When an employee-owner came across a run-down and rusted 1940 Ford truck on his family’s New Mexico ranch, he started a team effort to preserve a Sundt historical artifact.
A new start in New Mexico
Sundt Construction’s founder, M.M. Sundt, immigrated to the U.S. from Oslo, Norway in the 1880’s and traveled west to find a climate more suitable for his asthma. Along the way, a train conductor suggested he depart in Las Vegas, New Mexico and try the hot springs to help recover from a cold. The cure worked, and M.M. decided to stay.
Let’s go for a ride
As Sundt Construction grew over the decades and became known for integrity and quality construction around the Southwest, the company remained a part of the Las Vegas, New Mexico community and history.
Shortly after the start of World War II, Gene Sundt, M.M.’s grandson, was approached by a member of the Army Corps of Engineers who said, “Let’s go for a ride.” After a two-hour drive through New Mexico’s Jemez Mountains, Gene arrived at the location that would become a secret government complex where top scientists made discoveries to help end the war and changed the world forever. The job was so secret, internally it was referred to as only “Job 444”. Today, we call it Los Alamos National Laboratory.
A journeyman of a lawn ornament
As a result of World War II halting production, 1940 was the last year Ford made a new truck until 1947 when it began production of the first F-series. All indications suggest, this 1940 Ford truck was purchased and used by Sundt Construction on Job 444. After many years of service, the truck was bought and sold by several owners across the Southwest. It eventually settled into the Hill Family Ranch in northern New Mexico.
It’s been there since I can remember, and I’m 73 years old. Nobody wanted that truck, so I took it and put it back together, and we just used it for yard art, parked it out here, and enjoyed it.
—Mike Hill, current resident of the Hill Family Ranch
In the summer of 2024, Mike Hill’s son-in-law, Richard Avant, visited his family ranch while working on a project for Sundt and noticed the faded letters “M.M. Sundt Construction” on the door. A picture and text message sent began the journey to get the Old Sundt Truck working again.
A swap for history
Richard sent the photo to Sundt Heavy Industrial & Mining Sr. Vice President and M.M. Sundt’s great-great-grandson, Clint Sundt. “The company owned that truck back in 1940. My family was the only owner. That truck literally belonged to M.M.’s sons,” said Sundt.
After some negotiating and a six-month search for a suitable replacement to satisfy Mike Hill, a swap was arranged. The Hill family received a 1932 Ford Model A in exchange for the Old Sundt Truck. 85 years after being purchased by Sundt Construction, it was back with its original owner.
It’s got a couple bumps on it, but it’s got great bones. We’re going to turn this into an incredible hot rod.
—Victor Fontana, Sundt Heavy Industrial & Mining Construction Manager
Self-perform preservation
Instead of rebuilding the truck to look and drive brand new, it was decided to preserve the truck to keep the history. Upgrades were made so it could drive again and where safety and reliability required it.
The truck arrived at Sundt’s Vail facility, south of Tucson, Arizona. A group of 15 self-described “motorhead” employee-owners, led by Heavy Industrial & Mining Construction Manager Victor Fontana, donated their skills and expertise to transform the truck while preserving and honoring its history.
A major preservation of this scale normally takes 18 months, but the team sketched a plan, fabricated, patched up, rewired, and got the Old Sundt Truck ready in just 44 working days. They wanted to make sure it was ready for the upcoming Sundt Summit 2025, so they could present it to Mike Hoover on his last day as CEO. “The body is 100% original and has absolutely no body filler. Every dent, ding, and bullet hole is there,” said Fontana.
She had 85 years of stories to tell, and she’s still telling them.
— Victor Fontana
A drive 85 years in the making
A second-generation employee-owner with 38 years of service to the company and 10 years as CEO, Mike Hoover has about as much history as anyone with Sundt Construction. As he transitioned to his new role as Executive Chairman, the team wanted to surprise Mike and have him be the first to take the wheel of the historic truck.
At the summit, Mike was handed the keys. He climbed in and fired up the engine with a glorious roar matched by the crowd of employee-owners. The Old Sundt Truck took its first drive in over 70 years.
Watch Executive Chairman Mike Hoover take the Old Sundt Truck for the first drive after preservation.
