Words: Tommy Parry
There are some gorgeous builds out there, but not many transform as dramatically as this Chevy has. The build began humbly, with Gasser scavenging the carcass of a ‘48 Chevy Extended Cab from a nearby field of burned-out trucks and cars. The machines picked from the massive automotive graveyard were quick to rust in the Alaskan climate, and so plenty had to be cut before the real build began. With a few hours torching the cab and removing some of the cancer, the build was underway.
First, the dented hood and rusted back of the cab were removed, and the new back, sourced from another truck, was mounted 10” behind the original mounting point. Next, the cab was given a 4.5” chop, and braced to compensate for the loss in rigidity that would soon follow.
The cab still needed the space between the cab back and doors filled, and with a few days of secretive work, Gasser bridged the gap and made the quarter window frames from the tops of six crushed doors. Next, he pulled a Chevy 348 and mounted a Turbo 350 transmission to power the beast.
Once the roof skin was tacked on, Gasser narrowed and pancaked the dash and went for a flamed gauge cluster, which would give the interior some needed pizazz and indicate where this build was going stylistically.
As often happens with builds in regions known for their inclement weather, some more rust was found and cut. A few niggling issues done with, Gasser got back to the essentials. The engine was mounted with the stock ‘59 mounts, though their bottoms were snipped off and some new boxes made for a little less engine flex.
After C’ing the rear frame and bolting on the popular Chevy S10 rear end, the ‘48 was a bonafide, rolling masterpiece of metalworking.
With an engine and a rear end, Gasser then turned his attention to the interior. Despite the incredible build quality seen here, he was still adhering to a strict budget. Therefore, leather seats from a junked ‘94 Suburban were picked and implanted. He finished boxing the rear frame and raised the bed floor two inches. Then he added a couple teardrop bed caps for a softer, classier look. Mostly form, with plenty of function; this truck had it all.
Next came weeks of trimming, sandblasting and, finally, primering. It then came time to decide on a color, and while Gasser was content with the interior coated in a charcoal grey, he was unsure about the exterior, and left that decision to his wife. She chose a 2015 GM Laser Blue, which really makes the curves of the cab pop.
Gasser ditched the original motor when he came upon a black and chrome 409. With the extended cab, some added grunt would come in handy.
Some of the finer points still need to be sorted out, but there’s no denying that Gasser’s on his way to an incredible finished product with this beast. Even standing stationary in his garage, there’s an undeniable attitude and stance that should draw crowds wherever it goes. We wait for the final product with bated breath.
