The gleam of a 1955 Ford F-100 in bright red has become a familiar sight around Bergen County each holiday season. Families pile in for photos, kids climb onto the running boards, and parents and photographers capture keepsakes they’ll revisit for years. The truck has a name— Ruby Ray—and a story rooted in family, community and remembrance.
Owner Nick Vetterlein moved to Franklin Lakes in 2020. He and his wife, Paige, are raising two young children—Wyatt, 3, and Chloe, 2—whom Vetterlein affectionately calls “Irish twins.” The truck, he says, helped them quickly feel at home.
“Life has been hectic, but this truck, Ruby Ray, has really made us feel one with the community,” Vetterlein says. “We’ve met so many local photographers and families at photo shoots, and it’s amazing to be part of their lives and build memories for their kids that last a lifetime.”
Vetterlein, who has lived across Bergen County—including Upper Saddle River, Ramsey, Allendale and Midland Park—restores vintage vehicles as a side hustle. When he finally had enough saved to pursue a dream he’d held for years, he found a worn F-100 on Facebook Marketplace in New Hampshire. He and Paige rented a trailer and drove through snow to bring it home. The truck arrived baby blue, with rust on the fenders, cab corners and floorboards. Bit by bit, Vetterlein rebuilt it.
When it came time to paint, red was an easy choice. “My favorite color is red, and both of my babies’ birthstones are ruby, so it was very fitting,” he says. The name carried a deeper meaning.
Vetterlein’s father, Ray—his “hero” and “best friend”— fell ill while Paige was expecting Chloe. The family coordinated so Ray could meet his granddaughter in the hospital. He did, holding her shortly after she was born. He died days later. The truck became Ruby Ray in his honor; another truck Vetterlein rents for events is aptly named Rebel Ray.
The holiday season underscores that legacy. Vetterlein says more than 25 photographers have booked sessions with the truck this year. “I love seeing the kids’ faces when they see the old red truck and get to sit inside it and get their pictures taken,” he says. “Truly special.”
Traditions thread through the story. Vetterlein, the youngest of five, remembers his father dressing as Santa and arriving with a sack of gifts for the grandchildren. After Ray’s passing, the family created new rituals.
“It’s seeing the smile on Wyatt and Chloe’s faces when they wake up, run downstairs and open their presents,” he says, noting that his sister now dresses as Mrs. Claus to surprise Wyatt, who is “obsessed with Santa.”
On quieter days, you might find Vetterlein hunting parts at local junkyards or out with the family at Abma’s Farm or Wall Athletics gym in Oakland. Ask him to sum up his household in three words, and he doesn’t hesitate: “Loyal, beautiful, strong.” Ask what’s on the truck’s playlist, and he’ll cue up James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain,” his father’s song.
Vetterlein is now expanding beyond photo shoots with Vetter Vintage Taps, a mobile bar that can pull up to nearly any event and pour beer, wine, hard seltzer, coffee and nonalcoholic options. Think weddings, country clubs, corporate events, block parties, food festivals and backyard celebrations. When he gets a say in what’s flowing, his current favorite is on deck: Toms River Brewing’s Stick Toss Kölsch-Style Ale, the official beer partnership of the New Jersey Devils.
What began as a restoration project is now a community staple—a rolling backdrop for holiday portraits and hometown moments that outlast a season. For Vetterlein, it’s also a way to keep his father’s presence close. Ruby Ray isn’t just a photo op; it’s a memory maker.
Follow along or inquire about sessions on Instagram at @VetterVintage_Rentals.
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“Life has been hectic, but this truck ‘Ruby Ray’ has really made us feel one with the community,” - Nick Vetterlein