CRCSE SHOW: 1938 Chevrolet Custom Pickup
One show-stopping vehicle parked near the entrance to the show was this ultra high performance 1938 Chevrolet pickup, owned by Larry and Connie Massengill. The two-toned hauler was built by the Custom Shop, in Flanagan, Illinois and boasts a modified 486ci V8 packing a BDS 8-71 supercharger. Output was pegged just north of 1,000 horsepower, with exhaust getting dumped out of side-exiting pipes. A Gear Vendor overdrive TH400 transmission is responsible for getting all those charging ponies to the massive wheels, which are 20-inch billet units, wrapped in Mickey Thompson rubber. The wild-looking truck has been fitted with ABS power brakes for confident stopping and driving comfort while an air-ride suspension absorbs the bumps and gives the cruiser it’s asphalt hugging stance.
The powertrain certainly isn’t the only thing custom on this Chevy; the curvaceous body has been radically altered. The cab has been chopped four inches and channeled four inches while the wheelbase has been stretched five inches. The bed had eight inches cut out of it and the hood was stretched four inches. If that wasn’t enough, the rake of the grille has been laid back three inches for a leaner appearance. To accommodate the change in proportions and dimensions the running boards were stretched and the rear fenders widened to accommodate the larger tires. Smaller touches to the outside are suicide-opening doors, which have shaved handles. Other bodywork tweaks are a functional ram air hood that powers forward via an electric motor. Custom sides were built with vents to complete the look. Around the rear of the vehicle are LEDs in the taillights and a third brake light, which have been installed for brighter nighttime driving. A look inside in the bed reveals polished oak wood planks and a peak inside the cabin showed an interior with even more jaw-dropping features.
Judging by the top-notch craftsmanship and the amount of attention it was drawing from spectators, this custom hauler was the perfect four-wheeled piece to greet visitors to the show.
Check out our full coverage of the 2013 Custom Rides Car Show and Expo by clicking HERE.
It was no small feat to get the truck to achieve it’s show stopping appearance. Below are photos showing just a few of the stages of transformation.