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STEALTH OPULENCE
Building a cool new truck to show off at SEMA is nothing new for Jim Lewis and his team at ProMotorsports in Edmond, Oklahoma, as that’s what they do. This stunning new ’07 Cadillac Escalade EXT is their most recent creation. Like so many other enthusiasts, Lewis used the latest generation Escalade because it was an immediate hit, especially among the urban lifestyle crowd, so team ProMotorsports thought one would make a great representative demo vehicle for their shop. Billy Lewis came up with the flat black concept, with tons of chrome and polished metal to contrast the flatness of the finish. While the paint may be the first item that attracts you to this truck, the crew at ProMotorsports actually started the build underneath it all by increasing the performance of the Escalade.

A VISIT WITH THE LOBECKS
You’ve heard the saying, “They went to different schools together.” Well, Ginny and Barry Lobeck did just that. In the 1970s, street rodding was well into its “rebirth,” and mail-order business was just a fledgling industry. In southern Ohio, a young Barry Lobeck was busy finishing a ’65 Riviera. Slammed and slick—a trend that started early for Barry and continues to this day—the Riviera was somewhere between a custom and a hot rod, and it drew its fair share of attention.

HARD CHARGER
We were talking to Devin Meucci when the topic came up about how difficult it is to find a ’69 Dodge Charger in Southern California, because most were gobbled up by the studio when “The Dukes of Hazzard” show was on television. I also mentioned that two of my friends were in charge of the transportation department of the show when the cars were being scrapped out, and described how they made the 383 and 440 engines available to members of my car club. Meucci said he and his brother watched the show religiously, and that’s when their love for Chargers began. Fortunately, in Washington state, Chargers were plentiful, so, in 1990 his brother bought a matching-numbers ’69 RT/SE. Two years later, Meucci purchased his own Charger and drove it in high school during his senior year, and to college after that.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Pro’s Pick FANTOM Tonneau Cover for 1973–87 Chevrolet/GMC Fleetside Trucks
Your Squarebody Looks Too Good for an Afterthought.
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photos courtesy of Pro's Pick
You nailed the stance. Picked the right wheels. Spent way too much time deciding on paint—and you’d do it all again. Now give that big stretch behind the cab something worthy of the rest of the truck.
The Pro’s Pick FANTOM aluminum tonneau cover puts a smooth finishing touch on 1973–87 Chevrolet and GMC Fleetside trucks, with long- and short-bed configurations available. For the squarebody owner sweating every detail, this is a chance to make the bed part of the build’s attitude.
Keep Those Bed Rails Clean
Squarebodies have enough personality stamped into their sheetmetal to carry a build all by themselves. The FANTOM respects those lines with a flush-mount design that sits between the bedsides, leaving the tops of the bed rails clear. The result is a smooth profile that lets your truck’s shape do the talking.
Beneath that clean surface, a redesigned aluminum rail system with integrated water management and upgraded hinges handle the functional side. Built in North America, the FANTOM can also be removed when needed. Clean looks still have to earn their keep.
Give Your Bed Some Power
Pro’s Pick offers manual, electric lift, and electric lift with wireless remote configurations for this application. Keep it straightforward with manual operation, or spring for powered access and give yourself another reason to reach for the remote at the next cruise night.
Bring Your Paint. Finish Your Vision.
The FANTOM comes in bare aluminum requiring preparation and paint, giving you room to carry your truck’s color scheme across the cover. Match the body, work it into a two-tone treatment, or give your painter another excuse to get creative.
Each cover is built to order, with a required dimension sheet to account for variations in these vintage beds. Installation parts are included, although tools, some trimming, or modification may be necessary. Bed liners can affect fitment, and Pro’s Pick lists an expected four- to eight-week lead time. Get the measurements handled while the rest of the build is coming together.
Finish the Truck Like You Mean It
A sorted squarebody makes every detail count, right down to the last few feet behind the cab. The Pro’s Pick FANTOM tonneau cover gives that space a smooth, deliberate finish with the lift options to suit your build. You’ve already put the work into making people look. Give them a reason to keep looking when you roll past.
Check out the Pro’s Pick FANTOM and choose your configuration.







