The “DPV North” State of the Union: Too Many Projects or Just Enough Fun?

What’s up, guys? Josh here.

You know, there’s a fine line between a “collection” and a “problem,” and after taking a walk through the field and the shop here at DPV North, I think I’m leaning toward… well, let’s just call it a massive amount of potential.

Looking at the fleet, it’s easy to see the “Pain.” There’s rusted floorboards, disintegrated pistons, and enough “no-start” issues to keep us busy until we’re eighty. But when I look at these rigs, I don’t see the work; I see the “Victory.” I see the trips we’re going to take, the laughs we’re going to have when Alex inevitably tries to MacGyver a fuel line out of a garden hose, and the satisfaction of saving another piece of iron from the scrap heap.

The Big Chief is still the heart of the channel. After that brutal run at the Rubicon, it’s got some battle scars (and I’ve got a sliced finger to prove why I need to cap those doors!), but seeing it sitting there with the 3/4-ton axles and that custom windshield frame reminds me why we started this. It’s a puzzle that’s finally coming together.

Then there’s the sentimental side of the shop. The Doodlebug is more than just a makeshift tractor; it’s a piece of my grandpa’s legacy. Every time I look at that fancy upholstery he did or that old grader fuel tank, I’m reminded that resourcefulness is in our DNA. It needs a better rear gear to really act like a tractor, and I’ve got to stop it from spraying oil on the driver, but that’s just part of the charm, right?

We’ve also got the “Ghetto Glyder” (the ’69 Impala) waiting for its new big-block heart, and my wife’s VW Super Beetle—which is just a fuel tank and some interior work away from being the ultimate summer cruiser. Seriously, if you haven’t seen the video of us driving that thing home with a Harbor Freight tarp flapping in the wind, you’re missing out on some peak DPV optimism.

Down in the back field, things get a little… crustier. The ’36 Chevy pickup is a literal basket case (that back piston didn’t just break, it vanished!), but for a hundred bucks, I found a 235 engine that’s going to give it a second lease on life. And don’t even get me started on the ’64 Buick Riviera. It was free, it’s got no floorboards, and the lines are absolutely incredible. We’re thinking eBay turbo and some boost—because why not?

The goal for this year is simple: I want everything on the property to run and drive. Whether it’s swapping transmissions between Suburban “parts rigs” or getting Edith the Behemoth (my daily) some much-needed TLC, we’re going to keep moving forward.

We want to show you that you don’t need a pristine shop or a massive bank account to have a driveway full of dreams. You just need to be willing to get your hands dirty and laugh when the rusty bolts win the first round.

So, which one should we dive into first? The turbo Buick? The ’36 farm truck revival? Let us know.

Wheel it, Wreck it, Wrench it, Repeat!