10/02/2022
The Davis family’s ‘59 Chevrolet Apache spent its early days as the workhorse for a general contractor in Glendive, MT. Afterwards it switched hands a few times until Joy’s grandpa, Kent Larson, bought it for Joy’s dad Arnie. It wasn’t in working order, and Arnie recalls “it smoked a lot”, but the sentiment was that it was from the same year Arnie was born. As with any Larson family tale, we rarely let the facts mess up a good story. Arnie was actually born in ‘58, but the sentiment remains ❤️
Both Kent and Arnie enjoyed restoring old vehicles, however, most of their time was consumed with running the Gambles, then later True Value Hardware store in Circle, MT. The Apache, as well as several other run down cars, sat untouched for years, awaiting restoration.
In 2009 when Joy Larson brought Erich Davis, her Minnesota boyfriend, back to meet the family in Montana he laid eyes on the Apache for the first time 😍
By Christmas of 2018, Erich was able to talk Arnie into letting him take the Apache back to Minnesota. On a snow and ice packed road, the Davis family hauled it home!
Erich spent the next 2 years rebuilding or replacing the working parts on the truck. He decided to keep the original patina, but made sure that it runs like a top!
The Davis family enjoys driving the Apache around town. It can often be seen taking kids to hockey practice, picking up from school, and definitely trick or treating!
Around a “social distancing” campfire in 2020, the idea for Rustic Rendova was born! Joy, along with her neighbor Amanda, and Amanda’s daughter Tatum formed the idea to offer fun, unique, and affordable family pictures using the Chevrolet Apache. They began with Christmas sessions and even incorporated Santa!
As we embark on our 3rd year with Rustic Rendova we are offering more photo ops throughout the year, starting in 2022 with our fall pumpkin photo op! We will also be offering opportunities for professional photographers to rent the truck for mini sessions for their clients.
We greatly appreciate the support of our wonderful clients (who have turned into friends!) and we look forward to another exciting year!