Arkansas Rice Hauler

Article by Don Searls

Pictures by Josh Johnson

Can you imagine hauling rice in this 1946 Studebaker truck in east Arkansas?  This one start it’s like as a 2-ton farm truck, with a stake bed made of rail road ties and all.

 

When Kenny Rice of Mabelvale, AR found this truck in Stuttgart, AR, it had been hiding in a barn.  The barn was owned by the same family that bought the truck new.  They used the truck on the family farm hauling rice.

 

When Kenny and some friends got to the farm to pick up the old Stude’ to bring it home, they asked the farmer how they were going to get it on the trailer.  He says, ‘Just drive it up there.’  He had been driving it around on the farm that day reminiscing about the good ole days.  I am betting that if this truck could talk, there are some cool old stories it would tell.

 

The Studebaker build started in March of ’07 and took three years.  During this time the truck received a heart transplant and received a Chevy 350/350 combo and a S10 rear-end.  American Racing Hopster wheels hold the rubber to the pavement and the Hot Hues Harvest Flame paint really make the truck stand out.

 

Kenny took care of most of the work himself and Nathan Hunter at pastime Rod and Kustom painted the truck.  Interior was done by Joe Warren.