Photo by Jim Tate Al Schoffelman, from Tea, South Dakota, is shown next to his 1979 custom wood Ford T-150 truck, which won “Best Truck” at the 2024 Shades of the Past car show.

MARSHALL — You’ve surely heard of the popular Ford F-150 pickup. Meet its cousin, the T-150.

“The ‘T’ stands for ‘Timber'” said the owner of the custom 1979 Ford wood truck, Al Schoffelman of Tea, South. Dakota. His vehicle won the “Best Truck” award at the 2024 Shades of the Past car show.

The truck’s interior and exterior are all made of red oak — including the steering wheel — a labor of love that included 3,000 hours of work over a nine-year period. It’s his third year at the Shades of the Past show, and his 4,300-pound truck drew a lot of curious attention during the day. The fame and drivetrain are from a Ford E-150 conversion van.

What was his impetus for building the wood truck?

“I’ve been to hundreds of car shows over the years and you see the same thing,” he explained. “I was looking for something different, so I did this.”

It’s definitely out of the ordinary.

“I worked construction so I got some of the wood salvaged from some projects,” he said. “Plus, my wife Gina worked at Menards so I got their discount, as well. It was a winter project.”

He shows the truck at about 15 shows a year, he said.

“Mostly local shows,” he said, “but I’ve been to a show in Detroit, and the Turkey Run in Indianapolis this past winter.” He recently received an invitation to show the truck at the Sloan Museum Auto Fair in Flint, Michigan, at the end of June.

He is retired after being a crane operator for over 46 years for Henry Carlson Construction in Sioux Falls. He has a little more time now to devote to his hobby, and he’s making the most of it.

The biggest challenge of creating his wood truck?

“Besides the sanding, I’d say the mirror buckets,” he said of the many angles and small, intricate cuts needed to surround the side mirrors. He has a large shop, and “I had a few tools, and acquired a few more during this process,” he said with a chuckle.

Schoffelman’s vehicle was one of 330 that were shown at this year’s Shades of the Past show, which had a Mustang theme in honor of that sports car classic’s 60th anniversary.

“I like the show. You see some different faces, it’s well run, and everyone has been great.”