Page 77 - Demo

HOW WE ROLL
Tim and Josh Despard
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
By Laura Roesch Photography by Bonnie Brant
Father and son team Tim and Josh Despard work side-by-side and hands-on, whether it is custom designing, building, and re- pairing mechanical parts for the U.S. Navy’s undersea vehicles, or at home in the family garage tending to their car collection. They spend almost every waking hour together, doing what gearheads do.
With a passion for Corvettes, their collection includes a 1963 Stingray split-window coupe, a 1968 big block 427 coupe, a 1972 Stingray, a 2015 Z51 supercharged coupe and a 2016 C7 Z06 coupe.
But it is a bright red 1936 Chevy Low Cab pickup truck that holds a special place in their hearts. The truck has been in the Despard family more than 50 years. Just six years old at the time, Tim clearly remembers the day his father hauled it home to their tiny New Hampshire garage. He recalls standing well inside the truck’s fender, cleaning old truck parts under his dad’s watchful eye. He followed his dad around the garage for years, learning all the while. At the age of 16, the truck became his, and he has lovingly tended to it ever since.
The car-centric tradition of father-and-son-garage-time contin- ued when Josh came along. Josh has his own memories of tod- dling along behind his dad, learning about whatever car or truck was under repair or restoration; playing with wrenches or bondo, standing on his tiptoes watching his dad work.
Throughout the years, the three generations of Despard men have owned and restored a good number of interesting and fast cars and trucks, but the 1936 pickup truck will always remain their favorite.
www.PanamaCityLiving.com • May - June 2018 • 77