1967 Chevrolet C10
Article and photos by Larry Crain

When Angelo Vespi of St. Augustine, Florida started out building this 1967 Chevrolet C10, he had really good intentions of building just a really great driver. But we have already seen what rolls out of his shop after he gets done with a build. Case in point look - at the Camaro he debuted at the 2014 SEMA Show that won the Battle of the Builders. While at the SEMA Show he was gathering ideas of the direction that he wanted his next build to go, and the more ideas he gathered, the more radical the build was going to become, and here you see the results.

Angelo started the project with a stock GM chassis that has been boxed, then equipped with a Roadster Shop Revo IFS suspension that is set up with AFCO Pro-touring coilover shocks. With this awesome set up on the front, what better way to go than with a Roadster Shop 4-link rear suspension equipped with AFCO Pro-touring coilover shocks just like the front. I know it’s always tough for you die-hards to think about, but this Chevy chassis is set up with the ever-popular and hard to beat Ford 9-inch rear end with 3:70 gears. Of course with a performance chassis you have to have a really great brake system, and Angelo went with Baer Brakes to fit that need. Angelo had a killer chassis and so he went with a killer set of tires and wheels to finish the picture: Rushforth Night Trains mounted with Michelin radials, 19x10 on the front with 275/35/19’s and 20x12 on the rear with 335/30/20’s.

With the rolling chassis ready to intimidate, it was time to throw some horsepower into the mix in the form of a GM Performance LS3 AKA 6.2L that puts out a whopping 533HP at the rear wheels. This bad ass LS3 was given a serious upgrade in the form of a Magnuson Supercharger that helped boost the factory performance to the stated rear wheel horsepower. When you look at the dark PPG satin finished motor compartment, dang if it doesn’t make you understand why Darth Vader went to the dark side. With this strong of a motor ready to call upon for speed, Angelo needed a really strong transmission, so he went with a Bowler Performance 4L80E.

The body of this Chevy C10 is really close to stock in appearance with a few tricks like the custom aluminum tonneau cover, front and rear bumpers smoothed and tucked in tight, custom front inner fenders and finishing off the subtle custom tricks the bed has been raised 3.5 inches for a better stance. All of these modifications were sprayed using a PPG paint system with the dominate color being a custom mix called “Smokey Blue” that was laid out by the talented folks at Dutchboys Hotrods.

Interior of this Chevy C10 features custom touches like a tilt column mounted with a custom leather wrapped Budnik steering wheel, a Vintage Air a/c system, custom dash insert and LED accent lighting. M&M Hot Rod Interiors finished out the custom interior in distressed brown leather from Relicate.

Angelo’s new hot rod gained recognition really quick with it becoming a 2017 LMC Truck of the Year Finalist, winning a Detroit Speed Builders Choice Award and recently a Top 25 at the 2017 Spring Pigeon Forge Rod Run. Angelo’s Smokey Blue C10 was also one of Scottie D’s Dirty Dozen at the 2017 Spring Pigeon Forge Rod Run. What a way to start a new year with a new vehicle that was supposed to be just a driver when the idea first popped into his head. Way to go Angelo! Keep on getting those ideas and keep on building these awesome rides whether they are a driver or show car. We know when you bring it out it will be as awesome as this Smokey Blue C10.