Not Toyota Related, But A Great Story!

The Best Christmas Ever!
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On June 19, 2022 (Father's Day) Michael Houck, 39, of Payson, Utah was in a bad auto accident. His 1997 Chevrolet S-10 pickup went off the highway, over a cliff and plummeted 80 feet into a deep ravine. Four days later, Mr. Houck died from his injuries.


A body shop, Layton Autobody of Ephraim, Utah, assisted in recovering the truck from the ravine, and recorded the recovery for their YouTube channel. Through viewer feedback, they learned that Mr. Houck's son Aiden was to have been given the truck for his sixteen birthday. Now he had no Dad, and no truck. Layton Autobody reached out to the family, and with their permission, set about restoring the truck - which was basically totaled - to make it drivable again.


For the next six months, Layton Autobody worked on restoring the truck using as many of the original parts as possible; documenting the whole project on their YouTube channel. Through YouTube, word got around and many other businesses began to donate their time, services and products to help restore the truck. Fans of the channel helped locate some hard-to-find parts for the 25-year-old pickup. Not only did Layton restore the truck, but they customized it into something any young truck-owner would be proud to drive. And they did it all for free.


Yesterday, on Christmas Day, young Aiden got his truck back. Watch, enjoy, and try not to cry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY-Veac8cJg&t=632s

 

Lots of work done in 6 months.

What a finish to the original '97.

 

Hmmm, I understand the sentimental value, but I would be seriously concerned about safety of the vehicle moving forward for a teenager driving it. Vehicles with that much damage are never the same.

 

Yes, and keep in mind they had to work on repairs for paying customers as well.

True, but seeing as it was torn down to the frame I'm sure every aspect of the truck was closely looked at and for liability reasons, the body shop would not want to give the kid a truck that was not safe to drive.

You'll notice at the end of the vid, the kid turns out onto the highway at a reasonable speed. That suggests to me that he's pretty responsible for his age. MHO.

 

I am not a body man or a mechanic, but the way they COMPLETLY disassembled/reassembled that truck BY HAND and WITH CARE, I dare say I would very much think that truck is better than when it was new! And BTW not all teenagers are irresponsible!