OUTDOOR KITCHEN
A 1969 Chevy Camaro.
A 1956 Ford pickup.
A 1958 Chevy Apache.
A childhood spent around these old cars cemented Sharon Redwine’s love for vintage vehicles.
“As a kid, I just really loved the sound of those old engines,” Redwine said.
That love eventually drove her to hunt for one she could call her own: a 1951 Chevy panel truck that doubles as a tap wall to serve drinks at events in Northern San Luis Obispo County. She bought it about a year ago, sight unseen, from a guy in Florida and started Tap Truck Central Coast.
Have Frankie over
Find Tap Truck Central Coast at taptruckcentralcoast.com or
@centralcoasttaptruck on Instagram. Learn more about Tap Truck USA at taptruckusa.com.
She got the idea from Tap Truck USA, which was started in 2016 in San Diego by two guys who grew up in San Luis Obispo—Corbin O’Reilly and Taylor Steers. Now, the duo has a fleet of trucks all over the country, and they allow others to license the brand to start their own tap trucks. They also own and run Tap Truck San Luis Obispo.
The truck Redwine purchased was restored by O’Reilly and Steers, she said. The pair also installed a kegerator draft system inside the panel truck, which is why it has five taps sticking out the side. The tap truck started its new life in Reseda, California, before heading to Daytona, Florida, where Redwine found it.
“Her name’s Frankie,” Redwine said with a laugh. “Kind of like Frankenstein because she’s got taps on her. … Depending on what crowd I’m in, sometimes it’s Frankenfurter.”
Frankie’s made an appearance at several car shows, including ones in Morro Bay, Atascadero, Cayucos, and at Barrelhouse in Tin City. Redwine said she and her father often go to the car shows together. He brings the ’58, which he restored into a hot rod, and she brings the tap truck.
One of the things she loves about car shows are the stories that people tell about their vehicles—where they got their cars, where they’ve broken down in them, the work they’ve done to them.
For instance, that ’58 has been in her family since its beginning. Her aunt and uncle bought it brand new before it was passed on to her father. As a young adult, it was hers. Redwine learned to drive on it, learned to work on it, and learned to love all of its quirks.
She drove it between Cuesta College, where she went to school, and the Avila Market, where she worked.
“It was a stick shift, you know, four on the floor, and it was really difficult to drive,” she said. “I loved the sound of it, there was no radio, just those squeaky sounds and the sounds of the engine.”
One time, the brakes went out while she was driving to a friend’s house at 3 a.m. along Fredericks Street in SLO.
“It’s one of the gnarly hills,” she said with a laugh. “I was just downshifting and using the e-brake, running through the red lights.”
Now, she’s making memories with a new-to-her truck. She changes Frankie’s oil, has adjusted the carburetor, and takes her to a professional if there’s something nitty-gritty that needs fixing.
Redwine dreams about swapping the Chevy 305 that powers Frankie with a Chevy 350, but for now, she’s content to bring the vintage party to private events, weddings, and more. Tap Truck Central Coast operates as a dry hire mobile bar.
“People purchase the alcohol for their private event, and then I’m able to serve it as the bartender,” Redwine said. “I just provide the good time.”
That good time can be had by revelers in North SLO County, from San Miguel to Atascadero to the North Coast. Redwine can bring Frankie to a small backyard party (50 people or less) or event near you and pour cocktails, beer, or wine through those taps.
She recently took Frankie to Deadwood Revival Design’s open house in Paso Robles. Any event is a good excuse to take Frankie out for a spin.
“When you drive in my truck now, you hear every squeak and rattle. It’s just therapy for me. I love it,” Redwine said. “It’s like one of my passions. It really is. I have a lot, but this—the old cars—it’s so fun.”