“We’re going to do everything we can to get it looking good and as close to what it once was.”
Automotive students and instructors at Francis Tuttle Technology Center are restoring a box truck that has a special place in Route 66 history for the famous road’s centennial.
The truck, which will now undergo extensive repairs at the Francis Tuttle Transportation Technology building, used to belong to artist Bob Waldmire. He painted a mural of Route 66 on the driver’s side of the truck that he acquired in 2007, and it eventually made its way into the possession of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association.
Waldmire took inspiration from history and nature in his art. The character Fillmore from the “Cars” movie franchise is based on Waldmire and his work.
Work to revitalize the box truck are now underway with the help of students and instructors in the Automotive Service Technology and Automotive Collision and Repair Technology programs at the Francis Tuttle Rockwell Campus.
“We hope to keep it moving along quickly,” Auto Collision Instructor Clint Drabek said about the work being done. “We’re going to do everything we can to get it looking good and as close to what it once was.”
After cleaning it up and assessing its needs, Drabek’s class will start the work by removing the truck’s fender, bumper, doors, and body panels. They will remove dents and fill any gaps before giving the truck a new paint job.
Automotive Service Technology classes will work on the wheels and interior repair. It will be fitted with new tires and freshly painted wheels, and Sean Best’s class will clean and repair the brakes and rotors.
Charles Lawson’s Automotive Service class will be in charge of getting the truck running again. The plan is to have it ready to participate in Route 66 Centennial events later in the spring.
Drabek’s involvement in the Route 66 Association inspired the idea to have have Francis Tuttle automotive students work on the truck. President Rhys Martin expressed at a meeting that the association planned to have the Waldmire truck restored, and Drabek said he jumped at the chance.
“The students are excited to work on it,” Drabek said. “I told them the significance of it to Route 66 and how it’s connected to the ‘Cars’ movie.”