Blackboard Betty: Barbary Sanderson’s 1974 GMC Build | LEED Brakes

Meet Blackboard Betty: How Barbary Sanderson Turned a 1974 GMC Into a Rolling Canvas

For Barbary Sanderson, building a classic truck was never about creating something perfect.

It was about learning. Creating. Driving. And, eventually, handing someone a piece of chalk and inviting them to leave their mark.

Barbary is a wife, mom of three, crafter and, in her words, “a lover of old rusty trucks.” While she had always appreciated classic cars and trucks, her interest became something more when her husband brought home a 1968 Chevy C20.

“Seeing him work on the truck and enjoy it really inspired me,” she says.

That inspiration eventually led Barbary to a classic of her own and the beginning of a project that would become unlike just about anything else at the car show.

Learning by Doing

In the spring of 2024, Barbary purchased a 1989 Chevy Suburban. It was in great condition, and she wanted to keep it that way. But owning it also made her realize there was a lot she wanted to learn about working on older vehicles.

Her solution?

Buy another one.

“I quickly started shopping for a project that I could work on without the worry of disassembling my Suburban,” she explains.

She found a 1974 GMC and decided to bring it back to life herself, learning as she went.

The Suburban would remain largely stock. The GMC, on the other hand, would give Barbary the freedom to experiment.

“I knew with the ’74 project I would be able to make a lot of artistic decisions to make it my own and make it something fun and very different.”

That turned out to be an understatement.

Meet Blackboard Betty

From the beginning, Barbary knew a traditional paint job wasn't in the cards.

The truck needed extensive metal work, which meant preserving its existing patina wasn't really an option either. At first, she considered hand-painting a mural across the truck.

Then she realized the problem: once she painted it, the artwork would be permanent.

As a crafter and someone who loves creating, Barbary wanted something she could continually reinvent.

That's when the idea for chalkboard paint hit.

“I immediately thought of a way that I could change the truck without having to change the paint, and that would be with chalk.”

And with that, Blackboard Betty began to take shape.

The chalkboard finish gives Barbary the freedom to draw new artwork, logos or messages on the truck whenever inspiration strikes. But what she loves even more is what happens when she hands the chalk over to someone else.

“There are two big reasons why I love the chalkboard idea,” she says. “One is the interaction and the joy that people and children get out of drawing on it, and the second is that I can customize it in any way that I choose.”

A Truck You're Supposed to Draw On

Blackboard Betty has only made it to one show so far, but Barbary quickly discovered that her idea worked exactly as she'd hoped.

At Goodguys, adults and kids alike stopped to add something to the truck.

“I saw older adults who were completely giddy about drawing on it and little kids who said it was the coolest thing they'd ever seen,” she says. “That's exactly what I was hoping for. I just want to bring creativeness and joy to people with the truck.”

One interaction in particular stands out.

Barbary returned to the truck and found a gentleman sitting on the floor beside it. He had carefully selected a little pile of chalk colors and was working on an elaborate American flag 250 design.

She later discovered he was a sign painter.

It's exactly the kind of spontaneous interaction Blackboard Betty was created to inspire.

One Hour at a Time

The finished product may be fun, but getting there has required Barbary to tackle things she had never done before.

She's learning as she builds, and that has become one of the most rewarding parts of the entire project.

“Proving to myself that I can do it,” Barbary says. “It's been so meaningful for me to learn everything that I have so far, and that I can continue to learn and make adjustments as I go.”

She's also been able to pour her creativity into the truck, making it an increasingly personal representation of what she knew she was capable of creating.

Her biggest lesson has been surprisingly simple:

“Working an hour a day CAN make a big difference!”

And if she could go back and give herself one piece of advice at the beginning?

“Don't let the metal work overwhelm you!”

Finding a Community Along the Way

While Blackboard Betty has given Barbary an outlet for her creativity, it's also introduced her to an entire community.

“The people,” she says, when asked what has surprised her most. “People who by technical definition are total strangers who will offer to help you. Who will drive distances to support their truck community. It's really a great group of people.”

Her experience as a woman learning to build a classic truck has also been overwhelmingly positive.

“I don't see being a woman in the truck community as a hurdle, and I don't treat it like a hurdle,” she says. “I think that mindset really sets the tone. I don't compare myself to others, male or female. I'm just having a good time!”

More than anything, it's the friendships she's formed that have encouraged her to keep documenting the project.

“People have been extremely welcoming, and I've met SO MANY amazing people,” Barbary says. “I've met countless people in the space who are beyond encouraging and who continually show support.”

Building a Truck Meant to Be Driven

Blackboard Betty may be a rolling piece of artwork, but Barbary isn't building a truck that's destined to sit still.

She wants to drive it, as she puts it, “as much as humanly possible.”

More importantly, she wants her kids riding alongside her.

That's why upgrading the GMC's braking system became an important part of the build.

“Safety is important because when I get this truck running, I want to drive it as much as humanly possible, as well as letting my kids ride with me,” she says. “So upgrading brake systems was very important to me.”

For the project, Barbary installed several LEED Brakes components, including a rear disc brake conversion kit, power brake booster and master cylinder kit, brass proportioning valve and adjustable proportioning valve.

What makes that part of the build especially meaningful is that Barbary didn't come into the project as an experienced mechanic.

She installed the upgrades herself.

“I think it speaks volumes that I, a complete beginner to working on trucks, was able to install all of my upgrades with ease,” she says. “What questions I did have were answered so quickly and thoroughly by LEED. I can't thank you enough for just having excellent parts and service!”

For a project built around learning to do the work herself, that's a pretty fitting milestone.

The Best Is Still Ahead

Technically, Barbary can't tell us which modification makes her smile every time she drives Blackboard Betty.

There's one small issue.

It isn't driving yet.

For now, her custom seat cover gets that honor. It's another piece of the truck where her creative personality comes through and another reminder that this build isn't following anyone else's formula.

Getting Blackboard Betty ready enough to appear at Goodguys has already given Barbary one of her favorite memories of the entire project.

“What a humbling experience it is to have a truck in the booth at a show the size of Goodguys,” she says. “Everyone was so incredibly kind to me and they loved the truck.”

Now she's ready for the next chapter.

“I just can't wait to get it to another event so people can get more joy out of it!”

And after Blackboard Betty?

Barbary admits her ultimate dream build would be a 1972 Buick Riviera. Her slightly more realistic next project, however, may already be sitting in the driveway: that 1989 Suburban that started this whole journey.

This time, she says, she'll stick to upgrades and minor modifications.

We'll see how long that lasts.

BLACKBOARD BETTY BUILD

Builder: Barbary Sanderson

Truck: 1974 GMC

Nickname: Blackboard Betty

LEED Brakes Upgrades:

1. Rear Disc Brake Conversion Kit

2. Power Brake Booster & Master Cylinder Kit

3. Brass Proportioning Valve

4. Adjustable Proportioning Valve

Barbary's build is a great reminder that you don't have to know everything before you start. Sometimes you just need a project, a willingness to learn, and maybe a box of chalk.