After attending the majority of custom-truck shows assigned to me this past season, I have sensed that the early-model custom trucks have really come on strong. The early models have taken on a more truck-rod and muscle-truck flavor. They have fast forwarded themselves into today's edgy custom scene by airbagging their suspensions, bolting on larger diameter wheel and tire combos, assisted by oversized disc brakes on all four corners, more pronounced body mods, gorgeous paint creations, and stylish interiors
Most early-model enthusiasts are scrapping their 30- to 50-year-old factory frames for a redesigned and updated aftermarket foundation. Today's adjustable, pneumatic suspensions have evolved into developing incredible ride quality, durability, and handling performance. Using larger diameter valves, lines, compressors, and tanks allows quick-fill systems to accomplish a total suspension lift in seconds. It has been a long time coming for some of the past-generation truckers to accept the enlarged custom-wheel diameters. But, this year we have noticed greater diameter size spinning spools, being tucked inside wheel wells, with both equal-size diameters (22-inch front and rear) or to achieve a more traditional "truck-rod" appearance, such as rollin' on 18-inch front and 22-inch rear. The larger-diameter wheels and tires are accompanied by disc brakes with larger diameter rotors on all four-corners. You can scrape frame on Sunday and drive to work on Monday.
The Sawzall, handheld plasma cutter, and small disc-grinder have become popular tools of the early-model truck builders' tool cabinets. These creative tools have given the builders the ability to alter and re-sculpture the overall exterior by chopping, sectioning, pancaking, and pie-cutting to achieve that true truck-rod appearance. These tools have made body alterations much easier. When it comes to paint colors, we are blessed with an increased rainbow of brilliant basecoats and a greater selection of candies, pearls, and metallics. The paint schemes have become more distinctive with a turn toward solid and two-toned paintjobs. The wild graphics of the '90s have dissolved into the painters mixing pot. Simplicity is the trend of today.
The interiors have become as dramatic as the exteriors, with smoothed one-piece, wraparound dashes and door panels, full waterfalls that fuse into elaborate center consoles, and coved bucket seats. Traditional and aeronautic instrumentations have been blended into the stylish interior dcor. The audio sound systems have been kept pretty tame with a CD head-unit, amp, coax, mids, tweeters, and a couple of subwoofers. Most early-model enthusiasts would rather listen to the rumble of their engine's thunder. You sure won't see a GPS system in an early model "truck rod."