Family truck in the shop for 18 months

Justin Lilly, 20, and his father Doug Lilly, left, pose while students from Gary Sobbry's custom auto shop class at Washtenaw Community College detail his 1951 Ford F-1 pickup Wednesday March 5, 2008, in preparation for its trip to Autorama. Justin Lilly, who was on a ventilator as a child and now has only 23 percent of the lung capacity of someone with healthy lungs, asked the Ann Arbor Make-a-Wish chapter if they could line up someone to paint his truck. The group came through and he and a crew of Washtenaw Community College instructors, students and community volunteers spent the past 18 months raising funds and tracking down parts for the truck, which will be on display at Autorama at Cobo Center in Detroit this weekend.



Bob Lowing, 38, of Highland, left, and Scott Malnar, 48, of Southgate, detail the truck in preparation for its trip to Autorama.



Lilly's truck at Washtenaw Community College.



Gary Sobbry's class raised the money to refurbish the truck as a splendid street rod.



A custom auto shop class at Washtenaw Community College led by instructor Gary Sobbry works on Lilly's truck.



Justin Lilly's 1951 Ford pickup before work was started at Washtenaw Community College. He asked the Ann Arbor Make-a-Wish chapter if it could line up someone to paint his truck. The group came through a crew of Washtenaw Community College instructors, students and community volunteers spent the past 18 months raising funds and tracking down parts for the truck.


The frame assembly.


Ford Motor Company helped with parts.


A metal fabricator.

Student sandblasts the back of the cab.

Cab compilation.

Epoxy coated cab.

Dashboard compilation.

The original interior.

The finished interior.

Fender compilation.

Student modifies fender.

Student sands tailgate.

Front end mock-up.

Cab compilation coated with primer paint.

The truck has a 600 horsepower engine.

Chop-top compilation.

Bed compilation.

Final assembly.

Finished bed.

The finished truck.

Finished truck at Washtenaw Community College.

Truck in Las Vegas for a photo shoot.