This Firefighter’s ’68 Came Just in the Nick of Time

WHETHER YOU’RE THE FIRST OWNER OR THE TWENTY- FIRST, EVERY TRUCK HAS A HISTORY. Although we can only trace this clean ’68 C-10 back two generations, the stories that it has to tell are pretty spectacular. It starts with Dave Johnston, a truck builder from Canada. When we talk about guys who wrench on trucks, they typically fall into two categories: build one every year or two and the turn ’n’ burners. Dave falls into the latter category, usually building something in relatively short order, making it cool, and then selling it to finance the next project. He’s a professional welder, and it’s clear that he knows his stuff.

Dave had plans to build a 1967-72 C-10, and when he found a clean ’68 shorty, he scooped it up and went to work. The truck was laid out on big rollers, a 5.3L LS engine was dropped into the chassis, and it was kept “California clean”—even though Dave’s never set foot in the Golden State. Soon he was finished with it, and it became clear that it was time to move on. He listed it on eBay to see what would happen, with the result that a firefighter named Matt want to buy it and bring it back to, strangely enough, California.

Matt Sowell’s dad had a small fleet of square-bodies back in the day, and since he grew up around them, he knew that eventually he would buy himself a Chevy truck. He almost did when he was 16, but his dream truck—a 1967-72— eluded him, and he wasn’t able to close the deal. Instead he decided to focus on school, studying for eight years to become a firefighter and a paramedic. His goal was to get his dream job, and once that was achieved, he started working toward accomplishing other milestones in his life.

Soon he was married, and with that came all of the usual things, both good and bad. His dream truck popped up in his mind on random occasions, but unlike Dave, Matt isn’t a builder. He never picked up any of the skills that his dad had, and instead, just admired from afar. It wasn’t meant to be, he assumed, and he continued to pursue other dreams that didn’t involve trucks.

A few things happened around the same general time period that caused Matt to change his perspective. First came a divorce, which tore him up. Then his father was diagnosed with cancer, and between the two, he wasn’t in a good place. It was an errant search on eBay that led him to Dave’s ’68, which led to a phone call where Dave said, “If you’re serious, meet me at my doorstep.”

Matt booked the first flight he could from NorCal to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and showed up at Dave’s door ready to make a deal. After an inspection, Matt realized that the C-10 was the truck of his dreams: the perfect color, stance, drivetrain— everything. All he needed now was the keys, so they worked out a deal, and Matt drove home in his dream truck.

It came at the perfect time; it was a pick-me-up of sorts after so many crushing events. When things did settle down, he was able to enjoy the truck, taking it to local shows and cruising around town. He’s made quite a name for himself online, as well, talking and meeting with some of the big dogs in the industry. Heck, he’s even joined C/10 Club.

The truck of Matt’s dreams ultimately saved his life: It pulled him out of a serious funk and gave him new hope. Is that overstating things a bit? Maybe. But the next time you see the truck, ask Matt what he thinks. We’re confident that we know on which side of the fence he’s sitting.

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TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

Matt Sowell
1968 Chevrolet C-10
Riverbank, CA

ENGINE

• Builder Dave Johnson
• 2004 Chevrolet 5.3l V-8 LS, 347 hp
• Brian Tooley Racing Stage 3 camshaft
• Holley oil pump and oil pan
• LS7 valves
• Brian Tooley Racing chrome- moly pushrods and springs
• High pressure and volume oil pump
• Stainless steel braided fuel and transmission lines
• Aftermarket transmission cooler
• Dual Maradyne cooling fans
• Custom intake with K&N filter
• Hugger headers
• 2.5-inch mandrel bent exhaust
• Flowmaster 40 series mufflers
• Cut-through side exhaust
• Modern Vintage System harness with factory ECM
• Turbo 400 automatic transmission
• 3,200-rpm stall speed torque converter
• Optima Red Top battery

CHASSIS & SUSPENSION

• Billet Proof Designs billet battery tray
• No Limit Customs, Riverbank, CA
• Cantilever tubular trailing arm rear suspension
• Air Lift Dominator airbags
• KYB shocks
• AccuAir e-Level
• Bell Tech spindles
• 1971-72 front disc brakes
• Readend equipped with a limited-slip diff and 3.73 gears
• 15-gallon fuel cell

WHEELS & TIRES

• 20×8.5 and 22×9.5Boss 383 with gunmetal centers
• 245/30R20 and 295/35R22 Lexani tires

BODY & PAINT

• Brad Harknett at Harbour-View Collision, Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
• Painted DuPont factory blue
• Porterbuilt hood hinges
• Custom chrome front bumper
• Raised bed floor with hinged center section and hidden latch

INTERIOR & STEREO

• Custom-fabricated sub box and amp holder
• LED Chevrolet emblem on the box
• Custom kick panels
• Bench seat
• Dakota Digital VHX gauges
• Custom ashtray conversion for Accuair TouchPad
• Stereo installed by Audio Pros, Modesto, CA
• Kenwood head unit
• Rockford Fosgate wiring
• Two 10-inch Pioneer subs
• Memphis Audio lows and highs

SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE OWNER: “To my good friend, Dave Johnston. He was the builder of this truck. I call him my ‘Canadian connection,’ as he is a respected custom truck builder out of Port Alberni, British Columbia. I call the truck ‘California Dreamin’’ because although it has Canadian roots, it’s a total California truck. I would also like to thank my good friends Mike and Shawn from No Limit Customs in Riverbank, California. They keep me running and looking good. I also would like to thank my parents for never giving up on me, and my dad for always pushing me to never settle for anything but the best.”

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