The One That Almost Got Away

CHASING THE ULTIMATE VEHICLE ISN’T A NEW CONCEPT FOR CUSTOM TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FEATURED IN “STREET TRUCKS.” Whether they’re chasing a certain kind of truck loved from an early age or a truck seen in later years that became imprinted in memory, the hunt for that dream truck is part of the automotive love story. For Keith Stephens, the search for the ultimate truck came in stages, but ultimately it was this ’68 C-10 pickup, aptly named “Tiffany,” that was just too good to forget.

Keith’s love for second- generation C-10s started long before he laid eyes on Tiffany, and she certainly wasn’t the first Action Line Chevy truck that made it into his personal collection. If you’re an avid Street Trucks reader, you might remember another one of Keith’s rides, a patina’d ’67 SWB we featured on the cover of our May 2012 issue. But there’s only one true love for him and it’s this green patina’d ’68 pickup that ended up capturing Keith’s heart for good.

Though the classic pickup has been a part of his collection for some time, it was actually a good friend who lived in California who came across the classic Chevy for sale and purchased it from the previous owner just two hours away from Keith’s hometown. Keith offered to purchase the truck from his friend afterward and even offered to store the truck, but his friend ultimately had the truck shipped out to California before deciding he would rather have one of the many C-10s Keith had in Texas, in particular, a ’71 SWB. The friends made a trade and Tiffany headed back to Texas.

“HAVING ALWAYS LOVED THE BUILD PROCESS, KEITH OPTED TO SELL HIS ALREADY-BUILT ’67 C-10 IN ORDER TO BUILD THIS ’68 INTO HIS DREAM RIDE.”

Having always loved the build process, Keith opted to sell his already-built ’67 C-10 in order to build this ’68 into his dream ride. Though there was also a gorgeous red ’68 up for a build, the green ’68 won out and stepped up in line to get the full treatment. In the short time that followed, Keith sold his other three C-10s and started collecting parts to build Tiffany into the perfect truck. What was supposed to be a quick build so that he would have something to drive during the summer season quickly became a more in-depth project than anticipated, eliciting small details that many admirers might overlook.

SHE’S SURE TO PROVIDE KEITH WITH MANY, MANY YEARS OF ENJOYMENT—IF HE DOESN’T TRADE OR SELL THIS ONE, TOO! ”

From the stock GM body to the modified fenders and bed, Keith’s C-10 is a priceless showpiece. Under the hood is a brand-new 350-ci crate engine, which gives the truck plenty of modern power despite her aged Ditzler Lacquer Light Green paint. This also includes all new running gear, a complete Porterbuilt air suspension system, disc brakes and Billet Specialties wheels wrapped in Toyo Proxes rubber. The truck’s interior has also been upgraded and features new tan and light green upholstery, Classic Instruments G-face gauges and a Vintage Air A/C system.

Tiffany certainly wears her age well and with a new crate engine at her heart, she’s sure to provide Keith with many, many years of enjoyment—if he doesn’t trade or sell this one, too!

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TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

Keith Stephens
1968 Chevrolet C-10
Rowlett, TX

ENGINE

• 350-ci GM crate engine smoothed and painted Hugger Orange
• Crane 268 camshaft
• Water pump ground smooth
• Powermaster alternator
• Pro Cool radiator
• SPAL electric fan
• Porterbuilt motor mounts
• Edelbrock Performer intake manifold and 1406 carburetor
• C-50 air cleaner with speed holes
• Modified ceramic-coated Hooker headers
• Mandrel-bent and coated exhaust
• Magnaflow mufflers
• Modified script valve covers
• Billet Specialties V-Trac pulley system powder-coated black
• Custom metal hoses
• Boyd Welding fuel tank
• Phoenix Transmission Products TH-700R4
• Custom two-piece steel driveshaft with billet carrier bearing block

SUSPENSION/CHASSIS

• Porterbuilt Extreme front and rear kit
• Porterbuilt control arms
• Slam Specialties RE-7 airbags front
• Firestone 9,000 airbags rear
• KYB shocks
• CPP modular spindles
• Accuair air management system
• Wilwood disc brakes and master cylinder
• Mosier axles
• 3.73:1 rearend gears
• Performed by owner (Twisted Gear)

WHEELS & TIRES

• 20×8.5-inch and 22×10 Billet Specialties Vintec with polished finish
• 255/40R20 and 285/40R22 Toyo Proxes STII

BODY & PAINT

• Stock GM body, grille and bumpers
• Crafty B custom sandcast aluminum gas filler
• Modified rear inner fenders
• Bed-floor raised 10 inches
• Modified front inner fenders from Hill’s Rod & Custom
• Ditzler Lacquer 503 Light Green paint
• Patina by Mother Nature

INTERIOR

• NOS 1961 Biscayne inserts and light green vinyl
• Trim Parts carpet
• Factory seats with new foam
• Classic Instruments gauges with G- stock faces
• Billet Specialties Outlaw steering wheel
• Vintage Air A/C
• Second Skin sound deadening material
• Upholstery by Andy Martin at RPL Customs

SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE OWNER: “I would like to thank the guys at PBFAB for all the help and killer parts. Roger Lynskey at RPL Customs for all the help and pushing me along when I started dragging my feet, and the good folks at AccuAir for making air management a breeze.”

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