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custom '50 chevy pickup


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Being inspired by George Barris' Dream Truck,

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I decided to try my hand at it.

Starting with the AMT '50 chevy pickup, I destroyed several kits trying to build a custom bed. Failed, stuck it back in the box for several years. That's when I pulled it out again and stretched the cab, then it sat for a few more years. Several kits were started and put back in boxes during this time. Having not built a model in about 5 years now, I decided, after seeing a few of the Kings of Car Horders episodes, I thought I'd drag this thing out again. I feel very motivated this time. I hope I can carry on with it this time around and actually finish something.

Here's where I'm at:

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Wish me luck! It's only been about 5 years since I finished my last model.

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So I have some more work done. not much, really, but it will help you see my vision a little more.

Here you can see (if you are familiar with these trucks) that I raised the fenders about 4 scale inches (roughly 3/16") and channeled the hood the same amount. So now the hood is lower profile and the body will have to be channeled over the frame dramatically to fit properly.

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Here I am showing how I am filling in the area between the 'vette front and the original truck nose. I will be filling it all in with bondo glazing putty and sculpting it from scratch.

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not much to show here, but I put the engine from the kit together, I am still undecided if I'm actually going to use this or if I want to get a small block old school or even if I want to go with modern LS drive train from a firebird kit that'll probably end up being curbside.

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I hope you are all enjoying this as much as I am.

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Thanks for the replies! It makes me happy to hear from everyone weather good or bad.

JB: I was only inspired by the Barris truck. I really am not trying to recreate it. I may use some of the design ideas from it, but I am going more lead sled styling, low, slow and full of show.

I may some day decide to recreate the Dream Truck as it is one of my all time favorite customs. I would just hate to do something wrong and make the custom world hate me for not getting it correct. lol

Stan: A lot of bodywork is quite an understatement. lol. I think I'm going to have to build the bedsides from scratch to get what I want. I destroyed the last set of Ford Ranger bedsides I had last time around on this one. That's ok though, I think they have a little too much curve to them anyway. I might source some Chevy silverado bedsides or just bend up some plastic or metal from scratch. There was someone on here or on Google that built one of these a while back and incorperated some cadillac tail lights and used C/K bedsides and it turned out just perfect. I'll have to do another search for it and show it.

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Pulling some inspiration from psychographic's Willis wagon, I have decided that this is going to be more than a kit bash. I feel the urge to build a custom chassis as the stock piece will require way to much modification to be suitable to the image I have in my mind. I have never built a custom chassis to completion, but I've started many. I think I'll be a bit more conservative though, as I don't want to build my own driveline from scratch.

On a side note, I'm trying to upload images from my phone but it seems my 4 year old android is being a bit persnickity. as soon as I can, I'll be posting a small update on the corvette nose. I nearly have the basic shape all worked out. Sorry if anyone was eager to see a worthwhile update.

Edited by rsxse240
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  • 2 weeks later...

well, I got a lot done! jeez, it takes for EVER sculpting bondo. I know it really looks like I haven't done anything, it has been a busy week at work, so I haven't had much time to build. well, here's some pics.

I got the area around the engine bay cleaned up and smooth.

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I didn't think the front fenders went well with the rears, so I used more chopped up corvette parts to make things flow a little more.

I used the lower half of the rear quarter panel from the vette, cut off the lower portion of the truck's fender and smoothed it all in with just some good old Ambroid Pro-Weld and some sanding sticks. I also found the wheels I am going to use...Some old deep dish daytons from Aoshima, I think.

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So here's a quick mockup, Enjoy!

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Edited by rsxse240
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Hi again. I got some time to play with some plastic.

I didn't want to leave the bed as a stock ugly box. I didn't really want to use the vette fenders, but it would have been cool. So I found another solution.

I found some old airplane wings from a Dornier DO17Z, chopped it up and made something different.

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Edited by rsxse240
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