Pantaloni Owns Piece Of History With His Classic, Celebrity Truck

The dream truck, however, might soon become history.In addition to its notable history, the truck is novel in the fact that it was restored with equipment that would have been beyond the dreams of any truck owner in ‘49.

With a custom 330-horsepower Barrett V-8 engine and Corvette transmission, the truck is built for keeping pace with the fastest vehicles around. And with air ride suspension, keyless remote-control starter, power windows and seats, custom leather interior and retractable license plate, the vehicle is a showcase of technology that Hank Williams could never have imagined when he drove it in the early 1950s.

Only the frame is original to the truck Williams drove in Paris, Tenn., more than 50 years ago. The rest has been rebuilt (with better equipment than the original) from the tires up, a six-year labor by restoration artist Randy Lucas of Pontiac, Mich.

Pantaloni had never before invested in classic vehicles, but discovered this one through Lucas’ brother-in-law — David Teeter, who operates the Furman Barber Shop on Poinsett Highway.

Pantaloni purchased the truck in July, doesn’t plan on keeping it long, and doesn’t plan to make such investments again. He’s driven it just 12 miles, too nervously to enjoy the truck’s many high-tech features or its sleek paint job.

“I’m not a rich man by any means. It scares me when it’s sitting here. And I’m way too nervous on the road,” says Pantaloni, who expects the truck to sell for about $90,000. “This is a piece of jewelry on four wheels.”