Project Vision
Our vision for this customized 1955 pickup is to preserve the original "look" but update its internals to make one awesome roadster. One that will serve my everyday needs but be built to perform if I ever want to use its power. We attempted to restore it to all-original equipment, but that proved to be impossible because it is a 3/4 ton. E.G. Incredible that current shops could not cope with the original outdated wheels.
Ha Ha! Yes, I know a souped up machine inside the original body sounds a little bit crazy, but it will be one fun, wild, and crazy ride. It will still be street legal. One that I can use comfortably doing everyday chores.
I have owned a car and a pickup at all times continuously over the last 45 years. Truly, I owned my first pickup in 1980 at the same time I owned a car and have had both types of vehicles ever since. I recently gave up my pickup and now only own a car. Miss owning a pickup. However, this short deprivation was planned, because I had already begun building this replacement for my last pickup.
My philosophy: always own a car to transport people and a pickup to haul things. Prior to owning my first pickup, I owned a 1977 Pontiac Black Trans Am with black crushed velvet interior. I had to haul some raw lumber in it. That day I vowed I'd buy a pickup! I bought a used 1964 GMC pickup. Never had to risk damaging my car interior again.
So... I'm looking forward to having this truck to haul things again. You really notice it when you have always had a pickup and suddenly don't. This truck won't have a large box but will have a nominal custom-built shallow box / not flatbed. Luckily, we have located a guy who bends metal and is well suited to creating a new box. The original bed in the box was heavily abused by hauling rock, etc. as a farm truck, so must be replaced.
As long as I am building a sharp truck, I am going to make it the BEST!
Great paint job and envious internals!
We don't have a finished drawing of the final paint job we are going for but essentially look at the original and imagine new paint.
Here is the truck as it is at the beginning of our project and an example paint job, (even if not exactly correct). The color scheme will be a pearl white with candy apple red and black running boards.
Now you have a general understanding of our vision for the finished exterior of the vehicle.
We haven’t decided on the interior, but it will definitely be a cloth interior with bucket seats.
The interior colors are not determined yet.
The two choices are: Black velvet/crushed velvet with red piping OR Red with pearl piping.
The interior may have selected embroidery on the backs of the seats and elsewhere. We are considering our GTG Racing company logo.
Now you have a general understanding of our vision for the finished exterior of the vehicle.
We haven’t decided on the interior, but it will definitely be a cloth interior with bucket seats.
The interior colors are not determined yet.
The two choices are: Black velvet/crushed velvet with red piping OR Red with pearl piping.
The interior may have selected embroidery on the backs of the seats and elsewhere. We are considering our GTG Racing company logo.
Of course, we bought an outstanding power plant: a Hemi Hellcat Motor, 376 cu. in. with a 10 speed automatic transmission. Even though we are going to build it at 750 HP, it has the potential to easily be raised to 1,000 HP - 1,500 HP. In a way, we are designing this roadster to be a beast which can be easily upgraded after this 72 year old man is finished using it as an everyday runner.
This is a picture of the motor and transmission when we took possession. It is used. It has 15,000 miles on it. Nevertheless, that is essentially new for our purposes.
Of course, we bought an outstanding power plant: a Hemi Hellcat Motor, 376 cu. in. with a 10 speed automatic transmission. Even though we are going to build it at 750 HP, it has the potential to easily be raised to 1,000 HP - 1,500 HP. In a way, we are designing this roadster to be a beast which can be easily upgraded after this 72 year old man is finished using it as an everyday runner.
This is a picture of the motor and transmission when we took possession. It is used. It has 15,000 miles on it. Nevertheless, that is essentially new for our purposes.
Of course, we have dismantled the motor to inspect and confirm that everything is in top notch condition.
We also installed a new cam specifically for more horsepower.
Our plan had been to dismantle it down to the frame. Sandblast the frame and weld all the necessary additions to enable mounting the new engine and transmission, not to mention the new front and rear end assemblies, etc.
However, Minh, from Smiley's Autowerks, introduced us to a cheaper( !!! ) and FAR BETTER solution.
We hired a firm north of Chicago, Illinois to scan everthing (truck body, new motor, new transmission, new front and rear ends, new fuel cell, etc.) into their computer.
From these digitized "blue prints(?)"/ schematics, they will custom build a new frame on which all the new equipment will fit perfectly.
At this time, I expect other customizations will be introduced and designed.
For example, because this is a 34 ton truck and has a very long frame, we want to shorten the frame and replace the box with a custom-built shortened shallow box. This may be when some of that design may be done. However, I also believe that work (external to the frame design) can be done when the truck is returned to Texas.
The plan after the scanning, is to create the new frame and assemble everything. The initial estimate is this will take 4 or 5 months. They will provide a link to the website with the results of the scanning !!!
Current estimate is the assembled truck will be transported back to Smiley's Autowerks in Texas around June 2026. Then bodywork and the custom box building will be done followed by painting the body and designing the interior. Also, this is when the motor and transmission as well as all other equipment "under the hood" will be painted. We are going for candy apple red and silver / stainless steel.
Everything will be dry fitted, removed and painted.
After painting, everything gets reassembled one last time to minimize scratching the paint.
On December 30, 2025, Minh placed the order for custom wheels to be made by Detroit Steel.
Front wheels: 18x9 +6 offset
for tires: 245/45r18 any tire we want.
Rear wheels: 15x12 - 57 offset rear
for tires: 315/60r15 Mickey Thompson ET Street Pro
Tires have not been purchased.
Of course, we have dismantled the motor to inspect and confirm that everything is in top notch condition.
We also installed a new cam specifically for more horsepower.
Our plan had been to dismantle it down to the frame. Sandblast the frame and weld all the necessary additions to enable mounting the new engine and transmission, not to mention the new front and rear end assemblies, etc.
However, Minh, from Smiley's Autowerks, introduced us to a cheaper( !!! ) and FAR BETTER solution.
We hired a firm north of Chicago, Illinois to scan everthing (truck body, new motor, new transmission, new front and rear ends, new fuel cell, etc.) into their computer.
From these digitized "blue prints(?)"/ schematics, they will custom build a new frame on which all the new equipment will fit perfectly.
At this time, I expect other customizations will be introduced and designed.
For example, because this is a 34 ton truck and has a very long frame, we want to shorten the frame and replace the box with a custom-built shortened shallow box. This may be when some of that design may be done. However, I also believe that work (external to the frame design) can be done when the truck is returned to Texas.
The plan after the scanning, is to create the new frame and assemble everything. The initial estimate is this will take 4 or 5 months. They will provide a link to the website with the results of the scanning !!!
Current estimate is the assembled truck will be transported back to Smiley's Autowerks in Texas around June 2026. Then bodywork and the custom box building will be done followed by painting the body and designing the interior. Also, this is when the motor and transmission as well as all other equipment "under the hood" will be painted. We are going for candy apple red and silver / stainless steel.
Everything will be dry fitted, removed and painted.
After painting, everything gets reassembled one last time to minimize scratching the paint.
On December 30, 2025, Minh placed the order for custom wheels to be made by Detroit Steel.
Front wheels: 18x9 +6 offset
for tires: 245/45r18 any tire we want.
Rear wheels: 15x12 - 57 offset rear
for tires: 315/60r15 Mickey Thompson ET Street Pro
Tires have not been purchased.
