Embodying the styling touches...
Embodying the styling touches from the ’50s with a thoroughly modern twist, this slammed, satin black Chevy dualie rolls on 16x6-inch Alcoa wheels wrapped in 215/65-16 Diamond Back radials with a wide, 2.25-inch whitewall. Von Dutch-style pinstriping, a billet grille with hidden headlights, and a cowl induction hood add to the look.
When your personal ride is a multi-year build that combines automotive artwork with a glimpse into some of your favorite lifestyle elements, it becomes more than the sum of its parts. It creates a theme for your truck that makes it uniquely yours.
That was exactly the goal Jonathan Taylor had for his ’92 Chevy C3500 two-door extended-cab, longbed. Jonathan is the sales director for Vendable Systems in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and enjoys taking a break from the corporate world by building custom trucks. A staunch GM fan with an emphasis on Bow Ties, he has built five over the years. Although he began with minitrucks, it soon became apparent that family needs dictated something larger, so he began the search for a fullsize dualie. The local trader magazine advertised several, but they were either overpriced or badly damaged. Finally, he saw an ad for this ’92 Chevy, already bagged and body dropped, but with lots of dents, dings, and damaged rear fenders. The price was right, however, and he took it home.
Shooting for a ’50s muscle car look, the interior uses a ’59 Chevrolet Impala dash fitted with Dakota Digital instruments along with reupholstered ’64 Impala seats.
The 3½-year build began with a trip to Meares Paint and Body in York, South Carolina. Jonathan sat down with Mark and Brian Meares along with Chris Alexander to work out a game plan for the truck’s new look. Like most of us, Jonathan wanted something different. He didn’t care for the current trend of huge wheels and crazy paint but was definitely intrigued by old-skool car culture. “I loved Von Dutch-style pinstriping, big white walls, and the rockabilly lifestyle I was reading about in magazines,” Jon told us. The Fabulous ’50s theme seemed like a natural extension, and the crew set to work, removing the bed and all body panels except for the cab. They installed the Caddy taillights; shaved the tailgate handle, antenna, and gas door; and reworked the rear dualie fenders. They recessed the headlights and installed a Goodmark cowl induction hood, phantom grille, and smooth front bumper with billet inserts.
Matching billet inserts in...
Matching billet inserts in the grille and the smoothed bumper conceal the headlights and parking lights while emphasizing the width of the truck.
Several upgrades had already been accomplished by the previous owner, Shane Craighead, beginning with a 4.5-inch body drop, C-notch, and four-link. The custom rear bridge and sea leg shocks are visible thanks to a hinged sheetmetal cover. Up front, tubular A-arms on top and modified factory lower arms drop the truck to the ground. Four 2,600-pound bags bring it back to ride height, thanks to a beltdriven York compressor and a pair of 5-gallon reserve tanks under the bed. With the body smooth and the engineering complete, Brian Meares finished the exterior, spraying just the right ’50s shade of SEM Hot Rod Black paint. Ron Fleenor from Fleaz Color Faktory in Rock Hill did the old-skool pinstriping, adding the Maltese cross to the tailgate and a flying eyeball to the hood. The truck rolls on 16x6-inch Alcoa rims wrapped in 215/65-16 vintage-looking Diamond Back whitewall radials.
The sheetmetal center console...
The sheetmetal center console separates the buckets and holds the stereo and air suspension controls.
The Rhino Linings-lined bed...
The Rhino Linings-lined bed has a hinged compartment that opens to reveal the custom bridgework, four-link, and airbag system.
The compact backseat is the...
The compact backseat is the perfect size for a couple of kids—and it lifts to reveal the custom enclosure for the four 10-inch subs.