You’ve heard about Kermit the Frog; now what about Kermit the Truck?

Taylor Clark

One man’s love for being behind the wheel has allowed him to be a helping hand to those in Aylmer.

Martin Cleroux has wanted a 1927 to 1931 Ford Model A pickup truck for as long as he can remember, having been infatuated with its shape and fenders from a young age. He spent decades pining and searching for the highly sought-after model. It wasn’t until the loss of his mother that an advertisement for a 1931 model of his dream truck ended up in his lap.

“Now the reason why I think it’s my mom who has something to do with this is because, when I was growing up, our phone number was 684-6799,” Cleroux said, pointing to the numbers permanently scrolled across the truck’s original odometer.

The truck’s only modern amenity was a digital GPS speedometer and odometer, as the stock mechanical instrument remained untouched in the centre of the dash to commemorate his mother.

In stark contrast to Cleroux’s modern daily vehicle, a Mazda CX-3, the Model A’s top speed was 105 kilometers per hour. 

“It’s very slow but surprisingly comfortable,” said Cleroux. “I could probably do 75 or 80 but 65 is where I like to keep it.”

Replacing the Model T, the Model A was the first Ford to utilize the standard set of driver controls like the conventional clutch and brake pedals, throttle, and gearshift. At a time when the rear-view mirror was optimal, the Model A was the first car to incorporate safety glass in the windshield.

With its dark green colour and large bug headlights, Cleroux said Kermit was the perfect fit for a name.

“I get lots of attention on the road. Kids, they love it. They see it for the first time, and they want to hear the horn.”

As the first anniversary of acquiring the truck approached, Cleroux decided to put his hundreds of kilometers of aimless driving to use and use his downtime to organize pick-ups for residents looking to purge scrap metal but having no way to bring the heavy material to the recycling centre in Aylmer.

“I get to drive, meet a whole bunch of people and have a blast.”

Photo caption: Dubbed Kermit the Truck, the 1931 Ford Model A pickup truck has gained notoriety cruising around Aylmer.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark