Photos by Emma Sauve
The only thing hotter than an Atlanta summer is the car scene, and possibly one of the fastest growing downtown shows—C10s in the City. Chances are you’ve seen the coverage right here in these very pages, but how much do you know about the team behind it?
Sarah Boim and her partner Rick Cheesemen (@sqrbdy_c10) love all kinds of rides, but they have a deep passion for all things GM. Living in Georgia and hitting all the local shows give them the fix of catching rides from all over. But not all of the trucks they’ve seen in the city were meeting up at the same spots, so in July 2021 they started the first C10s in the City in East Atlanta with 60 trucks registered. Last year’s 2023 show had over 500 trucks registered, with the spotlight shining on Sarah’s own SQRBDYC10 pink truck posted up at the Auto Metal Direct booth.
First owned by Phil Cato, Sarah set out to start her own Squarebody project, saying she now truly understands what it’s like to have “an experience everyone else has had just working for years on something.” For two years she and her crew worked on this ’86, completing it two days before its debut at her show. Mike Howe of Howe’s It Doin Garage did the 5/7 drop with a McGaughys lowering kit, along with install of Auto Metal Direct products supplied by Eddy Cebreco, Jason Chandler, and Zach Huckleberry. The truck also features 20×8 and 20×11 Detroit Steel Wheel Delrays that have been powdercoated by Custom Coaters of Atlanta, and then ceramic-coated by Hook’s Detailing to give them that chrome look. Dig the custom painted SQRBDY logo on the caps too.
What impacted me the most is her attitude. She has no quit. Naturally she’s a fighter, not just for herself but for everyone…
Of course buying the truck from Cato also means you have to throw one of his bench seats in there. Cato’s former apprentice runs Atlanta Stitchworks and he did the inserts with the same leather from the seat. Familiar faces Wes and Jeremy from the United by Trucks channel were in on it too. You know who your real friends are when it comes down to the crunch!
Sarah is a breast cancer survivor. She incorporated the pink ribbon on her truck, and all of the proceeds from the raffle at her show go directly toward the Pink Fund. In her experience, most aid goes directly to medical expenses, and when most of your time is spent focusing on your health, finances like gas, groceries, and household bills are still left to be paid. The Pink Fund alleviates that stress, with financial aid that helps with the “other part of the fight.”
After the show I had the pleasure of exploring the art district in Decatur with Sarah and Rick. We hit the iconic Outkast Mural, captured rolling shots in front of the Majestic Diner, and got a contact buzz behind The Junkman’s Daughter. Brembo the poodle sat shotgun while we worked our magic. One of my personal favorite photography techniques is light painting. A little front and rear 3/4 action went down next to a dark and creepy abandoned house that has since been demolished for reasons unknown to us. We won’t forget trying to wash away the strange moaning sounds with IPAs after the shoot.
This truck embodies the missions that C10s in the City stands for—building communities through our industry, celebrating everyone who makes up those communities, and supporting everyone involved. After hanging out with Sarah, I can say she’s one of the most driven people I’ve ever met, with a fierce passion for helping those in need. She recognizes the cracks where people fall through and is working on bridging those gaps to create a better future for her communities.
Be bold, set goals, engage in your communities, and remember that you can be fearless for yourself and others. It’s that mindset that created our industry, and also preserves it.
What impacted me the most is her attitude. She has no quit. Naturally she’s a fighter, not just for herself but for everyone, and I hope she feels that sense of pride every time she takes her truck out. The builds that stand out the most to me are the ones that have a story, and the narrative for this one reads to me as fearless.
When we sat down for dinner, I told Sarah that her mom told me she was really proud of her for how she presented herself during our interview. Sarah laughed and said, “Well when you go through something like cancer, nothing really scares you anymore.”
Be bold, set goals, engage in your communities, and remember that you can be fearless for yourself and others. It’s that mindset that created our industry, and also preserves it.
Owner
Exterior
Interior
Wheels and Tires
Tiffany Neumann loves custom trucks. Ever since she was a little girl, she has been fascinated by the idea of transforming the plain and ordinary into something extraordinary and unique. As she got older, those interests melded seamlessly with the custom truck scene, which she has been a part of for many years now.
When Tiffany’s husband Tony decided to take over driving duties of her custom Mazda mini, she was met with a problem: what to build next? It didn’t take long for Tiffany to figure out that a full-size would leave a lot more room for activities, so she picked up a 2015 Chevy Silverado and went to work. Well, since Tony pretty much stole the Mazda, she made sure that he put in his fair share of work to pay her back!
As a member of the Forbidden Fantasy truck club, Tiffany had some pretty high standards for this latest build. Because of this, it would take three years of long nights and weekends to get the results you see here. Luckily for Tiffany, Tony is the dude behind Kreative Kustom Worx, which specializes in building custom vehicles, so he was pretty much obligated to do anything she wanted. Maybe it would be more accurate to say that Tony couldn’t wait to check each item off the list of things Tiffany wanted done to her truck—maybe not. In either case, the list was long, so he got to work and got the help of some handy friends along the way.
Going low was goal number one, but Tiffany knew that she wasn’t going to be satisfied with just the frame hitting the pavement.
Going low was goal number one, but Tiffany knew that she wasn’t going to be satisfied with just the frame hitting the pavement. Airbags were a no-brainer, of course, but the only thing that was really going to set the stance off right would involve a lot more work. And so, Tony broke out every cutting tool in his arsenal to bodydrop the Silverado, which included sectioning the frame under the cab, dropping the body mounts 2.5 inches, and raising the bed floor.
At this point it would have been easy enough to just button things up and call the truck done after tossing on some custom wheels, but no. Nope, that would have been too easy. And to be honest, you probably wouldn’t be seeing this truck on these pages if Tiffany had stopped there. Instead, the rearend was also narrowed a total of 8 inches to maximize the amount of lip on the black 26×10 rear US Mags Outrage 6 wheels, but then she went and bought some huge 14-inch Wilwood brakes to stuff behind them, with 16-inch Wilwoods peeking through the matching 26×9 front wheels.
After Tony was done with a large chunk of what was on his list, Tiffany sent pieces of the truck off for some additional work. Brandon B-sons Fab Lab added the hinged floor section to the bed (and he’s very proud to have done it all himself!), and once the rest of the metalwork was complete she had Shane Hancock at Supreme Customs apply a fresh black paintjob. Elgin Harris of Floating Focus then worked his magic by designing, taping, and spraying the lowrider-style patterned paint using black, teal, and silver paint, with silver leafing thrown in for extra “pop.”
Speaking of “pop,” the original 4.3L V-6 was in dire need of a power boost, so Tony came back in and saved the day with a rear-mounted 48mm STS turbo setup. The engine also got a set of JBS stainless steel headers, which also helps spin the rear tires a lot more easily and sounds a hell of a lot cooler than the original exhaust!
Moving inside, there wasn’t anything inherently wrong with the interior, but stock is pretty boring when you’ve gone this far, so Advance Coatings and Trim came onboard to build the custom door panels, headliner, and accent pieces, as well as reupholster the seating with fresh black vinyl with teal stitching. Handmade Howard also played a big role with transforming the Chevy’s innards, with a custom center console and enclosures for the Kicker amp and speakers. The crowning touch is the US Mags Outrage steering wheel, which oddly enough matches the Outrage wheels at each corner of the truck.
Tiffany says that her truck would have been finished a lot sooner, but unfortunately Tony works extra slow when he isn’t getting paid. On a positive note, it gave her tons of time to pick out the truck’s colors!
OWNER
CHASSIS & SUSPENSION
WHEELS & TIRES
ENGINE & DRIVETRAIN
BODY & PAINT
INTERIOR & STEREO
If you watched any bit of live television and/or online coverage of northern California’s Camp Fire in 2018, chances are you might have witnessed this exact truck burning up in real time. To date, the specific fire (also referred to as the Paradise Fire due to the name of one of the incorporated towns that was largely affected by the damage) was the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in the state’s history. It also stands as one of the most expensive natural disasters in the world the year it happened in terms of insured loses including homes, businesses personal properties, and lives, unfortunately.
While there are countless horror stories from those who were directly touched by the Camp Fire, we were intrigued to hear about a gentleman who lost a field full of classic cars and trucks to the flames, as well as a ton of other irreplaceable, sentimental items that reduced to piles of ash.
“This particular 1959 Chevy Apache pickup seen here was just one of the vehicles belonging to that man who was burned to a crisp during the Camp Fire,” says the truck’s current owner, Jason Fonte—field marketing manager at Chemical Guys. “As soon it was deemed safe to return to his fire-stricken property, that gentleman salvaged what he could and sold off a good deal of his damaged vehicles that were somewhat usable. A friend of mine found it on Craigslist, purchased it, but didn’t do anything with it right away due to the amount of work that would be required to bring it back from the dead.”
At this time, Jason was actually looking for a project truck to buy and wrench on. Knowing this, his friend offered the smoldering Chevy truck carcass to him at an appealing price.
“My knee-jerk reaction was a respectful ‘hell no,’ but my answer soon softened once he filled me in on the truck’s history,” Jason admits. “After he showed the photos on the Craigslist ad and I read the description, I was 100% committed. Even though the truck was a complete mess of twisted, burned, and rusted metal, I knew that I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to give the Chevy a new lease on life while preserving its story through glamorizing its obvious charred condition. The turnaround wouldn’t be easy, but I was ready to do my best to make it happen.”
While Jason’s commitment to restoring such a dilapidated old pickup was commendable, not everyone was able to see the potential and significance of the truck as he did.
“When the truck finally showed up to our house, my wife Dina and our son Rocco along with some friends were in the front yard having a picnic when the flatbed carrying the truck arrived,” Jason remembers. “My son’s first response was to call the truck ‘Mater’ from the Disney movie ‘Cars.’ My wife simply thought I was absolutely crazy to spend real money on that ‘piece of sh*t,’ as she referred to it, but I was lucky enough that she gave me a chance with it. The truck was dropped during the first week of the COVID lockdown here in Los Angeles, so it came at the right time to give me something to do with all the downtime we experienced.”
The patina on the truck is unbeatable, and the story behind it is sad yet amazing at the same time.
Over the next few months, Jason took his time designing the build on paper first. When he wasn’t sketching out ideas, he was hoarding as many OE and NOS parts he could track down. What he couldn’t find organically through calling in favors from pals and scavenging around he ordered online and stashed aside for the day the parts would be needed.
“After a few more months, I was able to source a motor and transmission from SoCal Auto Salon in Costa Mesa, California,” Jason says. “Nick of SoCal then helped me finalize my decision of ordering with a full Roadster Shop SPEC Slammed Series chassis, but that wouldn’t come in for a little while longer.”
Once the entire drivetrain was ready to go and the chassis system was on-hand, Jason reached out to his good friend Jeff Davey of Devious Customs in Riverside, California, to roll out the next and most exciting phase of the Apache’s revitalization process.
“All I had to say to Jeff was ‘it’s go time,’ and he showed up the very next day with two flatbeds to grab the truck and all the parts and components I was able to secure,” Jason says.
The engine Jason ended up scoring for the Apache was a peppy and clean late 2000’s-era LQ9 6.0L that was beefed up with an impressive lineup of go-fast accessory additions.
“Jeff and crew hid all the wiring during installation, including all the restored AC lines,” Jason adds. “I wanted the engine bay to be as sterile as possible while placing the crazy motor and patina-clad metal at center stage. The entire engine, transmission, and driveshaft were also painted a classic hot-rod gold color with heavy metal flake to give it all that old-school vibe. Jeff also fabricated a bead-rolled firewall to further create a much more interesting environment underneath the hood.”
When it came time to assess the condition of the Apache’s exterior, what Jason discovered was shocking.
“I’ve never seen the true damage that fire can do to an old vehicle, and what we found on the truck was that the support posts under the bed had melted, which resulted in the bedsides curling under,” he says. “Pushing them back out enough to build a new bed was challenging, but the results ended up creating the appearance of a side-to-side body kit that is nicely proportioned as-is—so much so that I get asked quite often where I bought the kit.”
Aside from that damage, the driver-side door isn’t perfectly gapped and melted glass is stuck to it. Since little to no bodywork was slated except where truly necessary, all Jason felt was required to meet his vision was to scrub the entire surface down with red Scotch-Brite pads dipped in a diluted CLR formula before shooting it all with three coats of matte clear to seal in the naturally roasted finish.
“This particular truck was optioned with reverse lights, and they amazingly survived the fire to a degree along with the turn-signal bezels,” Jason says. “The colors that are in the bezels are shades of oxidized green, copper, gold, and brown, which directly inspired the entire color palette for finished state of this project.”
Jeff of Devious then cooked up a bed for the Apache that was designed to look old and weathered with an exposed center section that showcases the rear chassis peeking through from below. The wood floor and strips were distressed, beat up, and stained multiple times to achieve the desired end result. The entire floor was raised to house the air compressors and allow the massive exhaust slide by. The OE wheeltubs were then widened 5 inches and have been left untreated to gain a natural layer or rust that will soon blend right in. OE footholds were then utilized to port the exhaust with a killer teardrop reveal that were finished off in trim rings with copper rivets, which were also left raw to promote true patina over time.
The interior space was also overhauled with a leather and suede-wrapped Snowden bench seat and headliner, custom door panels, as well as new plush carpeting and a Budnik steering wheel for a refreshed old-school feel. A Classic Industries gauge cluster was wired into the dash that was coated in flat black paint and peppered with naturally weathered accents and top portion for continuity’s sake. To liven things up inside the cab, a full audio system was also put into place to make cruising that much more enjoyable.
‘The patina on the truck is unbeatable, and the story behind it is sad yet amazing at the same time,” Jason comments. “There isn’t a truck like this on the planet, and I am very grateful that I have been able to help tell its story, as well as the stories of those who were also adversely affected by the Camp Fire.”
This once-burned-down old ranch truck is now an award winner that debuted at SEMA 2021 and has made its rounds at Dino’s Git Down, C10 Intervention, and Good Guys Del Mar, among other high profile events. Those who were watching the play-by-play as the truck was being built and had something to say about the likelihood of its completion or the style Jason was gunning for hopefully have been silenced for good.
“It feels good to have successfully resurrected this truck and to have been able to help people in any way possible,” Jason adds. “I am humbled and grateful to have had the opportunity to properly reinstate the dignity this Chevy deserved while still being able to build it the I way I envisioned.”
OWNER
ENGINE/DRIVETRAIN
CHASSIS/SUSPENSION
WHEELS, TIRES & BRAKES
BODY/PAINT
INTERIOR/STEREO
There’s a new contender moving up the ranks in this thrilling world of C10 restorations: Project Rocky, a 1979 Chevy C10, poised to redefine what it means to be a classic. For those who might have missed a beat in our journey, welcome back to the show. We are refocused on this project after a long hiatus while Rocky was at the paint and body shop, as well as our dedication to Sergeant Square, our military charity build for Mission 22. But now, the spotlight is back on Rocky, and we’re excited to bring you up to speed.
Picture this: a truck stripped down to its very core. Every nut, every bolt, every inch will be transformed. The old body panels are making way for new ones from Auto Metal Direct. They will be prepped and restored to an even better version than its original.
At the core of it all lies our chassis, the foundation upon which Rocky stands. We’re not merely refurbishing; we’re enhancing. Strengthening the structure, tweaking the aesthetics, and it all starts here. While the factory frame and original cab stand resilient, everything else will be a modern version, courtesy of some remarkable American companies that support our vision.
To upgrade the suspension, we collaborated with partners like Rock Auto who provided OEM suspension components, BDS Suspension for a larger-than-life stance, and Performance Online for a brake upgrade that is necessary for a build of this caliper. The wheels have been upgraded to a dazzling new set from American Force, wrapped in 33-inch Toyo Tires.
Our cab is now rust-free thanks to the team at Street Dreams paint and body shop in Ocala, Florida, and now wears a coat of Ferrari Red. With fresh glass from National Parts Depot and rubber seals from Steele Rubber, every detail has been planned to perfection.
Under the hood, the heart of this prize fighter is a new Summit Racing 5.3-liter LS crate engine, complete with accessories from Lokar Performance. This combo promises power, performance, and a style like no other. Our story doesn’t end here. We can only fit so much into the pages of this magazine, so we invite you to join us through our video series on YouTube. Project Rocky is more than a restoration; it’s a testament to passion for any and all C10 enthusiasts. Let’s go!
To have “experience” means to have practical hands-on knowledge about a particular process or situation.
If you have experience keeping chickens, you know all about chicken health, housing requirements, nutritional needs, and vermin control. If you have experience playing baseball, you know how to hit and catch a ball, run to home base to score, and tag someone out. And if you have experience as a truck builder, you know just what to do to create a 1959 Chevy Apache like this out of thin air—along with eight-plus years of hard work.
“After having many ‘bagged and custom builds, I wanted to have a custom hotrod I built myself,” says Cory Shows of Caledonia, Mississippi, an AcrophobiA member and helicopter paint supervisor with experience to spare.
Back in the 1990s, Cory installed car stereos at a few different shops throughout high school while building his first “show truck” to take to ShowFest in Greenville, Mississippi.
“I worked on that truck for several years learning most of what I know today,” Cory recalls.
Sadly, he lost the truck after a bad accident, but that didn’t stop his affinity for customizing trucks.
“I went through several other trucks over some time, changing little things to make it mine,” he says. “After a while and a couple of kids later, I was given the opportunity to have a bay at my good friend’s shop to do my next ‘build.’”
And so, the search began for his next project’s inspiration. While driving across town from his place, Cory spied an aging Chevy truck in the backyard of an old man’s house.
“I made a deal with what I could afford at the time,” he says.
The old man took the cash, and Cory went home with a new-to-him ’59 Apache.
“At first, the plan was to have a clean weekend cruiser,” he says. “But as it does, life got in the way. I worked on the truck for three to four years, and then things started to progress.”
What changed the course of Cory’s build was an “elusive fleetside bed made only for ’58-’59 Apaches.” The bedsides with those groovy curves replaced the original step-sides, and Cory decided that the once-weekend cruiser was destined for greatness at shows across the Southeast.
In the meantime, being on a budget, Cory did most of the work on his own.
“I had to learn how to get things done mostly myself,” he says. “The truck was turning from a simple thing into something else. From smoothing the body to cutting my own stainless suspension bars, I wanted to see how far I could push it.”
For the exterior, Cory added a ’59 Apache grille from AMD and Chevy bumpers from a ’59 Impala Custom—one of the truck’s unique features. He also smoothed the sheetmetal, flushed the door jambs with rounded corners, added La Garra flush handles, and created seamless bedsides with roll pans.
As for paint, he applied a custom-mixed Black Chromabase with Axalta Clear. And, surprise, surprise: “It was the easiest part of the build,” says Cory the custom painter.
He used his experience under the hood, too. He installed a 1969 Chevy V-8 468ci engine and used TRW connecting rods and pistons. The sealed power rings have a 11:1 compression ratio. He used a Comp Xenergy camshaft with 555 lift, ported large oval head mods, and an Edelbrock Airgap intake manifold.
Other engine upgrades include a Holley Sniper fuel injector, 3-inch Patriot headers, 3-inch Flowmaster exhaust system, and an MSD HEI ignition. The engine is smooth painted with a full wire tuck, has a Black Mountain 2.5 pull drive, “Gotta Show” stainless steel lines, air conditioning, heater, and power steering.
The Apache has a custom chassis designed by Cory himself. He modified the frame with a Camaro clip and built the back half. It has a 114-inch wheelbase with Airlift springs and KYB shocks, front and rear.
He says the only thing he’d change about the truck would be a full-frame swap. “Suspensions have gotten so much better over the years,” he says.
For rubber, he chose Toyo Proxy tires, 22 inches in the front and 24 inches in the back, with 4- and 4.5-inch backspacing, respectively. They’re wrapped around Raceline Bandit wheels.
Of course, the interior had to look as good as the exterior, so Cory once again went to work, this time reupholstering the Apache and installing classy Snowden bench seats along with full door panels, German velour carpet, and a custom sheetmetal dash. The interior is another one of the truck’s most notable features.
It took Cory eight-plus years to finished up this restoration, but it was worth all the time and experience, he says.
“Stay the course and don’t give up,” he says, noting that this Apache build taught him a great deal of patience.
When show season starts again next year, be sure to keep an eye out for Cory’s black ’59 Chevy Apache. He’s been to LST, Crusin’ the Coast, Goodguys shows, Battle in Bama, Orange Beach Invasion, Mini Nats, Hot Rod Nationals, Redemption Day, and more!
“The most rewarding thing about his hobby is meeting people who are interested in something you put your heart into,” he says. “ It’s a blessing to be recognized and have the ability to share some of my experiences, however they come.”
TRUCK SPECS
OWNER
Cory Shows
1959 Chevy Apache
Caledonia, MS
Club: AcrophobiA
EXTERIOR
ENGINE
DRIVETRAIN
CHASSIS
WHEELS/TIRES
INTERIOR
Richard Hopkins of Burlington, North Carolina, used to have a pretty cool vintage Chevy pickup back when he was younger. Although the truck is now gone, he still has the greatest memories spent working on it with his father, Richard Sr. (Big Rich). Although that particular truck wasn’t exactly his dream ride, it was still a great project to have and it gave him a great excuse to spend some quality time with his dad.
“That old truck of mine was a ’66 Chevy C10 longbed”, Richard says. “I always wanted a big window shortbed, but I enjoyed what I had back then. Now that I’m older, I was set on finding the exact truck that I wanted so that my son and I could share some of the same experiences I did with my father.”
It didn’t take long for Richard to find the truck he had been coveting for decades. With the keys in his hand for a ’66 C10 with that big back window/shortbed combo, he began work on what would be an absolute showstopper when the Hopkins men were finished with it. Oh yeah, Big Rich hadn’t given up building trucks just yet, and he was ready to help his son as he set out to dig in on yet another classic Chevy pickup.
“…I was set on finding the exact truck that I wanted then so that my son and I could share some of the same experiences I did with my father.”
Before Big Rich got to work, however, Junior kicked off the project by installing Porterbuilt drop member units to the front and rear to get the ’66 sitting down low. Richard then properly upgraded the drop member systems by bolting on Firestone air bags and Ridetech HQ shocks, dual Viair compressors, and an Accuair e-Level air management to quickly and accurately dial in the desired ride height for cruising.
The completed frame was thoroughly powdercoated once all the components had been test fitted to keep everything uniform and well protected from the elements. Richard also treated his truck to Unisteer power rack-and-pinion steering and went so far as to remove the OEM fuel tank to clean and reseal it before mounting it right back in the factory location.
“…Junior kicked off the project by installing Porterbuilt drop member units to the front and rear to get the ’66 sitting down low.”
The factory front braking components were removed and slated to hit the junk pile. They would be replaced with fresh, modular disc brake kits from CPP. The rear drum brakes were serviced, however, as the drums would remain intact for the time being. A Wilwood tandem master cylinder with proportioning valve was added to the mix, as were anodized black caliper covers for an unassuming appearance. Since Richard was looking to staying true to his truck’s timeless ’60s styling, he selected a set of 22×9 Centerline Smoothie wheels that have been finished off with chrome retro hubcaps and performance Falken tires.
With a solid rolling chassis now intact, Richard then moved on to removing the C10’s engine and dropping in something much more special. Big Rich had a ’57 Chevy that he has planned on building soon, as well as a ’57 Chevy 283 V-8 to go along with it that he was interested in breaking in.
“The Chevy C60 air cleaner had to be sectioned, chopped, and rotated 180-degrees in order to clear the underside of the hood.”
Well, the truck was in need of something to power it, so that’s where that classic GM mill is currently residing—a perfect solution for the scenario. This engine wasn’t whipped by just any means though. The father/son duo had souped it up properly, and it now features some very cool performance additions that also make a lasting visual impression underneath the truck’s hood.
Given the C10’s current low-as-hell ride height, a few things had to be done in order for a few things to fit better. The Chevy C60 air cleaner had to be sectioned, chopped and rotated 180-degrees to clear the underside of the hood. The transmission crossmember had to be altered for the Deeds Engineering modular exhaust system to be fed through the frame and not underneath it. After a few more tweaks and additions to the engine, the guys were soon ready to mount a 1969 TH350 transmission, along with an Inland Empire 2-piece driveshaft while still utilizing the factory ’66 Chevy 12-bolt rearend.
“Aside from the routine metal work to get the truck ready for paint, Richard utilized the availability of SelfMade Fab’s shaved and bead-rolled firewall panels and front and rear wheel tubs.”
A lot of hard work had been sunk into the project at this point, but Richard was nowhere near ready to slow down on its progress. With the engine and transmission well taken care of, the next phase of the build was one that would not present any curveballs for Richard. Being an expert body shop technician, he was well equipped to take on the upcoming body and paintwork in what would be the easiest stretch of the seven-year ordeal. Aside from the routine metal work to get the truck ready for paint, Richard utilized the availability of SelfMade Fab’s shaved and bead-rolled firewall panels and front and rear wheel tubs. A factory C60 grill was then chrome plated before installation, and a wood bed floor was laid down and finished off with a center access panel to better reach the vital components below deck.
Next, Richard began the process of narrowing down paint colors, which promptly halted once he landed on PPG’s Dodge Hemi Orange Pearl for the body and Wimbledon White for the roof. With the inclusion of more freshly chromed parts and pieces, the exterior of the ’66 was looking as cool and timeless as it gets.
“Inside the cab, a combination of pewter material was utilized when reupholstering the factory bench seat and the factory Deluxe model steering wheel.”
Inside the cab, a combination of pewter material was utilized when reupholstering the factory bench seat and the factory Deluxe model steering wheel. A matching fawn-colored paint was then selected to cover the dash and door panels. The interior color palette is independent of that used on the truck’s outward landscape, which makes for a welcomed change of environment while settling in for a long drive. The toned-down in-cab appearance matches the classic demeanor of the truck’s exterior with its smooth, subtle styling—a feat that wasn’t so simple to pull off.
Once the dust settled on the project, Richard Jr. finally had the truck he had wanted years ago—only in better condition than he could’ve ever imagined. While time and money always present hurdles with a project this extensive, he took it all in stride. Richard had an exact vision in mind, so to get there, he took the extra time to do things right, and he saved up the extra money required to purchase the specific parts he just had to have.
“The one thing the truck constantly gets compliments on is its originality with that little bit of custom flare…”
“The only advice I can give to anyone is that do not ever give up on your vision,” Richards offers. “If you have a certain look that you want to maintain throughout your project, go that extra mile and do what you have to do. The one thing the truck constantly gets compliments on is its originality with that little bit of custom flare, which was actually more difficult than I would’ve guessed. I am hoping this truck will give my son and me the opportunity to create wonderful memories like how I was able to make with my dad.”
RICHARD HOPKINS
1966 Chevy C10
Burlington, NC
Relaxed Atmosphere
Shop: Richard Hopkins and his father, Big Rich
1957 Chevy V-8 283c.i.
OEM connecting rods
TRW .030 over pistons
Sealed Power rings
Drilled and tapped crankshaft to accept newer balancer bolt
Comp Cams Nostalgic Plus flat cam, valve springs, locks and keepers
258/265 lift and 211/218 duration
Power Pack heads milled .020 and hardened valve seats
ARP screw in rocker studs
Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold and 1403 carburetor
Hooker F-Body mid-length headers, 1.5-inch primaries to 2.5-inch collector, Jet Hot coating
Aluminized Deeds Engineering DIY exhaust kit welded together with H-pipe
MSD HEI ignition
Concept 1 pulley setup in black anodized
Customized factory C60 air cleaner
Offenhauser staggered bolt valve covers
Taylor plug wires
1969 TH350 transmission
Energy Suspension trans bushing
Polished finned aluminum pan
B&M shift kit
Boss Hoss torque converter
Milled direct clutch piston to receive extra friction clutch and steel
Porterbuilt front to rear crossmembers, Dropmember 3 and rear setup
Powdercoated complete frame
Trans crossmember modified to keep exhaust above frame bottom
Narrowed control arms
Firestone convoluted front ‘bags, rear sleeve ‘bags
Ridetech HQ shocks
Unisteer power rack and pinion
Porterbuilt 1.5-inch front sway bar
Dual Viair compressors
Accuair e-Level air management
Inland Empire 2-piece driveshaft w/ slip yoke and billet carrier bearing
Factory 1966 Chevy 12-bolt rearend
CPP 6-to-5-lug rear axle swap
Strange Engineering LPW diff support cover
Two Optima batteries
22×9 Centerline Smoothie wheels
265/35R22 Falken Ziex S/TZ tires
CPP front modular disc brakes, factory rear drums powdercoated
Wilwood tandem master cylinder w/ proportioning valve
Factory C60 grille chrome plated
Sylvania Silverstar sealed beam headlights
Raised and bead rolled front and rear wheel tubs by Selfmade Fab
PPG base clean DBC Hemi orange pearl w/ Wimbledon white roof
Shop: Steve Kurzman, former owner of The Custom Stitching Company, Charlotte, NC
OEM seat frame covered in vintage fawn leather upholstery with tinsel piping
Matching sun visors and leather covered fuel tank panels
Complete painted interior and eggshell flattened and cleared
1961 Chevy truck Deluxe arm rests
OEM gauges reconditioned with tach
1966 custom model steering wheel
Flaming River street rod tilt column
Vintage Air A/C and heat
Removable trans tunnel buck to access transmission
Who would want to drive a performance car built from 50-year-old parts based on even older technology? This is exactly the same thought that crossed Greg Heinrich’s mind. He loved the styling and looks of his 1970 Chevelle, but since he owns a Chevrolet dealership filled with brand-new cars, he figured he could keep the muscle car attitude and upgrade the engine, suspension and interior to underscore the beauty that lies underneath.
THE INSIDE IS A DIFFERENT STORY. THE ENTIRE DASH BEZEL HAS BEEN RECREATED AS A CUSTOM BILLET ALUMINUM PIECE…”
To create the perfect pro-touring muscle car that featured power, reliability and modern luxuries cloaked in classic sheet metal, Greg turned to Ironworks Speed & Kustom out of Bakersfield, California. His instructions to owner Rodger Lee were to completely modernize and upgrade everything for performance and comfort, except the body. The jet black exterior was in pristine condition, so only a few minor upgrades were scheduled. A quick glance at the rolling stock or inside at the interior offers a hint to the power and performance that lies beneath.
The guys at Ironworks started from the ground up, outfitting the car with one of their 1968-72 Chevelle chassis that adds rigidity and upgraded suspension for better handling. The front suspension consists of C6 Corvette components along with a Detroit Speed rack-and-pinion steering setup to an ididit column.
A set of Ridetech triple adjustable shocks provides improved cornering and ride comfort as opposed to the old A-body suspension that could give even the most avid boater sea legs. Fourteen-inch Wilwood brakes help bring things to a quick stop. Out back, a 4-link setup wraps around a Ford 9-inch rearend with 3.89 gears and a tough 35- spline Wave Trac differential.
Ridetech shocks and Wilwood brakes round out the package. With improved handling and forthcoming added performance, raceinspired wheels were the way to go. A set of 19 x 10 and 20 x 12-inch grip-equipped Laguna wheels wrapped in Michelin PS2 295/30R19 and 335/30R20 tires provide a wide track pattern for keeping the muscle car under control.
Greg didn’t have to look far beyond his inventory for the perfect power plant for the pro-touring ride. With Chevrolet Performance offering crate engines from its high-performance cars to the public, a 2012 Chevrolet LSA supercharged engine pushing almost 600 hp was the perfect fit.
The engine provides the reliability and tenability of a modern LS3 engine topped with a supercharger providing even more horsepower that’s friendly to gas mileage as well. An AutoRad radiator helps keep things cool, while a K&N air intake flows to custom-built 1.875-inch stainless steel headers and 3-inch exhaust with Magnaflow mufflers.
The powerful engine is backed with a Tremec Magnum transmission and twin-disc clutch to a custom-built driveshaft. The exterior was kept in factory condition aside from a set of JW Speaker LED headlights.
The inside is a different story. The entire dash bezel has been recreated as a custom billet aluminum piece featuring Auto Meter gauges and Ironworks switches. A Vintage Air system provides comfort on hot days and cold nights, a Budnik steering wheel and Marquez Design billet mirror finish things off for the interior styling. A Sony head unit leading to Kicker speakers provides the tunes. Lastly, Stitch by Stitch wrapped everything in red leather to set off the interior against the black exterior.
Taking this classic 1970 Chevelle and bringing it up to a modern standard ensures that the car will be driven and perform better than ever intended from the factory. Greg’s Chevelle may show classic lines but thanks to the crew at Ironworks Speed & Kustom, it has the driving characteristics of a Corvette ZR1 with the luxury of a Cadillac.
TAKING A CLASSIC MUSCLE CAR AND BRINGING IT UP TO MODERN STANDARDS ENSURES THAT THE CAR WILL BE DRIVEN AND PERFORM BETTER THAN EVER INTENDED FROM THE FACTORY.
OWNER: Greg Heinrich 1970 Chevelle Las Vegas, NV
BUILDER: Ironworks Speed & Kustom Stitch By Stitch
FRAME: Ironworks 68-72 Chevelle Chassis
SUSPENSION: Ironworks C6 Corvette based, Ridetech triple adjustable shocks, Detroit Speed rack-andpinion, Ford 9-inch rearend, Wave Trac 35-spline 3.89 differential
BRAKES: 14-inch Wilwood
WHEELS: 19 x 10-inch and 20 x 12-inch grip-equipped Laguna
TIRES: Michelin PS2 295/30R19 and 335/30R20
ENGINE: 2012 LSA crate engine, Auto Rad radiator, K&N air intake, Magnaflow muffler, custom 3-inch stainless exhaust system, custom 1.875-inch stainless headers, Rick’s 21-gallon aluminum gas tank
TRANSMISSION: Tremec Magnum, twin clutch
BODY & PAINT: Factory, JW Speaker LED headlights
INTERIOR: Ironworks billet dash, red leather seats, Auto Meter gauges, Sony head unit, Kicker speakers, ididit steering column, Budnik steering wheel, Vintage Air, Ron Francis wiring harness
In 1997, Barrett Stewart was injected with a custom truck virus when a few friends asked him to hang out one weekend. It only took one experience in the laid back lifestyle we enthusiasts all know and love to get Barrett hooked. Over the years, he bought and sold a few of the industry’s most well known rides, but this latest one is special, and it may not go anywhere anytime soon. Barrett had some previous custom truck owner experience with his first truck, a ’94 GMC Sonoma known as “Sweet as Candy,” which was featured in Mini Truckin magazine back in ’97. Next on his list of good looking rides was a ’96 Chevy S-10 Blazer two-door called “Double Exposure.” That build was also featured in Mini Truckin. Lastly, his third custom truck was a ’99 Chevrolet Tahoe four-door named “816 Hours” in a past Street Trucks article. This is the truck that began the OBS obsession for Barrett.
“This truck had a great start from previous owner, Brian Baird, and I was lucky enough to buy the truck and see a vision of how he envisioned it complete,” Barrett says.
Body-dropped on 24-inch wheels was the goal, and previous owner Brian was the man making the mods to the metal.
Body mods on this amazing truck include a chopped top roof, a Goodmark Steel SS Ram air hood, Hart front inner fenders, shaved fuel door and a steel roll pan.
The factory frame rails were notched for tie rods and stock floor body dropped using 2×4-inch square tubing. A custom four-link suspension with a Panhard bar and pinion snubber mounts up to the factory rear end that is loaded with Moser Axles and 3.73 Auburn limited slip gears. The front end hardware was swapped out for Michigan Metal Works upper and lower control arms, airbags and an Airlift 3H air management system. This gave Barrett the ability to lay body on 24×9-inch front and 24×12-inch Raceline Status 6 wheels. The Delinte DS8 tire sizes are 255/35/24 up front and 305/35/24 in the rear. A rear disc brake conversion with a Wilwood Master cylinder and stainless braided brake lines give this truck plenty of stopping power.
The truck is LS swapped using a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 5.3-Liter LS, A Comp Cams “Big Mutha Thumper” cam, a Be Cool aluminum radiator, Edelbrock coil pack covers, Boost brothers mid length headers and 3-inch spin tech mufflers. LS1 engine dress up accessories and an Edelbrock Pro flow EFI conversion wrapped up the engine mods. A 2002 GM 4L80E transfers the power to the rear axles.
Body mods on this amazing truck include a chopped top roof, a Goodmark Steel SS Ram air hood, Hart front inner fenders, shaved fuel door and a steel roll pan. There’s also a shaved roof drip rail, shaved third brake light, shaved stake pockets and shaved tailgate handle. All the amazing bodywork was performed by Kevin Fulmer Shadetree Customs Pomaria, SC. The color is Toyota Cavalry Blue with Toyota Cement Gray graphics. All paint and graphics were also completed by Kevin Fulmer at Shadetree customs.
A few events that this killer truck can be seen at include the Battle in Bama ‘Million Dollar Row,’ East Tennessee Showdown, Drop Em Wear show, Mini Truckin’ Nationals and more.
A few events that this killer 1990 Chevrolet C1500 truck can be seen at include the Battle in Bama “Million Dollar Row,” East Tennessee Showdown, Drop Em Wear show, Mini Truckin’ Nationals and more.
“With the help of great friends and amazing family my vision became reality. Thanks to my extended family in Relaxed Atmosphere for always being there to give support or ideas” Barrett says.
TRUCK SPECS
Barrett Stewart
1990 Chevrolet C1500
Location: Laurens SC
Club affiliation: Relaxed Atmosphere
Occupation: Owner of Superior Auto
Cost of 1990 Chevrolet: $9,000
Date of original Purchase: October 2017
Cost of Build-up: $25,000
How long from build date to completion: 3 years
Chassis
Wheels/Tires
Engine
Body
Interior/Stereo
“Thanks to David at Coys wheel, Raceline Wheels, Dunbar Auto Supply, Jeff Smith at Colorworx paint shop, Delinte tires, Kevin and Kory Fulmer at Shadetree Customs, Ronnie at Lowrider Depot, all my guys at Superior Auto, Andrew White at Mainstreet Auto Detailing, Jason Mode at New Creations, Hart Fabrication, Keith and Tommy Allewine at TKM Customs, and most importantly my wife Nikki and or two amazing boys, Rett and Eli.”
