Passion for history fuels North Carolina man’s LJ restore

There’s no shortage of enthusiasts who enjoy restoring old trucks. Some find an old truck that reminds them of a special memory, while others fall in love with a specific make and model. One North Carolina man, however, restored a truck that had been part of most of his life, bringing it back to the glory it had before he ever even set eyes on it.

Dean Jenkins has spent much of his life with a 1951 Mack® Trucks Model LJ in the background. He first started driving the old LJ in 1977 for a friend’s wrecker service. Five years later, that same friend gifted him the old Mack, and Jenkins planned a full restoration for the truck, but like in most cases, everyday life took precedence, and the project was delayed.

Jenkins’ son and grandson pushed him to finally get the restoration project underway, and in 2020, the dream turned into reality as the work commenced. The three generations of Jenkins take immense pride in their direct approach to restoring the truck.

“We did all the work ourselves,” says Jenkins. “The cab is original, but we replaced the rear panel, rewired everything, installed a new interior, but kept the same motor installed by the truck’s second owner.”

Tracing the truck’s ownership became a primary focus. “We know the truck never left North Carolina,” says Jenkins. “It was manufactured in Allentown and brought to North Carolina for the dealership in Ashville. Someone in the state bought it, and it never left. It just went from one North Carolina owner to the next.”

Jenkins says the color changes to the truck over the years hinted at previous owners. Jenkins’ LJ was originally painted red from the manufacturer and was purchased in Ashville, North Carolina, by an unknown buyer who customized it by re-painting the cab in a shade of yellow. Pioneer Welding of Ashville took ownership of the truck as its second owner, while Jenkins’ friend became the third owner before giving it to Jenkins. Jenkins has worked to research who the first owner could have been, and he believes the yellow paint is the crucial clue.

“I think Coca Cola Bottling Company was the original buyer and painted the truck that old Coke yellow color,” says Jenkins.

“The answer is available,” he adds. “I have requested the information. Someone in the Raleigh DMV can pull it. They just need to walk to the back and look through the paperwork.”

By locating some preserved paint under the iconic bulldogs on the hood, Jenkins was able to match the shade during the restoration, and the truck now been returned to its early yellow color. His dream is to confirm the Coca Cola ownership and complete the restore by applying the soft drink mogul’s logo and lettering from the time it was manufactured.

While Jenkins is still waiting for confirmation, he and his family are enjoying the pride the LJ brings them as well as the reaction from others who get to see it at Mack gatherings and social events. His timeless classic proves to be a showstopper for all Mack enthusiasts and has brought him full circle at a Mack family event in August in High Point, North Carolina, celebrating the 125th Anniversary.

“Out of the millions of Macks made, I got to make the Mack birthday celebration with my LJ parked next to a brand-new Pioneer,” says Jenkins. “That’s huge and was just a really proud moment.”