Classy and Timeless

STAYING CURRENT IN THE CUSTOM TRUCK SCENE TAKES SOME EFFORT. Whether the focus is on newly developed technologies or pure aesthetics, what’s cool seems to change with the wind. This isn’t a criticism; the constant changes and innovations are exciting. Yet, in the face of endless new styles, there are trucks that defy trends; they’re true classics. It’s for this reason that Bill Kilpatrick’s mint muscle truck is objectively cool; it’s classy and timeless.

BILL ROLLED THE TRUCK INTO HIS SHOP WITH THE INTENTION OF PAINTING IT BLACK, BUT AS THE LAYERS OF RED PAINT WERE STRIPPED OFF, A LITTLE BIT OF THE TRUCK’S SOUL BEGAN TO BE REVEALED.”

Bill, proprietor of B&C Auto Restoration & Paint (Ontario, New York), is also the proud owner of the ’71 Chevy C-10 featured here. Just after finishing another Chevy project, a ’67 Impala SS with air ride and LS power, he wasted no time and quickly got his hands on the perfect short-bed. This particular truck wasn’t his first experience with C-10s; in fact, it was similar to a 4×4 that his father owned when Bill was a kid. Because of his happy childhood memories, Bill had tossed around the idea of building a full custom C-10 for more than 42 years, but when he first acquired the ’71, a simple tune-up and repaint were all that was on the docket for the time being.

Bill rolled the truck into his shop with the intention of painting it black, but as the layers of red paint were stripped off, a little bit of the truck’s soul began to be revealed. He finished stripping the body clean and straightening it out, and then he updated his plan of attack. He replaced the front bumper with an ultra- straight chrome factory version, and exchanged the rear for a smooth roll pan. The front headlights were updated with improved LED tech, and the rears, to match the roll pan, were replaced with Fesler billet tails. A shining billet grille was installed, and the gas filler was relocated to the bed to fine-tune and polish the bodywork. Finally, a truly stunning paint job, perfectly sorted, drenches Bill’s C-10 from top to bottom. It extends through the cab, under the hood, over the bed and onto the wheels. The timeless combo is made up of PPG Pastel Green and Vanilla Shake for a classic two-tone finish.

No custom street truck with such classic hot-rod styling would be complete without the muscle to back it up. A gen four 402-ci big- block sits underneath the hood, built to the nines by Dave and Craig at Lazzaro’s Machine Shop. It was pieced together with Eagle rods, a COMP Cams hydraulic roller camshaft, COMP Cams lifters and rockers, Keith Black pistons, a Weiand Stealth intake manifold and more. The motor is richly adorned with custom- painted Billet Specialties valve covers and air cleaner, and the Vintage Air AC system brings with it a highly polished pulley system. The entire engine bay is dressed up with American Auto wiring, Billet Specialties hose ties and a Be Cool radiator. The 402 sings its song through a set of Sanderson headers and a complete custom exhaust that finishes with Flowmaster mufflers and exits with a machine- finished body cut-out. Backing all of this power is a Turbo 400 trans with a heavy-duty shift kit, a Fleet Pride driveshaft and 12-bolt posi with 3.42 gears.

Bill’s C-10 has the body to walk the walk and the motor to talk the talk, but what really helps the two work together is a super-fine set of American Racing VN37 Rally two-piece wheels. Fully polished from the factory, the ARs have had their interiors painted in body- matching PPG Vanilla Shake to further tie the design together. The staggered setup measures 20×8 inches up front and 20×10 in the rear. Wrapping the power-hungry wheels are Falken tires, sized at 255 and 295. Doing the work to slow these suckers down are the factory GM brakes fortified with a Power Assist brake booster with a Wilwood master. What blends the gorgeous wheel setup with the rest of the truck, though, is the aggressive stance achieved via Bilstein coils coupled with 2- inch drop spindles and a rear C-notch.

WHEN EXAMINING EACH SECTION OF THE TRUCK ONE BY ONE, IT’S EASY TO GET LOST IN THE DETAILS. WHILE EACH CHARACTERISTIC IS UNIQUE AND WORTHY OF ATTENTION, THE STRIKING BEAUTY OF THIS CHEVY IS BEST ADMIRED AS A WHOLE.”

Inside the short-bed’s immaculately clean cabin is a host of custom interior design work handled by John Bates at JMB Upholstery. The seats are one-offs in Ultra Leather’s Ultra White, which extends to the fully custom headliner and door panels. The white carpet originally was created for BMW, but it’s well suited to Bill’s truck. Billet Specialties door handles, a Grant Products steering wheel, Dakota Digital gauges and the PPG Pastel Green and Vanilla Shake bring some serious spice into what could have been an overwhelmingly monochromatic interior. The original GM stereo remains in place, brought to life with American Auto wiring.

THE TRUCK IS A TESTAMENT TO THE TRANSCENDENT VALUE OF OLD-SCHOOL COOL, PROVING THAT CLASSIC STYLING WILL ALWAYS BE IN FASHION.”

When examining each section of the truck one by one, it’s easy to get lost in the details. While each characteristic is unique and worthy of attention, the striking beauty of this Chevy is best admired as a whole. The top to bottom cohesive styling harkens back to the golden days of hot-rodding, yet it’s tied perfectly together with modern touches. The truck is a testament to the transcendent value of old-school cool, proving that classic styling will always be in fashion.

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TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

Bill Kilpatrick
1971 Chevrolet C-10
Ontario, NY

ENGINE

• Chevy gen four 402-ci big-block
• Built motor with Eagle rods, COMP Cams HydroRoller, Keith Black pistons and Weiand Stealth intake manifold
• Billet Specialties air cleaner
• Sanderson headers
• Complete custom exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers
• Be Cool radiator
• Vintage Air AC system
• Dressed up with matched paint
• Billet Specialties valve covers and hose ties
• Vintage Air pulleys
• American Auto wiring
• GM Turbo 400
• Heavy-duty Sprag shift kit
• Fleet Pride drive shaft
• 12-bolt posi with 342 gears

SUSPENSION & CHASSIS

• Rear C-notch
• Front 2-inch drop spindles
• Bilstein front control arms
• Bilstein shocks all around
• GM factory brakes
• Power-assist brake booster
• Wilwood master cylinder

WHEELS & TIRES

• 20×8 and 20×10 American Racing VN327 billet Rally wheels with paint-matched centers and chrome hubcaps
• 255/45ZR20 and 295/40ZR20 Falken tires

BODY & PAINT

• Billet grille
• Chromed front bumper
• Rear roll pan
• LED headlights
• Billet Fesler taillights
• Gas filler relocated to bed
• Smoothed inner fenders
• Painted bed floor
• Billet hood hinges
• Shaved upper cowl
• Painted PPG Pastel Green and Vanilla Shake

INTERIOR

• Factory system
• American Auto wiring
• Custom seats
• Custom headliner
• Ultra Leather upholstery
• Factory dash
• Grant Products steering wheel
• Billet Specialties handles
• Dakota Digital gauges
• BMW carpeting

SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE OWNER: “Sincere thanks to my shop and my wife for all of their support through the years, especially with this dream build.”

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