Belltech Celebrates the History of Sport Trucks

Looking back at the history of custom trucks, several companies that formed the foundation of the custom sport truck industry have maintained to this day. one of those companies is belltech Suspension, founded out of the old bell auto Parts store. belltech helped innovate bolt-on lowering suspension using corrected and improved geometry. This not only altered the height of trucks, but also ensured that they drove correctly and handled better. This helped give birth to what we call the sport truck movement of the ’80s. as general Motors began to offer more comfortable and driveable trucks that handled daily duties, towing and performance driving, several companies were founded offering aftermarket upgrades for these trucks.

As belltech approached its 30th anniversary, it looked back on the many years and wide variety of custom trucks it’s helped bring closer to the earth. When the company first opened its doors, the current and most popular truck was the chevrolet c-10 square body. Since then, four other chevrolet truck body styles have helped grow the industry, and belltech, along the way. The crew at belltech came up with the idea to build five body styles of gM trucks in similar fashion to display at SEMa.

Once the renderings were completed, it was time to find donor trucks, and the belltech crew didn’t have to look far. a glance around the company parking lot revealed multiple generations of chevrolet pickup trucks. They realized that if they acquired the latest model chevy, they’d have all of the truck bodies from the past 30 years.

Belltech took the trucks, in varying conditions, and built them with a consistent theme and style remaining true to the classic sport truck look. all of the trucks were painted Victory Red to meld the sport truck theme with belltech’s company colors. of course each truck was outfitted with various lowering and handling kits from the belltech line. Then they partnered with several companies that also helped put the sport truck industry on the map for the remaining accessories. Each truck features budnik billet wheels, Wilwood brakes, optima batteries, stereo gear, Street Scene EQ styling components, bedRug inserts, Magnaflow exhausts, billet grille inserts and Falken tires. Some of the older trucks needed some restoration work, which was provided by LMc Truck.

The trucks debuted at SEMa to great fanfare, and one of the most popular of the group was this ’73 c-10. To many, it was like reliving the early sport truck days, showcasing what the industry has become. Many of the modifications done to the trucks are exactly what custom truck enthusiasts did the moment they picked up their own trucks from the dealership, and the trucks demonstrate that the timeless combination of a lowered ride on billet wheels with smooth, color-matched accessories is still a good look today.

Belltech took the trucks, in varying conditions, and built them with a consistent theme and style, remaining true to the classic sport truck look.

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BUILD SPECS

OWNER

Belltech Sport Trucks
1973 Chevrolet C-10
Sanger, CA

ENGINE

• 350 SBC V-8
• Edelbrock 500-cfm carburetor
• Edelbrock Performer intake manifold
• MSD ignition and wires
• Speedway transmission
• Summit Racing accessory drive
• Magnaflow exhaust
• 4.11:1 rearend gearing

SUSPENSION

• Belltech 5/8 drop
• Belltech front and rear sway bars
• Wilwood brakes

WHEELS & TIRES

• Budnik G5 20×8.5 and 20×10-inch wheels
• Falken Ziex S/TZ05 275/45R20 and 295/45R20 tires

BODY & PAINT

• Shop: Settin’ Trendz
• Valspar Victory Red
• Billet grille
• LMC Truck restoration parts
• BedRug

INTERIOR

• Shop: Fresno Unlimited
• LMC Truck interior parts
• Lightning Audio stereo system
• 6.5 and 6×9 speakers
• 10-inch subwoofer
• Four-channel amp
• Optima Yellow Top

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