Over the course of the last decade, southern California has become what some might call "the land of the Prius". The region's beach cities, suburbs, and sprawling freeway traffic jams are always packed with tiny hybrid economy cars. As lovers of the V8 and classic American muscle, we sometimes feel a little rebellious roaring past the slow-moving hatchbacks, but we recently met someone who takes this counter-cultural spirit to a whole new level. Enter Donnille Leubner and his massive Chevy C3500 dually. If owning the road sounds appealing, this is the rig for you.

One of our favorite aspects of classic trucks is the diversity of their designs. Unlike today's trucks, which seem to have become relatively boxy and homogeneous, these vintage models often feature distinctive styling cues and sleek aircraft-inspired lines. Now that trucks have become all about masculinity and "tough" looks, observing the smooth curves of a 1950s pickup is like a breath of fresh air.

One of the biggest difficulties with classic cars is the fact that they're rarely viewed as classics until most of them are already gone. That seemingly ordinary beater rusting away in a scrap yard may someday become something priceless, but by that point, the elements will have already taken their toll on it. This catch-22 is especially applicable to pickup trucks, many of which are viewed as boring, utilitarian work vehicles—until they eventually gain appreciation as classics. Then, suddenly everyone is scrambling to find clean examples to restore and show off.

Like most good things in life, finding a clean base for a restoration project is often a long and arduous task. You can't just expect someone to show up at your doorstep and hand you the keys to your dream car, you've got to get out there and search for it (or pay someone else big bucks to do the leg work for you).

Mike Guido, of Costa Mesa, California, knew exactly what he was looking for, and had the patience to endure years of fruitless searching. In fact, he looked for the right classic pickup to restore for over two decades. That level of dedication demands respect.

Thankfully for Mike, the search paid off, and he came upon the 1946 Chevy truck seen here.