There are many ways to go about building a classic truck, from rock stock to bad boy hot rod and everything in between. You can chop tops, smooth handles and make untold body mods in an effort to make your truck stand out in the crowd. Brilliant colors abound and blower motors protruding through the hood always draw a crowd. Or, if you are Shawn Blandford, you could simply take a 1972 Chevrolet C10, put it on a pronounced hot rod rake, roll it around on big billet wheels and as simple as that you have one bad hot rod truck.
As a matter of fact the list of stock items on this truck far exceeds the list of modifications. Starting on the exterior of the truck you’ll find a complete absence of side trim, but the original door handles and side mirrors remain. Rather than spend countless hours modifying the truck, Jim and David Hatfield spent those hours insuring the body panels were laser straight before laying down the PPG black paint. Lighting is stock all the way around the truck from the side markers to the headlights, with the only variant being painted taillight bezels. Chrome bumpers front and rear add a bit of brightwork to the hauler.
The all important hot rod rake was achieved by using drop spindles up front with disc brakes and modified spring hangers and shackles in the rear. Simple air shocks are used to control the rear height and the original drum brakes are still in service. The final contributor to the stance comes in the form of Billet Specialties Vintec wheels that measure 18x8 front and 20x10 rear. Pirelli rubber measures 255/40-18 up front with big 295/40-20 filling the rear wheel houses.
Moving inside the truck you will find a cabin much like it was in 1972. The stock bench seat has been covered in red leather by Bobby Basham. The Billet Specialties steering wheel is wrapped in matching red leather and mounts to a 1975 Corvette steering column. Shawn saw no need to add A/C so simple stock heater controls grace the dashboard along with a set of original gauges. Above the stock black carpet a set of Lokar pedals add some hot rod flair. Covering the short bed is a custom tonneau cover in basic black. The red and black motif is pure hot rod stuff and works well on the truck.
Externally the truck has a certain bad-boy attitude, and backing up the attitude is a big-block Chevy motor that measures 454 inches. The motor originally powered a 1970 Chevelle and the entire engine was rebuilt to stock specifications. In keeping with the simple theme, the alternator, Moroso valve covers and air breather are the only chrome items under the hood. The rest of the motor wears traditional Chevrolet orange, with stock exhaust manifolds leading to a pair of Flowmaster mufflers.
Shawn Blandford has been driving this truck for several years, and the simple, timeless approach to the truck always seems to turn heads wherever it goes. It is a real testament to the theory that sometimes less is more, and in this case fewer modifications add up to one great truck.
Shawn Blandford
Louisville, Kentucky
1972 Chevrolet c10Chassis
Frame: 1972 Chevrolet
Modifications: none
Rearend / Ratio: stock
Rear suspension: Gabriel Air Shocks
Rear brakes: stock drum
Front suspension: CPP drop spindles
Front brakes: GM disc
Steering box: stock
Front wheels: Billet Specialties 18x8
Rear wheels: Billet Specialties 20x10
Rear tires: Pirelli 295/40-20
Front tires: Pirelli 255/40-18
Gas tank: fuel cell
Drivetrain
Engine: 1970 454 Chevy
Heads: GM
Valve covers: Moroso chrome
Manifold / Induction: Original GM 4 bbl
Ignition: HEI
Headers: stock manifold
Exhaust / Mufflers: Flowmaster
Transmission: Turbo 400
Modifications: shift kit
Shifter: 1975 Corvette
Body
Style: shortbed Fleetside
Modifications: shaved trim
Fenders front / rear: 1972 Chevrolet
Hood: 1972 Chevy
Grille: 1972 Chevy
Bed: stock / shaved trim
Bodywork and paint by: Jim & David Hatfield
Paint type / Color: PPG Black
Headlights / Taillights: stock
Outside mirrors: stock
Bumpers: new chrome
Interior
Dashboard: dash pad covered in red leather
Gauges: stock
Air conditioning: none
Stereo: Kenwood
Steering wheel: Billet Specialties
Steering column: 1975 Corvette
Seats: original bench
Upholstery by: Bobby Basham
Material / Color: red leather
Carpet: black stock loop