Kansas City Kansas Community College

BEFORE AND AFTER – Students in the high school side of the Auto Collision Repair program at the KCKCC-Technical Education Center began the two-year job of making a donated 1991 Chevrolet pickup and a 1995 Chevrolet into the new “Show Truck” the TEC had on display at this year’s World of Wheels along with a video that showed the rebuilding of the vehicle. (KCKCC Photos by Richard Gravelle)

A pickup truck with 357,000 miles stole some of the thunder from America’s sleekest new vehicles at this year’s World of Wheels at Bartle Hall.

“We took two pickups and built one truck,” said Richard Gravelle, the Auto Collision Repair instructor at the Technical Education Center at Kansas City Kansas Community College who directed the two-year project.

“About three years ago, Gordon Energy and Drainage of Olathe donated two pickups to us, a 1991 Chevrolet and a 1995 Chevrolet. When we got it, the 1991 pickup had 357,000 miles on it. Mechanically it was in great shape but the body was destroyed.”

During the next two years, the auto collision repair program on the high school side used parts from the 1995 to help rebuild the 1991 model. In addition, Gravelle said approximately $4,500 in various parts were donated to the project.

“The high school side did about 90 percent of the body repair work and the post-secondary side finished the body work and painted it,” said Gravelle, the program’s instructor for the past five years. “It’s pretty amazing. It’s not perfect but it shows character and what our students can do.”

Since then the pickup has been a “Show Truck” used to promote the TEC’s Auto Collision Repair program and has been displayed at various car shows and businesses in Leavenworth and the Greater Kansas City area including the World of Wheels where it was parked along side a KCKCC-TEC trailer that showed a video of how student molded the renovated vehicle. “I heard several favorable comments on the original condition of the truck and its present condition as shown on the video,” said Gravelle.

In addition to showing off the new truck, the TEC students heard guest speakers from various automotive businesses including local “hotrod shop” owners as part of Career Day. They were also given the opportunity to see the other cars and exhibits at the annual show.

“Talking to promoters, vocational schools will be invited back next year and we’ll have an even better and more eye-catching display,” promised Gravelle.