November/December 2021 Vintage Truck
/
The November/December 2021 issue of Vintage Truck magazine is available in our gift shop now and will be available on newsstands soon. Our cover story features Mike Tanner’s 1979 Dodge Warlock II. The article was written by Loren Hoekema and photographed by Josh Mishler.
It’ll Put A Spell On You
Mike Tanner’s 1979 Dodge Warlock II has had some restoration magic!
A brown 1979 Dodge Warlock II did indeed cast a spell on Mike Tanner. From the moment he unloaded the heavily optioned Dodge pickup upon its delivery from California, Tanner was put under a spell to restore the truck to factory condition, and to this day, the magic continues.
The latest example of the spell at work was his quest to obtain five Goodyear Tracker A-T 10x15LT tires for his pickup. Since these tires are no longer produced or reproduced, Tanner had to search out five unused tires from the late 1970s. He bought unused spare tires from low-mileage trucks of the era—one at a time—until he finally assembled the full set. The tires came from Kentucky, Indiana, California, New Jersey, and South Carolina. Tanner completed an eight-year restoration journey in 2021 when he mounted the Goodyear Trackers on the Sable Brown Sunfire Metallic W150 Dodge.
Tanner, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is a lifelong Mopar enthusiast and a major fan of Dodge pickups. He is particularly fond of trucks from the late 1970s when Dodge was actively marketing its Adult Toys, of which the Warlocks and Warlock IIs were a part. Tanner’s dad had driven Plymouth automobiles, so it was not surprising that young Tanner’s first car was a Plymouth—a 1964 Plymouth Valiant four-door, to be exact. The first new car Tanner bought was a blue 1970 Plymouth Duster 340. He progressed from the Duster to a 1974 Dodge Charger SE before “falling off the wagon” and going through a brief dalliance with Brand X during the middle and late 1970s.
Tanner returned to the Dodge camp in the fall of 1978 when he and his wife JoAnn moved out of town to a house with a large wood-burning stove. Needing a pickup for wood hauling, he bought a new Canyon Red Sunfire Metallic, short-wheelbase, 1979 W150 4X4 Sweptline with the Round Up package. This pickup, in unbelievable original condition after working and traveling for 111,000 miles, still resides in the shop at the Tanner residence today. The 1979 Round Up can be credited with starting Tanner’s love for Adult Toys.
To read more about the ‘79 Dodge pick up a copy of the November/December 2021 issue of Vintage Truck magazine!
Articles in this issue include:
Jeeps with Foreign Accents
By Bill SiuruCornelius
John Hansen’s 1939 International D-2 Pickup is a Stylish Art Deco Driver
Story by B. Mitchell Carlson, Photos by Brad BowlingHey, 19!
This year’s running of the Vintage Truck Magazine Vintage Truck Show saw great weather and great vehicles!
By StaffIt’ll Put a Spell on You.
Mike Tanner’s 1979 Dodge Warlock II has had some restoration magic!
Story by Loren Hoekema, Photos by Josh MishlerThe “Over-restored Gem”
This museum-quality 1937 pickup will make you take a second look at Ford’s “small” V-8!
Story by Robert Gabrick, Photos by Al RogersSon of a LUV
Steve Hill’s 1986 Chevrolet S-10 reminds us why America finally went nuts for mini-trucks!
Story by Brad Bowling, Photos by Al RogersLetter from the Editor
Letters to the Editor
Chevy Talk: 1955 First Series Chevrolet
Books in the Bed: Reviews by Robert Gabrick
Photos from the Attic
Hey Loren!
Aid for the Anxious Amateur: Put a Little Pride Under the Hood
Classifieds
Show Guide
Granny Gear: Donny’s Hauling Hay!
If you can't find Vintage Truck on a newsstand near you, call 800-767-5828 or visit our Gift Shop to order current or back issues. To subscribe, call 888-760-8108 or click here.
