Words & Photos: Gary Rosier
It all starts quite harmlessly: Your older brother gets a cool car and lets you hang around. You start picking up the lingo, the vibe of all the car shows and friends’ cars too. A buddy of yours gets an “animal” of a car – a big block ’69 Chevelle that’ll roast the tires from one end of the street to the other – and VOILA, you’re hooked!
Such was the case with Anthony Cilenti. He went off in another direction, though, and built himself a street Lifted Mudding Truck. Yes, he used some wrenching skills learned helping others, but built his truck his way. Eventually he too wanted more power, so a 350 Chevy (375hp) found its way into a Toyota truck at an early age (21). It was raced once on the strip to the tune of 13 plus seconds (with 35 inch tires no less!), but Mudding was where his heart was at – that is, until he met his bride of over 31 years now!
As with so many of us, a career and family takes over and other priorities are handled. The hot rod bug was still there, he says, after a 34-and-a-half-year career in the police force in his hometown of Livington, NJ (plus another 30 years as a Volunteer Fireman!). Retirement finally brought a new “toy” for all the cruise-ins around their hometown (2015). Then the big move to Florida (2016) and more everyday FUN!
Anthony and Lynne Cilenti, originally of Livingston, NJ (yes, he met her at a car show!), now own this beautiful ’37 Ford pickup Series 85. The series 85 was so designated because of the 85 horsepower output of its Flathead V-8 originally. New also for ’37 was the rounded design of the cab and unique grill shape.
Searching for this truck had led them through all kinds of classifieds, web-sites, car shows and more. ’55 and ’57 Chevys of all sorts were available, Chevelles too. But while browsing through the sites one day, Lynne lets out a OMG! seeing this Raspberry colored truck. It was love at first sight, and before you knew it, the truck was sitting in their driveway!
It’s powered by a 350/350 Chevy Combo with an Edelbrock 4brl 600 carb, Dual exhausts, chrome accessories and Vintage A/C. A Mustang front end and Camaro 10 bolt rear rounds out the suspension pieces. ’37 Desota bumpers look like they belong. It rolls on a set of Weld wheels (215/60R15’s -front, 225/60R15’s- rear), steered by the 14 inch LeCarra wheel. Lakewood traction bars help plant the rear tires when the need arises.
The plush grey cloth interior was handled by Iowa Auto Interiors of Des Moines, Iowa. It was painted a Raspberry Metalic Dupont Lucite lacquer. Dennis Smith handled the pinstriping. VDO Gauges monitors the vitals and, while the engine makes pretty good music itself, a Kenwood 6 disc CD Changer with 4 Optimus Speakers will play all the oldies you’ll ever want to hear. Power windows, tilt column and the stock but fully operational crank-out front window round out the comfort department.
Anthony is perhaps the most proud of his 30 plus years volunteering with all his Fireman buddies. He misses them, he says, but nothing like his father Pete, who passed away not long ago (2014) – hence the tribute to both proudly displayed on the rear of the truck’s cab.
They are delighted (pun intended!) with how everything has tuned out. It was a major move south; leaving so many lifelong friends behind was tough. Relocating to a beautiful new home helped, having their sons join the local policemen’s ranks is even better – but having the ’37 in their stable to enjoy has been one sweet Raspberry Delight!
