READERS AND THIER RIGS - JUNE 2009
BACK HOME AGAIN
AMERICO FOGLIO RESTORES HIS FIRST DIESEL
This month’s “Readers & Their Rigs” comes to us from Americo Foglio of Fresno, California. Actually, mechanic Tommy “Jamie” Allen was the first one to contact us and send some pictures. Back in 1954, Americo bought this Peterbilt 281 new - it was his first diesel truck. Years later, after going through several owners, he found it rusting away in a yard in Madera and bought it back. Once it was back home again, he had it restored to a “better than new” condition.
Americo, now 83 years old, spent his whole life farming and trucking. In 1944, he bought his first truck - a gasoline-powered Dodge flatbed. Later, he bought a second Dodge, but in 1954 he decided to buy a diesel truck and purchased the Peterbilt 281 pictured here new from the local dealer in Fresno. Americo used this truck for fifteen years, hauling all sorts of ag-related products like grapes, raisins, sugar beets and hay, just to name a few. Eventually, the truck was sold to a neighbor and replaced.
Over the years, Americo owned a lot of trucks. At one time, his fleet consisted of 22 trucks, mostly Freightliner cabovers, but this old Peterbilt conventional was always his favorite. The truck was sold several times to several of Americo’s neighbors, but always used to haul ag products. Its last owner, the Pistoresi family, used it to haul grapes until about 2002. After that, it was just parked in their yard where it sat for a few years. When Americo found it, he had a tough time convincing them to sell it to him, but after a year of negotiations, the Peterbilt found its way back home. But it was in pretty bad shape!
Looking to restore the Peterbilt themselves, in-house mechanic Jamie Allen went to work on the project, but quickly realized that it would be more work than he could handle on his own, so they took the truck to Golden State Peterbilt in Fresno, where much of the work was done. The project took a year and a half to complete.
The Peterbilt originally came with a 220 Cummins and a 4+4 trans, but its’ second owner re-powered it with a 330 Cummins and a more modern 13-speed transmission. Years later, in the 1990’s, Pistoresi had the 330 rebuilt, which is still in it today and going strong. Jess and the folks at Golden State Peterbilt rebuilt the hood and front fenders, reskinned the aluminum doors, and then painted the truck in Americo’s company colors - white with turquoise fenders, frame, roof and accent stripe. After they painted the truck, they sprayed clear, laced with silver metallic flakes, over the plain colors, which really made them pop. Other exterior details include an original louvered grill (which actually works), 6” Dynaflex pipes, new glass, a wide bumper, painted tanks and polished wheels.
Not to be outdone by the truck’s exterior, the interior was completely redone by Cal Fast in Fresno. The seats, door panels, and headliner were covered with black tweed, and the dash was painted black with silver metallic flakes. All of the gauges and switches were replaced, and the entire truck was re-wired.
Americo retired from trucking some 25 years ago and passed the company to one of his son’s, Americo Junior, who now operates about 18 trucks and the farm (grapes). After retiring, Americo and his wife Ann moved to a huge ranch in the mountains and raised cattle for about 20 years, but four years ago moved back to the farm in Fresno to be near their family. The two have been married since 1946 and have 6 children, 18 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandkids. Today, Americo is happy to be back on the farm with his family - and, he is happy that his favorite Peterbilt truck is back home again, too.