A special hot wheels paint job

Some might call it a pick-up truck. Some might call it classic. The Adams call it "Kathy's Li'l Baker."

Rick Adams of Backus acquired the 1950 Studebaker R Series pickup for his wife, Kathy, to use as a utility truck for gardening. After driving it to town a few times, it was found not entirely dependable.

What began as "fixing it up" with some new parts and some paint turned into a work of art that became one of 12 finalists in the national 2008 PPG Hot Wheels Spectraflame Paint Your Ride Contest. The contest winner received a scale model award trophy featuring their winning pain scheme, and the scheme would also be reproduced on a future Hot Wheels toy care to be introduced in 2009.

Restoring cars started as a stress-reliever for Rick. He and his capable crew have been restoring cars full-time for a couple of years now. While working on the 'Baker, a Corvette and hot rod sat in the garage under protective cover with another Corvette under the paint sprayer.

Ron Hall of Pine River, heads up the shop and came up with the idea to enter the truck in the contest.

"Hot Wheels doesn't have a 1950 Studebaker, yet," noted Hall optimistically.

As finalists, Adams and Hall recently took the truck to the 11th annual PPG Goodguys Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.

Kathy Adams admits that she's the one who benefited most from the hard work that went into the vehicle. And yes, she says, she still plans to haul manure in it.

The truck was edged out by a 1956 Chevy Handyman two-door wagon owned by Jim and Melinda Cooper of Laguna Hills, Calif. The Adams and the crew were a little disappointed, of course, according to Hall.

"It was a tight race," Hall recounted, saying judges had commented that everybody deserved to win.

Another Minnesota entry that made the finalist list was a 1959 Ford Thunderbird two-door convertible owned by Clifford Nicholson of Dassel.