A Gift for a Father Becomes a Legacy for his Son

If you had to be remembered in one build, what would it be? Would you pick a classic and make it modern, or would you try to take it back to its former glory?

For Robin Greenhagen Jr. it all began with this ’70 Chevrolet C-10 that was purchased for his father, Robin Sr., as one of his retirement projects. The project has since taken on new meaning, to be admired as much for its classic and clean style as for the work that has gone into it.

Robin and his father were forced to tackle some heavy questions during the build. With his father losing his battle with cancer before the project was finished, Robin Jr. took up the mantle to complete the Chevy as it stands today, turning this second generation C-10 into a build to be remembered by, as well as a build to span generations.

When Robin Sr. started working on his C-10, he decided he wanted a clean, low driver. He completed the chassis work, shortened the frame and did most of the metal replacement for rust issues in the cab. Around this time, cancer had claimed the majority of his strength, and he had only enough energy to shave the firewall before he passed. Robin Jr. took over the build with help from The RestoMod Store to complete in his father’s honor, and in memory of the many car shows, cruises and days in the garage the pair spent together. Having worked on the rest of Robin Sr.’s builds, the RestoMod crew kept true to his original vision and helped Robin Jr. bring the truck to fruition.

Altogether,  this C-10 takes the best of its original ’70’s style and balances it with modern performance.”

The C-10 has seen a whole host of changes, and though some parts have remained stock or harken back to the original style of the Chevy, there is no ignoring the amount of work that Robin Jr. and the RestoMod crew put into the build. The Chevy now features a posi-traction rear differential. The gas tank has been swapped for a Blazer tank with a bed floor filler door. The suspension features McGaughy’s lowering coils and blocks in the rear and lowering springs in the front coupled with drop spindles for the low stance first imagined for the build. The brakes have been replaced with disc versions all around, giving this ’70 serious stopping power and improved handling. Where truck meets pavement, 20-inch Centerline Smoothie wheels have been painted to complement the body of the truck. Wrapped in Nitto tires, these wheels serve as yet another nod to the Chevy’s classic style.

Underneath the hood, a 2010 Chevy 5.3L engine serves as the heart of the build, with eight cylinders working to drop 350 hp and 300 ft-lbs of torque. Dual 2.5-inch exhausts give the 5.3L breathing room, while Magnaflow mufflers keep the C-10 running as clean as it looks. Edelbrock valve covers and custom copper finish on the engine keep the compartment pristine even as they tie the ride together, and PSI wiring keeps the Chevy running with modern performance. The C-10 features a 2010 GM 4L60E automatic transmission made to match the engine, copper paint and all.

Though the Chevy features a stock bumper and grille, the body has seen its share of work. On the exterior, the bed floor is protected with LineX, giving the short-bed a functional setup. The Axalta Root Beer paint with Copper accents was picked out by Robin Sr. a week before his passing and serves as the inspiration behind the copper coloring under the hood, as well as the coloring on the wheels. The factory bench seat has been reupholstered along with the rest of the interior with Ultraleather in a warm brown that ties the build together in clean execution. Vintage Air air conditioning and Vintage Audio OEM-style stereo and speakers balance modern performance with vintage class, as cut-pile carpeting and reproduction OEM-style gauges stay true to the C-10’s simple and original style.

Altogether, this C-10 takes the best of its original ’70’s style and balances it with modern performance. It’s through this execution that Robin Jr. and the RestoMod crew have paid homage to his father’s original vision for the build. Keeping the C-10 cruising low and using Robin Sr.’s plans as a jumping off point for the build, this second-generation Chevy has indeed spanned two generations, resulting in a truly clean and unique ride.

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BUILD SPECS

OWNER

Robin Greenhagen
1970 Chevrolet C-10
Watford City, ND

Engine

• Work performed by Dahmer Powertrain
• 2010 Chevrolet 5.3L, eight-cylinder LS engine
• Custom covers
• Custom air cleaner
• Copper finish
• Edelbrock valve covers
• OE LS drive accessories
• Kwik Performance pulleys
• Aluminum radiator and electric fan
• PSI wiring
• 2010 4L60E GM automatic transmission
• Dual 2.5-inch exhaust
• Magnaflow mufflers
• Stock Chevrolet rearend with 3:73 gears
• Stock Chevrolet axles
• Posi-traction rear differential

Chassis & Suspension

• Work performed by The RestoMod Store
• Shortened frame
• McGaughy’s lowering springs, front
• McGaughy’s lowering coils and blocks, rear
• McGaughy’s disc brakes
• McGaughy’s drop spindles
• Stock Chevrolet brake booster
• Stock Chevrolet control arms

Wheels & Tires

• 20×8.5 Centerline Smoothies wheels with paint-matched finish
• 275/45R20 Hankook tires

Body & Paint 

• Work performed by The RestoMod Store
• Stock front bumper and grille
• Blazer tank gas filler
• LineX bed floor
• Axalta Metallic Root Beer paint with Copper accents

Interior & Stereo

• Work performed by The RestoMod Store
• Ultraleather upholstery on factory seats
• Cut-pile carpet
• Reproduction OEM-style gauges
• Billet Specialties split-spoke steering wheel
• Vintage Audio stereo and speakers
• Optima Red Top battery

Special Thanks From the Owner: “My dad, Robin S. Greenhagen, started the truck, but Mike McLin, Chris McLin and Michael McLin took the project and ran with it at The RestoMod Store in Independence, Missouri.”

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