AS SEEN IN OUR Street Trucks JULY 2026 ISSUE – Buy Now!

Carey Bewley’s Well-Known ‘96 Chevy Silverado

Some trucks are cool because of the parts bolted onto them. Others become legends because of the stories attached to them. This month’s cover truck, Carey Bewley’s 1996 Chevy Silverado known as Project Indy, is absolutely the second kind.

At first glance, it’s everything we love about peak custom truck culture—a slammed OBS Chevy with shaved body lines, billet wheels, custom graphics, and just enough race-inspired flavor to let you know it was built by someone who lives and breathes the scene. But spend five minutes around this truck, or around Carey, and you realize this thing means way more than paint and parts.

It all started back in 1995. Carey was just a 21-year-old Indianapolis kid with big ideas, a deep love for racing, and something to prove. With roots tied to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the vision for the truck came naturally. The black-and-white checkered theme wasn’t just a styling move; it was personal. With help from friends and plenty of late nights, Project Indy came together as a build aimed squarely at the 1996 SEMA Show. And it worked.

The truck became a full-on ’90s showstopper with SEMA appearances in 1996 and again in 1999 and more than 70 events around the country. Project Indy even scored a Truckin’ magazine cover in May of 1997. It was the kind of truck kids had taped to their bedroom walls. Then life happened.

The truck was sold, later bought back, and then lost again. Most people would let that story end there. Not Carey. After nearly 20 years, fate stepped in, and somehow Project Indy was tracked down… in Mexico.

Getting it home wasn’t easy. Carey describes it as one of the hardest chapters of ownership, full of sleepless nights, stress, logistics, and the kind of determination only true enthusiasts understand. But with help from friends who shared the same passion, the truck made its way back where it belonged. And thankfully, it still hits.

The phantom grille, shaved handles, molded roll pan, fiberglass hood, custom taillights, and those unmistakable checkered details still stop people in their tracks. Billet Specialties Indy wheels were the perfect choice, and the air suspension keeps the stance exactly where an OBS should sit.

…spend five minutes around this truck, or around Carey, and you realize this thing means way more than paint and parts.

But the best part of this story isn’t the truck. It’s Carey.

Carey and Anna are now happily married for over 4 years now and his boys are following in their dads’ footsteps. They just recently opened their own custom truck shop in Clayton, IN called Bewleys Garage where they will be displaying most of Carey’s builds. 

Zeke and Asa are doing everything from your basic oil change to a full custom chassis’. So if you’re in the area stop by check them out.

The truck became a full-on ’90s showstopper with SEMA appearances in 1996 and again in 1999 and more than 70 events around the country.

TRUCK SPECS

ENGINE & DRIVETRAIN

Factory Chevrolet 350ci small-block V8
JET Performance computer chip
JET Performance engine computer upgrades
Underdrive pulleys
Factory drivetrain retained for reliability

CHASSIS & SUSPENSION

Adjustable airbag suspension at all four corners
Modified rear leaf springs
Front drop spindles
C-notch under bed floor for wheel clearance
Frame and suspension work done at Carey’s shop

WHEELS & TIRES

Billet Specialties Indy wheels
Front: 17×8
Rear: 17×9.5
Front tires: 235/45ZR17
Rear tires: 275/40ZR17

BODY & PAINT

Full Stull Industries phantom grille
Smoked headlights
Smoked running lights
Painted corner lights
Shaved antenna
Shaved door handles
Shaved tailgate handle
Shaved stake pockets
Shaved taillights
Molded roll pan with custom taillights
Terry DeLong fiberglass hood
Custom multi black/white checkered paint scheme
House of Kolor basecoat
PPG Delglo clearcoat
Signature checkered painted brake dust covers

INTERIOR

Empire Motorsports complete billet dash
Empire Motorsports billet sill plates
Carbon fiber accent trim
Custom upholstery by Trent’s Trick Upholstery (Ohio)
Stereo system removed (owner says he’d love to bring it back)

SHOW HISTORY & HIGHLIGHTS

Built as a SEMA 1996 debut truck
Featured at SEMA 1996 & 1999
Truckin’ magazine cover truck (May 1997)
70+ shows attended nationwide
Tracked down and recovered from Mexico after nearly 20 years