General contractor Mike Stevens took delivery on a restored 1954 Chevy pickup truck a week before Christmas.

That’s not unusual in itself for the Tonto Verde car collector. The story behind the purchase and transfer of the vehicle to Stevens is worth telling.

Stevens and his companion, Marlene Shaw, attended the second annual Imus Ranch golf outing benefiting the Imus Ranch for Kids with Cancer in Ribera, N.M., on Sept. 16 at Great River Golf Club, Milford, Conn.

Don Imus hosts a New York morning radio talk show, which is syndicated around the country and simulcast on FOX Business Network.

At the dinner after the golf tournament, Imus auctioned off a 1954 Chevy model 3100 pickup truck with a 350 engine, dual exhaust, power windows, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning and tilt wheel.

An extra incentive to raise donations was that he would personally deliver the vehicle to the buyer.

An Imus fan for the last dozen years, Stevens said he wanted the truck “because Don Imus owns it” and the sale would benefit the ranch’s children.

“We had talked about it before the auction began,” said Shaw, so she was not surprised when Stevens bid.

He has collected classic cars for 30 to 35 years and currently owns three Corvettes: a 1961, 1965 and 1970; a ’65 Chevy Malibu convertible; and a ’65 Chevy El Camino.

He bought the El Camino 11 years ago at a local Silver Auction. Over the years, Stevens has owned about 15 Corvettes. His company, Concept I Homes, has built between 50 and 60 homes in the Fountain Hills area. 

Auction bidding started at $50,000 with Stevens as the sole bidder. When the final gavel came down, Stevens and Shaw owned the Imus truck.

On Thursday, Dec. 17, a ranch employee trailered the pickup from New Mexico to Tonto Verde. Imus and his wife, Deirdre, their son, Wyatt, and family dog Virgil flew a day later by private jet from New Jersey to the Scottsdale airport, where they were met and taken to Tonto Verde.

Imus wanted to drive the truck the last half-mile to their residence, said Shaw. He and his family arrived shortly before 6:30 that Friday night in the pickup and limited their brief visit to the driveway of the couple’s home.

Less than 15 minutes after their arrival, the Imuses returned to Scottsdale for a brief flight to Santa Fe and a two-week holiday vacation at their ranch.

Imus’ parting comment was, “Enjoy it. See you next year.” Stevens and Shaw said they anticipate returning to the golf outing next September.

Imus purchased the truck in Tucson in 1998. An Albuquerque custom car builder restored the truck in 2007; documentation and photographs of the total frame-off restoration were given to Stevens and Shaw.

The truck came with a decorative front plate “Imus Ranch.”

Stevens estimated that Imus spent at least $60,000 to upgrade the truck. Deirdre selected the flat chili pepper red color for the final coat of paint, said Shaw. On occasion, young ranch visitors rode in the truck bed while Imus or she drove, said Deirdre.

After buying the truck sight unseen, Stevens said he wasn’t disappointed. Look for the truck on local roads or car shows. Stevens said he will enjoy driving the truck as he does all his classic autos.