Car Features

 

Words & Photos: Tommy Parry

 

There are some people out there who need their steed to look a little different from the pack. Some go with wild paint colors, others with special trim. Some like to reconfigure the proportions of their platform entirely. That was the case with this ‘63 C-10 rat truck. Starting with just a bare cab and a frame, this Chevy would become something simple but plenty unconventional, and even a little intimidating.

 

The cab was looking ragged, since it had not only been riddled with 13 bullet holes, but had collected a little rust in the Washington winter. To put a fresh spin on things, a new frame was sourced to give a little more compliance and road-holding. That frame, fresh out of a 2008 Crown Victoria, offered a rack and pinion independent front suspension plus a four-link rear suspension with watts linkage. Four-wheel disc brakes would help keep the truck on the road during emergency stops in that moist, Northwestern weather. Bought for just $250 and minimizing the headache that getting the suspension and steering to work entails, it was impossible to pass up.

Only one of the control arms was bent when the Crown Vic - a former cop car - was rolled, so a minimum of work was needed to get the frame and suspension tweak-free. Though the build had been totally bling-free at this point in the process, a set of 22”, multi-spoked wheels helped make up for that. Not conventionally rat-rod, but it does help it stand out.

 

 

While a big question at this point in the build had been how far to mount the cab on the frame, deciding on the motor made the logical answer clear. A homebuilt, big block Chevy would weigh the front axle down plenty, so to keep the truck balanced and handling nicely, a set-back cab location was decided on. This, combined with some custom spring rates for the uncommon weight distribution, would keep the C-10 agile and responsive.

The cab’s doors were pulled off to shed some weight, and after a few hours of cursing and jacking, the cab was set on the frame just ahead of the rear wheel wells, giving it a unique set of proportions.

 

 

After snagging a complete air ride system from a charitable man on CraigsList, the front and rear suspension was set up to give the car a comfortable, compliant ride. With 100 pounds of pressure, the airbags would add six inches to the ride height and allow any surface to be traversed.

 

 

Then came the challenge of getting a set of wheels that would work and turn heads. Because of clearance issues with the front calipers and difficulty turning the wheels, the wire wheels were ditched for a set of cop donuts. These gave the car an awkward rake, so off they went and in their place went a complete set of SN95 Cobra wheels.

 

 

However, something was still missing. The front end and the exposed frame kept the ‘63 from looking complete, and so a spiffy ‘52 GMC grille was tacked on.

 

 

That short wheelbase and six-hundred horsepower make the car a very responsive machine. So responsive, in fact, that when hitting about 4500 rpm, which translates to about 80 mph, one of the water pump gaskets decided to retire. When the windshield was sprayed with coolant, it’s fair to assume it caused a little shock and panic. Thankfully, that was the one major hiccup with this particular build, and home was only a half-mile away at the time.

It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this unique brawler certainly gets our vote. How can you pass up on that suit-of-armor, Mad Max look with six-hundred horses under the, ehm, hood?