I see lots of talk around what is and isn’t patina in an old truck, but I think this should be the line of demarcation. This truck is a Dodge d200, I believe of early 1970s vintage. In true Jalop fashion is is a single cab long bed model, likely the most common configuration sold in its day, and it is currently sitting in the front yard a a house with a good chunk of property on a small lake, bed full of mulch. It is nearing 50 years old and still putting in a hard day’s work.
The patina on this truck shows its age but does not show outright neglect. The paint has faded but the colors are visible. There is mildew on the lower portion where is sat in overgrown weeds but it has not eaten away the paint. There are small spots of rust but no rot. A few dings and scratches present, the sign of a life lived to the fullest (I certainly have my scars as well).
But this truck lives on, and though it does not move as easily as it once did it is good enough to be used. The chrome on the mirrors still shines and the windshield is in tact. No parts are missing. Maybe not old enough or popular enough to be a classic but it soldiers on. This truck has been in that yard for as long as I’ve lived in the area and I will be sad to ever see it go.