISE
By Old Truck Nuts John & Shirley Sponholtz
About nine years ago, Joey Annas of Connelly Springs, North Carolina, bought this 1978 Peterbilt cabover and just parked it because he didn’t have the cash to restore it. The old Peterbilt sat in his driveway for several years until his better half, Kip, finally told him to get that thing out of her driveway. A friend took it to his shop, where it sat for several more years waiting its turn. Joey had always helped many of his friends work on their trucks, so they decided to turn the tables on him. While Joey and his wife were out of town for Thanksgiving, a group of his friends decided to get his old truck out of the weeds and start restoring it. They worked hard to have it completed before Christmas and keep it a secret from Joey. The crew went to work installing new batteries, sandblasting the truck, and painting it red. Then they repaired the upholstery, put on new tires, wheels and exhaust, polished everything up, and added many new accessories. They also replaced the bumper, quarter fenders and more – and they did it all in just four weeks! Joey’s friends surprised him at a Christmas party where he was the unsuspecting guest of honor – he was speechless when he saw his “new” truck pull into the driveway. His friends had even documented the restoration with a photo album, which Joey slept with for days. Every morning, Joey looks out his window first thing, just to gaze at his truck!