A Father & Son Build—Turned Bond

In the custom truck scene, everyone has their reasons for building and bringing their custom dreams to life. Some folks do it simply to flex and outdo the next guy, while others use it to show off their skills in the garage. For a lot of us, the build is simply a way to make a ride match our personality and show our true passions. But then you come across great stories like this one where the build isn’t just about the truck; it’s all about family. For Tony Leal, better known on Instagram as @slammed64s, and his son Anthony, wrenching on this 1964 Chevy C10 was more than just a project in the garage. It was a chance to build something together that’s now headed to the big stage: SEMA. And here’s the kicker: this is Anthony’s very first build from the ground up. Most builders spend years trying to get something prestigious enough built to this level, let alone into a SEMA-featured booth. But Anthony’s C10 will be on full display for the automotive world, featured in the Air Lift Performance booth showcasing its all-new ALP4 air management setup. It has already landed a magazine cover, too. First build, first SEMA feature, and first cover—now that’s making some serious noise right out of the gate!

Passing the Torch

Tony isn’t a stranger to killer custom truck builds. His Instagram feed is stacked with some of the cleanest slammed trucks you’ll ever see (many of which have graced these very same pages). But this one was different. This wasn’t just about his reputation in the custom truck scene. It was about teaching his son, showing him the ropes, and giving him a chance to put his own spin on things. Anthony, a college student at Cal State Fullerton, said the reason for the build was simple: “to build it with my dad.” That right there tells you everything you need to know.

What started as a project turned into late nights in the garage, learning, messing up, and fixing, all while laughing through everything. They weren’t just putting parts together and building a truck; they were building a lifetime of memories together. Anthony even admitted one of the hardest parts was “taking it apart and watching my dad do most of the work,” joking around about how much he still had to learn as they went.

Built with Heart

The truck itself is a 1964 Chevy C10 sprayed in light gray and white, keeping that classic vibe alive while stacking on modern touches. Under the hood, you’ll find a 2019 Chevy L86 V8, a 6.2-liter beast with direct injection, built with parts from Brian Tooley Racing, including a Stage 2 cam, LS7 lifters, and a full DOD/AFM delete. Hooked up with Speed Engineering headers and a custom stainless exhaust with Vibrant mufflers, the setup is as rowdy as it is reliable.

Backing it up is a custom two-piece driveshaft and a 9-inch rear end with 3.87 gears. The truck rolls low and mean thanks to a Porterbuilt Level 3 Dropmember up front and a full back-half out back. Air management? The brand-new Air Lift Performance ALP4 system, paired with a custom-mounted billet FLO Airride air tank, all plumbed by the father-son duo with stainless and Swagelok fittings. This thing lays out clean and smooth. And those wheels? Avant Garde AGL79s—22×9 up front and 22×12 out back wrapped in Toyo Proxes ST III rubber. When aired down, the tires tuck properly for yet another perfect wheel/stance combo from the Leal crew!

Clean Inside and Out

Step inside, and the craftsmanship continues. A Snowden bench seat covered in brown faux leather by MST Upholstery sets the tone. Dakota Digital gauges keep Anthony in the know, while a Sparc steering wheel and Ididit column handle the driving side. Sound comes from a setup with Morel, Rockford Fosgate, and Musway audio components, backed up by custom speaker boxes from Slosh Tubz. There’s Restomod A/C for comfort, and Anthony even 3D-printed custom vents and an Air Lift controller mount.

One of the coolest little details? The pair stained their own bed wood, giving the truck a finish you won’t find in a catalog. It’s personal, just like the build.

The Road to SEMA

Getting a truck like this ready for SEMA isn’t cheap or easy. Anthony says the build took about a year and three months, with around $120k invested. But he’ll tell you the price tag isn’t what matters. What mattered was learning from his dad, watching how things go together, and knowing that no matter how many hours it took, the time wasn’t wasted. It was time spent together. He summed it up best: “Building the truck was cool, but learning from my dad was priceless.”

What’s Next?

With SEMA and a magazine cover already locked in for his first build, Anthony’s future in the scene is just getting started. He’s planning more upgrades, including dialing in a stall converter to make that L86 really wake up. But for now, he’s soaking in the moment seeing his own truck in the Air Lift booth, knowing the work he put in with his dad is being recognized by the entire custom truck world.

In the end, this C10 isn’t just another slammed build. It’s a story about passing the torch, about family, and about how the garage can be the place where some of life’s best lessons get handed down. And at SEMA, when the crowd gathers around the SLMD64 C10, they won’t just be seeing a truck. They’ll be seeing the bond that built it!

Owner

Anthony Leal
1964 Chevy C10
Orange, CA

Engine & Drivetrain

2019 Chevy L86 6.2L V8
BTR Stage 2 cam
LS7 lifters
DOD/AFM delete
Speed Engineering headers
Custom stainless 3-inch exhaust with Vibrant muffler
2019 Chevrolet transmission (needs new stall converter)
Derale cooler mounted under driver side
Custom Ford 9-inch, 3.87 gears
Custom two-piece driveshaft
Exhaust system from Customs By Sergio/Metal Fab

Chassis & Suspension

Porterbuilt Level 3 front Dropmember
Porterbuilt rear back-half
Ridetech shocks
Air Lift Performance ALP4 system
FLO billet air tank
Stainless plumbing with Swagelok fittings

Wheels, Tires & Brakes

22×9 and 22×12 Avant Garde AGL79 wheels
30 series (front), 25 series (rear) Toyo Proxes ST III tires

Body & Paint

Cleaned firewall and raised bed floor
Hart Fab inner fenders and rear tubs
Custom-stained bed wood
Factory C10 2-stage light gray/white paint by Jazz Auto Body, Stanton, CA

Interior

Snowden bench seat
Brown faux leather upholstery by MST Upholstery, Brea, CA
Dakota Digital gauges
Sparc steering wheel
Ididit column
Restomod A/C
Custom Slosh Tubz speaker boxes
Precision rubber seals
3D-printed A/C vents and Air Lift controller mount
Morel, Rockford Fosgate, and Musway audio components