Wheels Galleries

Mark Burks built his super-clean '36 Ford pickup from a $250 hulk back in the early 1990s, but put it away when he and his wife started a family. With their kids now in their teens, he has brought the Caribbean Turquoise beauty back out to enjoy in the light of day.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Mark Burks

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

There's something to be said for clean and straightforward engine bays, and the 350 Chevy V-8 with color-keyed accessories clearly makes that point.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Burks lucked out when he found a narrowed 9-inch rear end and custom suspension set up for an Opel GT drag car in a salvage yard. The huge 18-1/2-inch Hoosier tires fill the wheel tubs, and the 2.73 rear gears let the truck cruise at interstate speeds with ease.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Rick Fisher of Augusta did the two-tone gray upholstery in the cab of the turquoise truck. Burks has no idea where the seats originated, other than to say that he found them stashed in the back end of an old school bus in a salvage yard.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

The bed of the truck was left open intentionally to show off the wheel tubs and the custom-built fuel cell. Burks created his own slotted tail lights by drilling holes in a steel panel, cutting slots with a torch and then painstakingly filing them smooth.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

A former drag racer, Burks opted for a set of massive 15-inch Centerline wheels mounting 29-inch-tall x 18.5-inch-wide Hoosier street tires.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

A matching set of Convo Pro Centerline racing wheels are used up front, running 165x80x15R Nankang tires.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Rob Holzman crafted the 12-gallon fuel cell, which is good for about 130-140 miles per fill-up.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Original window cranks and door handles were retained, to help preserve the vintage flavor of the truck.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

A 4-spoke Lecarra steering wheel mounts to a '74 Trans Am steering column, which in turn connects to a '69 Mustang steering box.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Burks said he splurged and bought aftermarket billet dash inserts and filled up the driver's side piece with a set of white-faced VDO gauges.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

The passenger-side glove box insert houses a small clock, while Vintage Air air-conditioning vents occupy the corners of the dashboard.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Burks said he is glad he listened to his wife, Jana, when it came time to pick a paint color. He was leaning toward red or yellow, but she suggested something different. Rick Miller sprayed the basecoat/clearcoat Caribbean Turquoise, a 1964 Ford pickup shade.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle