Certain modifications in the custom truck scene just grab your attention. A huge blower poking through the hood of a fat-tired classic, the frame of a late-model pickup sparking across the pavement, or a full show hauler sporting a completely chrome undercarriage. Some enthusiasts will stop at nothing to capture the attention of show spectators and other motorists on the street, and Greg Dixson from Livermore, California, is one of them.
Greg is the proud owner of the bright-Turquoise '56 Chevy Stepside Pro Street pickup stretched across these pages, and its attention-grabbing modification is not so obvious at first glance. Take a peek between the 46-year-old doors and the most insane modification on this hauler becomes more apparent. Greg is one for doing things a little different than the average enthusiast, so instead of driving from the left like everyone else, he now cruises from the passenger side. Before the truck could be piloted from the right side, it had to be slammed, chopped, Pro-Streeted, painted, upholstered, and fit with a crazy powerplant.
Having owned more than 30 Chevy cars and trucks during the past 25 years, Greg had a clear vision of how he wanted the '56 to look. Greg grew up in Canada, and at the age of 13, he owned a '55 Chevy pickup that he was unfortunately forced to sell. It seems we all have stories about the one that got away, but Greg wanted to make sure he had another mid-'50s Chevy pickup again some day, only this time, it would feature all the things he wanted to do to his original '55 model but didn't have the money for.
One day, Greg got word that an old friend in Australia was selling the '56 pictured here to make room for a new project. Without hesitation, the truck was shipped from Australia to the U.S., and Greg took delivery in Reno, Nevada, last year. The best part is the truck was turnkey and ready to cruise.Supporting the 46-year-old sheetmetal is a custom-built Holden boxed chassis with smoothed welds. A set of Holden Monaro spindles and Holden springs bring the nose down hard over super-skinny 15x5-inch Center Line Convo Pro wheels mounted on ultra-thin Mickey Thompson rubber. At the tail end, where all the rubber lies, sits a custom-built ladder bar setup complemented by a set of Koni coilovers. Putting the blown small-block power to the pavement are Mickey Thompson Sport Trac Radials measuring 33x21.50x15. A Ford 9-inch rearend handles the power with ease when Greg drops the hammer. Feeding the thirsty small-block is a 10-gallon polished-aluminum fuel cell mounted underneath the bed. With such a stout chassis and suspension setup, an all-out, tire-roasting, ear-piercing small-block had to fill the compartment to round out the performance theme.
A '70 small-block 350 V-8 fills the engine compartment and is outfitted with a host of go-fast goodies. Up top, a set of 2.02 angle plug heads produce some throttle-stomping power, while a Lunati camshaft and Ross pistons with an 8:1 compression quickly blaze the hides. Topping the impressive tower of power is a B&M mini blower. Exhaust chores are delegated to powdercoated block-hugger headers and polished stainless steel mufflers. A GM HEI ignition and Taylor wires spark the powerhouse, while a massaged Turbo 400 transmission backs it up. The motor features a monochromatic look, since the valve covers, the blower, the air scoop, and the bracketry are all coated in the same Light Turquoise. This pickup is not all go and no show. A kick-tail paintjob sprayed over seamless and smooth bodywork gets heads turning.
Since Greg bought the truck mostly how it sits, the previous owner in Australia can be credited with all the top-notch work on this beauty. The body features more tricks than a magician has rabbits, with a 4-inch chopped top and a 4-inch channel job. Shaved door handles and rounded door edges and openings further clean up the exterior, while a sectioned hood and shaved front signals slightly alter the stock looks. To clean up the door frames, the wing windows were removed and one-piece glass was installed. A custom third brake light was frenched into the rear tailgate skin, while a smooth roll pan fit with street rod-style taillights picks up where the factory bumper left off. Sealing in all the bad-to-the-bone body modifications is PPG Light-Turquoise paint.
Inside the decadent Pro Street cruiser is a host of Dakota Digital gauges to monitor engine vitals complemented by tan and saddle upholstery laid over a custom bench seat. The real trick part is, of course, the right-hand drive, which Greg says grabs its fair share of attention when he is cruising. A special thanks goes out to 30 Minute Muffler in Livermore, Kassabian Classics in Dublin, California, and Curt Calkins in Portland, Oregon, for all their assistance.
According to Greg, him and his girlfriend Lynda have to fight over the keys when it is time to attend a show or cruise night. Apparently, she is quite used to the righthand drive after working as a U.S. mail carrier for more than 20 years. Greg is still getting used to the pedal positioning and has run a few red lights getting use to it. Make sure to keep that chop-top, Pro Street custom in one piece, Greg.