We rarely show a classic pickup that's not attempting to emulate the street-rod aesthetic of the past, or the laid-out latitude of contemporary custom styles. So, what is this? Could this be something...different? A '58 Chevy Apache with big, knobby tires and a notable lift?
Back in the day, farmers and ranchers certainly needed to haul their fence posts and what not across the rough and tumble of the off-road. So, a lifted 4x4 Chevy shouldn't be a surprising sight. But it is, and a pleasant one, too-not just for the old-skool, get-the-job-done vibe radiated by this old pickup, though. It's got some new-skool, head-turning, turf-churning mods, too. San Diego, California, resident Dixie Brown, bought the truck in 1967 and recently spent four years working with Street Rod Factory in San Marcos, California, to get it to look like it does right now.
We'll start with the tilt front end. At first, we thought it was just the hood that tilted forward, but a second glance revealed the hood, headlights, grille, fenders, and everything were integrated into one piece and now rotate forward automatically to uncover the engine compartment. Street Rod Factory (SRF) made this mod happen, as well as just about everything else on this truck, except for the upholstery and transmission. The truck's front end retains the classic design; with the exception of the chrome applied to the headlight bezels, the grille, and the bumper. Also, the Chevrolet hood badging has been nixed.
SRF made sure that the cab and rear belt line up -raising the bed 4 inches in the process. The molded bedrails and rear of the cab have been smoothed and finished. The cab seams went away, but they weren't the only things to go; the door handles were shaved and the taillights have been transformed into a vertical slice of LEDs. SRF yanked the rear bumper and replaced it with a custom roll pan, then applied custom inner fender wells, as well. Next, tiny sport mirrors replaced the originals, and the doors now swing suicide style. We like the wood-lined bed floor with ebony highlights that match the truck's PPG Black and Barely Blue paintjob. An electric ram lifts one of the planks in the bed to reveal the fuel filler and two batteries, while another set of rams opens and closes the tailgate.
 This atomic pile probably...  This atomic pile probably sounds and churns as good as it looks. |  Here is the first clue that...  Here is the first clue that this truck isn't quite what you expect: suicide doors, a glimpse at the leather-clad interior, and a hint of motorized monstrosity underneath the hood. |  Suave lines, gray leather,...  Suave lines, gray leather, blue suede, billet, and buckets define the interior of this truck. |