AS SEEN IN OUR C10 Builders Guide Fall 2026 ISSUE – Buy Now!
Fine, Fast is Good Too!
I will be the first one to admit it here; I’ve always had a soft spot for classic trucks done one specific way: low, slow, and laid flat out on the pavement. Give me a truck with rocker panels kissing asphalt, a perfectly dialed stance, and an air ride setup that hits the perfect “pssss, psssss, psshhhhh” just right when it airs out, and I’ll be a happy man. That’s been my lane for as long as I’ve been a part of this custom automotive scene. Clean lines, attention to detail, and that unmistakable presence of something built to sit still and look better than anything else around it.
But every now and then, something shifts. This issue is one of those moments.
Because as much as I respect the art of going low, there’s another side of this culture that deserves its time in the spotlight—going fast. Not just quick for what it is, but legitimately fast. The kind of builds that don’t just turn heads when they roll in but snap necks when they leave under full throttle. We’re talking real horsepower, purpose-built setups, and trucks that are just as comfortable tearing up pavement as they are sitting in a show line. And if I’m being honest, it’s refreshing.
There’s an energy that comes with performance builds that you just can’t replicate with a static display. It’s loud, it’s aggressive, and it doesn’t apologize. Where a slammed truck invites you to slow down and take in the details, a high-horsepower build demands your attention immediately and then disappears before you’ve fully processed what just happened. It’s a different kind of craftsmanship—one that trades mirror-finish undercarriages for dyno sheets, track times, and the constant pursuit of more power. That doesn’t mean the detail isn’t there. It’s just focused differently.
Instead of obsessing over how tight a wheel tucks or how smooth a firewall is, these builders are chasing efficiency, strength, and performance. Turbo setups that look like mechanical sculptures. Engine bays that are less about hiding everything and more about showcasing what makes the truck move. Suspension systems built not just to lay frame but to keep things planted when the throttle gets buried. It’s a different mindset at times, but it’s no less impressive.
What really pulled me into this theme for the issue, though, is the crossover we’re starting to see. The lines between “show” and “go” aren’t as defined as they used to be. Builders are figuring out how to blend the two perfectly and creating trucks that can win awards under the lights and still back it up when it’s time to perform. That balance isn’t easy, and the ones who get it right are pushing the entire scene forward.
So yeah, I still love my classics low and slow. That’ll never change. There’s something timeless about a perfectly executed stance build that just does it for me. But this issue isn’t about standing still; it’s about movement, noise, adrenaline, and everything that comes with putting your foot down and seeing what happens next.
Sometimes you’ve got to trade the switches for a throttle, and I’m not mad about it at all.