Page 6 - Issue 44

O
OWNER - BUDDY MENDIAS | WRITTEN BY RICK LOXTONWNER - BUDDY MENDIAS | WRITTEN BY RICK LOXTON
PHOTOS BY TRACY LEIGH PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOS BY TRACY LEIGH PHOTOGRAPHY

t
t’s amazing what can be made into an ’s amazing what can be made into an
outstanding rat rod. Buddy Mendias of
outstanding rat rod. Buddy Mendias of
Griffi n, GA has taken a 1959 Kaiser Willys
Griffi n, GA has taken a 1959 Kaiser Willys
pickup to where few, if any other people
pickup to where few, if any other people
have ever dared to go with one of these.
Ihave ever dared to go with one of these.
A direct descendant of the
A direct descendant of the
rugged Jeeps that helped the
rugged Jeeps that helped the
Allies achieve victory
Allies achieve victory
in WWII, these
utilitarian vehicles

were normally
outfi tted with
fl athead four or six-

cylinder engines
and four-wheel
drive, as this one
once was. Buddy had
once was. Buddy had
different ideas, however.
different ideas, however.
A third-generation car
A third-generation car
fanatic, he turned this ugly (per his father)
fanatic, he turned this ugly (per his father)
truck into something to be proud of.

6 RAT ROD MAGAZINE ISSUE FORTY-FOUR

6x11 ChurchRat.indd 6 6/1/17 8:54 AM