NEW PRICE! Called "The Dude." Awesome professional build. Custom extended cab, V8, overdrive, A/C, disc brakes, killer stereo, etc. 100% sorted, fast, and reliable. Everything works and it drives like a modern truck!
We know The Dude is a love-it-or-hate-it thing. If you're already at "hate it," well, move on and save us your E-mails. But if you appreciate craftsmanship, usability, and a look that says, "I don't care what the sissies think," then The Dude belongs in your garage. You're undoubtedly distracted by the horns on the grille, but take a moment to look the truck over and you'll realize, "Hey, wait a minute! Chevy never built an extended cab pickup in 1950!" You may not have noticed immediately because it looks so right—as if they factory DID build them this way 70 years ago. Skillfully lengthened 18 inches, the cab looks right from every single angle—the curve of the roof is uninterrupted, the beltline fits the way it did originally, and the quarter windows have exactly the right shape to follow the contours of the back of the cab. Even better, the frame was lengthened as well, so you have a full-sized pickup box, not some chopped-down mini box that looks weird. The bodywork underneath is done and done right, with super straight sheetmetal that could stand up to a gloss black paint job just as easily. Pinstripes highlight the interesting parts but they're not over-done as you see on many vehicles, and you'll spend an afternoon finding all the trick little details that make The Dude special. A few of the highlights: the aforementioned Texas longhorns on the grille, the cool push bumper designed to resemble those used at Bonneville to get the streamliners rolling, wrenches for door handles, cowboy-themed hooks on the sides of the bed and tailgate, and, of course, the faux tow apparatus, which does indeed have a fully operational electric winch, so it's still useful around the homestead. Those are '59 Cadillac taillights in back and please note that the grille itself was custom-made from tubular steel, but it emulates the original so well that it almost goes unnoticed. They totally nailed the details on this truck.
The cowboy theme continues inside, and this is probably where the whiners will whine loudest. But spend a little time looking past the Holstein-inspired upholstery (which is durable vinyl) and check out the long list of creature comforts. There's ice cold A/C neatly integrated into a panel under the dash and using vintage-looking guitar amplifier knobs (the builder was a musician of some note) so it has a neat theme going on. That little red lanyard is connected to a remote for the killer AM/FM/CD stereo system, which uses a vintage Fender amplifier box as an enclosure behind the seats, and as I said, the builder is a musician, so you know the sound system is pretty darned good. It's actually very easy to get comfortable in this truck, especially with a foot of extra legroom, and a cross-country drive should be a no-brainer in The Dude. The hardware is right.
That reliability and performance comes courtesy of a 350 cubic inch GM crate motor under the hood. Turn the key and it starts—every single time. It idles well, hot or cold, A/C or no A/C. And it pulls the truck around with real authority. There's an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor on top, a giant aluminum radiator, HEI distributor, and a powerful alternator that can keep up with the stereo system, as well as a neatly integrated A/C system that works rather well. The wiring is new, there's a custom radiator shroud to make the most of the fan's efforts, and a modern dual master brake cylinder with power assist for the front disc brakes. It has never given us a moment's trouble and thanks to the professional build, it should continue to be bulletproof reliable for years to come.
The original frame remains under the truck, but it was lengthened and reinforced to handle the extended cab, so no worries about using it as intended. It's plenty stout. The transmission is a 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive, so The Dude just loafs along at modern highway speeds, A/C blasting. The front suspension is a custom subframe with A-arms and a fat roll bar, as well as a modern rack-and-pinion setup with low effort so it's easy to handle. A bulletproof 12-bolt rear end seems appropriate on a truck ostensibly designed to do some work, and there are highway-friendly gears inside that work with the overdrive transmission to make this a long-haul cruiser that really does everything well. The lowered stance is just about ideal and it sits on 15-inch wheels with full disc wheel covers to continue that Bonneville Salt Flats vibe, as well as a set of Goodyear Wrangler radials.
If you can get past the in-your-face look, you'll find there's an extremely well-built, properly engineered machine underneath. It has people lined up three deep around it at every show we attend, and the workmanship stands up to the scrutiny.. If you're the kind of person who colors outside the lines, perhaps the The Dude belongs in your driveway. Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
