truck restoration
Hot rodders used to scoff at the idea of trucks stealing the show. Now? They’re the stars. The 2025 Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) proved that trucks aren’t just workhorses anymore—they’re rolling showcases of power, design, and straight-up cool factor. Whether slammed to the pavement or built for full-throttle performance, trucks have carved out their own space in the custom scene, and this year’s GNRS made it clear: the truck takeover is real.
When Mitch Meyers was but a pup back in 1986, he experienced one of the greatest days of his life: He received his first ride, a ’71 Dodge stepside pickup. Now, the truck wasn’t anything like the one shown here, but it wasn’t a bad canvas for a cool high school cruiser, and the $700 purchase price was just right.
Custom trucks have bulldozed their way into the hot rod world, turning what were once old workhorses from the ’30s through the ’90s into show-stopping, tire-shredding machines. These trucks aren’t just about hauling gear anymore—they’re packing serious muscle under the hood, killer suspension setups, and sleek designs that demand attention at events like the Triple Crown of Rodding.
The story of Terry Beaty’s ’50 Ford F-1 is no whopper of a fishing tale—this is the one that did not get away, a pickup that has been in possession of the Beaty family since the truck was nearly new.
Trucks are hot, and this interest in trucks has been getting hotter over the years. This is not something that started recently, and now with so many companies like Chevs of the ’40s, Early Classic Enterprises, Street & Performance and SSBC offering specific performance parts, you are now able to find such truck-specific parts as replacement sheetmetal, LS1 engine swaps, tubular suspension components and enormous brake systems.
When updating an early truck to five-lug disc brakes up front, the six-lug rear bolt pattern should be changed to match, as this directly affects the wheel selection and fitment for the truck.
If you have a 1992-2000 Chevrolet or GMC with a 6.5L and you’re worried about overheating issues, there’s no reason to sweat it. Our friends at Dieselsite have the solution.
When Jorge Torres was young he would help his father around his shop. Named after the senior Torres, Armando’s Custom Upholstery in San Jacinto, California, opened in 1989 when Jorge was still in high school. In 1992, he began working full time with his father and brother, Armando Jr. He stared doing old cars and went to a few shows to promote their work. During this time he mentioned to his dad that he wanted to build a 1969 Chevy pickup. It turned out that his dad had a friend who owned one, but he was told that the truck was in pretty rough shape. All Jorge heard was that the price, at $1,500, was in his range.
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Grandma was fond of Bible quotes. Platitudes and homilies were her way of making her virtually unassailable position completely clear. Of course, she never felt that accuracy was a requisite when using quotations as a way of declaring her homespun philosophy. Many of her quotes were edited, but her points were always appropriate and valid, or at least offered a simple instruction that brought resolve to a particular dilemma. Among her favorites were patience is a virtue and all things come to he who waits. While probably not precisely accurate to their biblical roots, these quotes serve to make an excellent point. If you are willing to be patient, success is most likely on the way.
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