This truck came to us from Florida. I
understand it spent quite a bit of time in Arizona. I don’t know
where it lived its “normal” life, but it has never been rusty, so
perhaps that was in Arizona.
Being around customized and restored
vehicles for many years has helped me get a good feel for the cost
of the build. In this case, I would estimate the cost to be in
excess of $100,000.
Start be discovering a rust-free
panel truck. Take the body off the frame, get all the LONG panels
perfectly straight, smooth the fire wall, then paint the entire tub
Pewter Metallic. I mean inside and out, top and bottom. Then find
truly nice fenders, prepare them, paint them Sport Red Metallic
(Burgandy), install the welting, etc.
Now the body is painted, so you add
new glass, new trim, new chrome bumpers and mirrors, new light
fixtures, ect. Plus, you install new ok and
stainless steel bed floor.
In the meantime, you have
installed door poppers with remote, power windows, new door handles
and hardware and allowed the rear doors to still be locked
with the key.
The frame is all media blasted and
painted. The rear end is now a GM 12 bolt with 2.73 gearing. The
front is a Mustang II power rack. All four corners are on Air-Ride
Technologies bags with individual controls in the cab. The power
boosted dual master cylinder is beneath the floor. The front brakes
are disc. The rear end is stabilized by a four-link system. The
wheels are American Racing with new radials.
The powertrain is all new. The
engine is a RamJet fuel-injected 350. Of course that means a
custom fuel system is required for the injection.
The 700r4 overdrive automatic has
B+M internals and a B+M controller for the lock-up torque
converter. The powertrain combination yields low rpm freeway
speeds.
The engine is equipped with coated
headers that feed a dual Flowmaster exhaust system. The serpentine
belt system powers the alternator, power steering and the A/C
compressor.
Vintage Heat and Air is ready to
freeze you out. The heater hoses have never been plumbed to
the engine.
Classic gauges monitor the engine
and your speed. The odometer reads 8765 miles since the build was
completed.
The steering is by tilt column and Banjo wheel. The feel is right
and effortless.
The seats have been upholstered in
leather. The entire interior is customized. The headliner and walls
are upholstered. the front carpet is a custom woven style. For
protection, a custom fit vinyl mat was made. It is held in place
with snaps. Very nice, very convenient, very showy.
The scope of this build was huge. It
took great thought, countless hours and lots of cubic dollars.
There is no doubt in my mind that it exceeds $100,000.
Here is your chance to own a
fantastic show truck for one-third of the build cost. You are going
to be impressed, as is everybody that sees it.
