Shell Oil trucks have been delivery oil to local gas stations in the Buckeye area since the 1920’s. The Shell Station in Downtown Buckeye was operated as a service station when it was typical for a service technician to wash your windshield and fill up your tank. City of Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn interviews Ernie Smith the new owner of the Shell Station in the video below produced by Bryan Heiden.
Ernie’s got plans! He wants to bring out the sombrero and revamp the station with fresh paint, murals, 1950’s inspired murals and shah nah nah hits as you are filling up for gas! You can pick up a fountain drink, bags of endless snacks and ice cream in the convenient store. Everyone knows who you are and who you are going out with at this station!
Sombrero Shell, 501 East Monroe, Buckeye, Arizona, 623-386-2221
Stream lined steel against prickly saguaros bouncing along a lonely highway in a Chevy Apache truck with Duane Eddy, Hard Times playing on the radio. Where did this 1950’s Task Force classic go in Arizona? How many drive in movies, construction sites or big flat tires in the middle of nowhere did it carry? This truck supposedly came originally from California and rode out to Arizona and then bought from Donnie Gideon of Arizona Gin Supply.
Donnie Gideon of Buckeye
Arizona Gin Supply has been rebuilding cotton gins in Buckeye and world wide since 1973. With his Get It Done Right spirit, Donnie was able to bring this 1959 Chevrolet Apache Truck back to the living!
Stacy Gideon at Arizona Gin Supply
“We just started tearing things apart and fixing what we could”, says Donnie when he first bought the truck in 2016. All the body parts are original. Nothing had to be after market. The body was sanded down, primed and painted indigo blue. There were redundant power wires that had to be pulled out and a new fuse box was installed. “There are a few employees at O’ReillyAuto Parts that really know older vehicles!” said Donnie when he revealed where he bought the majority of the parts for this Work Force Truck fix up.
Before Restoration
Donnie, who likes the feel of an old car but still wants to be safe, added subtle things to the engine that you would never see unless you pop the hood. If someone walked up to the truck it would take them a minute to realize original features have been changed. He added custom flame brackets, blue accent lights, air conditioning and other safety features to the truck. He restored the truck back to the 50’s as best he could.
Custom Steel Flame
“It’s got the original 235 engine. These trucks you don’t drive you,YOU herd them between the lines.”, said Donnie.
Custom Bracket Holds Everything In
He put a lot of money and time into the suspension, he didn’t want to loose all the hard work just because he hit a pot hole. Donnie depends on the experts like Alyron Customs of Tonopah, AZ who do upholstery and Guillermo Lopez, 623-449-2608 Auto & Diesel mechanic of Buckeye, Arizona. Donnie also works with Contempo Upholstery located on the same property as Arizona Gin Supply. Some parts also came from Napa Auto Partsof Buckeye.
Chevy Apache Interior
If your an automobilia fan like Donnie Gideon, you want to see more of these old cars driving on the road here in Historic Downtown Buckeye, Arizona. “There were some really cool cars driving in Buckeye in the 1950’s – we got to get them out driving again!” Donnie and other Buckeye locals are starting up Buckeye Cruisers, a club for automobilia enthusiasts.
You will have your chance to drive your old car, truck, import, motorcycle or bicycle at the Buckeye OktoberfestCar Show October 13, 2018 in front of Buckeye City Hall, 530 East Monroe Avenue, registration is 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. and the show ends at 1 p.m.
Jim and Peggy Henson dominated the Buckeye Car Shows of the past with their hot plum passion 1982 Chevrolet El Camino. Jim passed away this year. Peggy must carry the load now just like the Ford Ranchero pickup or as Ford Australia coupe provided, “a vehicle to go to church in on a Sunday and carry the pigs to market on Monday.” After 15 years of showing the El Camino, this October 7, 2017 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be the final appearance of the 1982 Chevrolet El Camino with crosshatch grille flanked by rectangular headlights. The Buckeye Oktoberfest Car Show will be at the Buckeye City Hall Plaza and parking lot at 530 East Monroe in Historic Downtown Buckeye, Arizona. There will be a First Prize for each class and Best of Show. All participants bring their spiffed up trucks, imports, motorcycles and bicycles at 7 a.m.- 9 a.m. to register.
Peggy Henson’s Purple El Camino
Are you from Arizona, if not how long have you lived in Arizona?
I am not from Arizona. I was born in Nebraska and at the age of 13 I moved with my family to Idaho. I left Idaho in 1978 to settle in Arizona.
What year and model is your El Camino. Does El Camino have a name?
The El Camino is a 1982. No, “she” doesn’t have a name.
Is your El Camino original or custom?
What makes the El Camino custom is first of all, the beautiful Plum Passion DuPont hot hues paint. The chrome in the engine compartment is blinding or at least eye catching. The turned steel dash is unusual but I think adds a classy touch. Much of the detail was Jim’s vision and it just so happened I liked his idea about nearly everything. This beauty will be sold this year to someone I hope will care for it as much as we did. It’s just not the same without Jim, may he RIP.
Do you always wear purple? Why do you love purple so much?
I always wear purple at the car shows. I only like a rich deep purple like the color of the El Camino. Most other shades of purple I do not care for.
Peggy Henson 2015 Buckeye Car Show
When you take your El Camino for a spin, what tunes are playing?
Radio station would be Kool 94.5 or I could be blaring a country CD.
What do you like best about the Buckeye Car Show?
We began to show the car during its restoration about 15 years ago. Settling in Arlington, Buckeye was the closest car show. I like Buckeye’s car shows because the people are friendly and easy to talk to. I think David and his group has done a good job keeping the show moving and interacting with the crowd.
