1936 Dodge Pickup Restoration Ratrod 1
1936 Dodge Pickup Restoration Ratrod 2
1936 Dodge Pickup Restoration Ratrod 3
1936 Dodge Pickup Restoration Ratrod 4
1936 Dodge Pickup Restoration Ratrod 5
1936 Dodge Pickup Restoration Ratrod 6

1936 Dodge Pickup Restoration Ratrod

$20,000

This project took 7 years to complete. We are only able to upload 6 pictures for a folder-you can imagine how many I have for something that took 7 years to finish. The truck was a complete frame off and I chopped the top 2 inches, slanted the cab, changed the doors to the suicide position and lowered the truck several inches. The bed had to be made from scratch-the original was too badly damaged to use. Much of my sheet metal and tig welding skills were fine tuned on this truck. I did both the leather work inside as well as the cast aluminum steering wheel. It is now my daily driver/work truck.

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Laura Parker

Laura Parker

River Forge Gallery

Sacramento, CA
Member since: 2014
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I am passionate about the creative potential of metal. What attracts me to the working of steel is the exploration of its plastic qualities through direct process; bending, twisting, riveting, joining, etc. There is something sustaining and true about shaping hot metal in much the same way as it was done centuries ago. My work is an exploration of movement or motion. The immediacy and directness of the process encourage spontaneity in my idea development. The forge fire is my “inner center”.
As with most artists I obsess about my work. This "obsession" leads me down many paths, each with a similar purpose: to bend, grind, cut, pour, or otherwise manipulate metal to submit to my creative will. I enjoy adding wood as a compliment to the metal. If I am lucky at the end of the day I have defied gravity and conveyed my message. There are easier materials to work in but there are none that touch the soul as deeply.

I am a tenured professor in the Art Department at American River College. I find that teaching helps keep my ideas fresh because I try to keep my students educated on the "process" of making. I am continuously sharing what I am creating in my studio.

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