Keep on truckin’

Yesterday’s item about Dell and the Ford Flambe produced emails and comments from Cringesters suggesting that Thomas Forqueran blew up his own truck in an effort to squeeze money out of Dell. That dog won’t hunt, and here’s why.

If you’d seen any of the nearly three dozen emails he sent me, you’d know the man loved that truck more than some people love their children. It was a cherry condition 1966 Ford 250 — not the kind of ride I’d choose, but a classic none the less. It had a name (Jenny) and a 40-year history dating back to his grandfather.

The thing blew up in the middle of the desert, hours from anything resembling civilization. (Personally, if I was going to stage an explosion, I’d do it within walking distance of a pub.) He’s not looking for Dell to fund his retirement. All the man wants is for Dell to restore the truck and refund the money he dropped on his laptop.

This is from an email he sent me last July:

The most important fact to me (aside almost being killed, or being stranded for 8 hours in Arizona desert on short water supply, my fishing buddy suffered heat exhaustion) is that was “Grandpas truck.” He bought it new and kept it that way. I inherited it and my sons fight over who gets it from me. I regularly cruised  the “Route 66 runs” and always was complimented on “what a nice truck.” A new Hummer wouldn’t replace it.

Maybe the laptop didn’t cause the blaze. Maybe somebody left a lit cigarette in the cab, or Wiley Coyote tossed a lit stick of dynamite at the Roadrunner and hit the truck instead. But if Forqueran is a con man I’ll eat my hat, with a side dish of crow.