Cool Rig—what’s the story; Republic truck harkens “The Fall Guy” vibes

Square-body brings 80s fun with big horsepower
Republic native Alex Clark may not be a stuntman or a bounty hunter, but his truck could lead you to think otherwise. Clark is a lifelong fan of the 1980s television show "The Fall Guy," starring Lee Majors, and when he saw a replica of the show’s truck for sale in an online marketplace, he knew he had to take action or risk missing out on a piece of automotive history. Clark had always been a fan of the square-body style, so the fact that his truck emulates one of his favorite shows from the 80s was just the icing on the cake.
"I had always liked the square-body pickups, and I thought, well, I'm going to build one some day," said Clark. "This one came across, and the bodywork looked tremendous, and it still needed a few things, so I have the opportunity to tinker with it a little bit."
“The Fall Guy” is a favorite of those who tuned in to television in the 1980s. The show, which ran for five seasons beginning in 1981, follows a stuntman who picks up work as a bounty hunter in order to make some extra cash without deviating from his skill set. In the show, the main character drives a truck that is easily recognizable from its oversized tires, roll bar, “Fall Guy Stuntman Assoc.” decal and a timeless gold and brown paint scheme.
"It evokes some really good memories, and it was just really good timing," said Clark. "If they remember the show, it really brings them back."
The truck itself is not an identical replica of the original, though they do share many characteristics. For starters, the truck from the television show has been identified as a 1982 GMC K2500, which is a three-quarter-ton pickup. Clark's vehicle is of a similar square-body style and aesthetically bears much resemblance to the original but is instead a half-ton with changes made in the engine bay. Clark's truck contains a blueprint 350 motor, which is a popular crate engine to swap into such vehicles. According to Clark, the vehicle boasts an impressive 426 horsepower with the engine swap, and the truck remains carbureted rather than fuel injected. All of this had been done to the truck before Clark took ownership, but there is still work to do. According to Clark, at the top of his punch list are a new heater core and fixing electrical issues.
Clark is a fan of the show from which the truck hails, but that's not the foremost reason why he purchased it. Instead, this truck is more about a love of automobiles and the ability to share that love with those around him. In an interview, Clark expressed his passion for the automobile world and their ability to bring people together. Whenever he brings the truck out for something as simple as an ice cream run, not only will it turn heads, but it will also spark up conversation and reignite old memories.
"You have that common ground with them, so it's something to talk about," said Clark. "I think it just takes people with common memories and brings them together, and I think this truck embodies that quite a bit."
Clark enjoys entering his truck in various events around town, able to show off his unique vehicle to the locals. He has been known to bring the truck out for the Republic Christmas parade on more than one occasion but also likes to simply cruise Kearney or just take it out for Andy's Frozen Custard if he feels the time is right. Wherever he brings it, though, the truck is sure to garner some looks.
Drop a line
Do you have a cool rig with a good story? If it’s a truck, tractor or any other farm related vehicle we want to hear about it. We might even want to publish a story about it. Let us know. Email thepaper@lawrencecountyrecord.com.