1954 Chevy Five-Window Pickup - Ultimate Job

The pickup bed, itself, was not widened; although the tailgate was welded shut and 2-inch tubing was welded to the bed sides for a rounded edge. The rear pan was rolled to create a pleasing contour, then the license plate was rolled to match. A flush-mounted fiberglass tonneau cover perpetuates the smooth flowing lines. Inside, the new wood floor was raised 6 inches to accommodate all of the hidden components involved in the operation of the truck, such as the evaporator for the air-conditioner, booster for the power brakes, twin-electric fuel pumps for the engine, twin air compressors for the suspension, and the linear actuator that remotely opens the tonneau cover. A custom aluminum fuel cell resides under the bed, while all of the controls for the Air Ride air suspension are inside the bed, located in a custom-built aluminum box with a Plexiglas lid. Keith Brown took care of smoothing all the metalwork on the body. Then, Keith Brown and Lou Huntington sprayed the '02 Corvette Red in the company paint booth.

The two-tone interior begins with a set of Tea's Design seats in beige leather with everything else created to match. A Grant steering wheel on a Flaming River column and a Dakota Digital gauge package keep the driver and truck in close contact. Creating sounds when the 454 is quiet, the Pioneer head unit is mounted in a new overhead console and the stereo speakers are located behind the seats and in the kick panels. To improve the view, the original vented side windows were eliminated in favor of a single, electrically-powered pane of glass. Meanwhile, the Vintage Air ensures comfortable cruising even in Florida's sultry weather. The Chevrolet emblems in the headliner and behind the seats underscore the truck's roots. Although it took more than two years from start to finish, the completed truck is not only fun to drive, but also has now taken a well-deserved place of honor in Lamb's collection. Look for it to become a regular on the Southeast show circuit.