Eye Candy: Vintage Custom Ford Truck Keeps ’60s Style Alive
Wild ‘Crème De Menthe’ truck is a real piece of custom design history.
Even if you weren’t around in the ’50s and ’60s, you undoubtedly know a custom from that period when you see one. Anybody who knows anything about car culture knows who Ed Roth and George Barris are, after all. And their wild creations still stand out today as some of the most uniquely styled vehicles ever created. Generally, these customs were built with cars, not trucks. But there are a few pickups out there with those easily recognizable styling cues.
Like this 1941 Ford truck, otherwise known as “Crème De Menthe.” In its first iteration, the truck appeared in yellow at the 1962 San Mateo Auto Show. But only one year later it reappeared at the same show, this time with dark green paint. And hence, both the new name and the new look stuck for good. But after many years of neglect, the once show worthy truck slowly turned into a rusty basketcase.
That’s when Steve McClain found the forgotten Ford at a swap meet. The allure of the classic custom was strong, leading McClain to trade an unfinished project for a new one. Thankfully, he stayed true to the truck’s original design. Thanks in large part to a group of folks who remembered the truck and provided McClain with original photos and a magazine spread to use as a template.
Today, the old Ford truck is back to its original glory. And thanks to an awesome profile and write up by Hot Rod, we can experience the journey it’s traveled over the last 50+ years. Because, after all, a truck with such a unique look should have an equally unique story to go with it.
