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Dallas Auto Rama 2005Showing Off In Texas From the July, 2005 issue of Custom Classic Trucks By John Lee Photography by John Lee
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Perhaps it was because the 45th Annual O'Reilly Auto Parts AutoRama in Dallas, Texas, was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Chevy small-block that Chevy trucks seemed to be in the vast majority at the show. It's more likely, however, that Texans just prefer the Bow-Tie brand, both in their basic truck and for muscle-power under the hood. To highlight the theme, Dallas Area Classic Chevys assembled a display of six '55s, ranging from a restored Bel Air two-door sedan with a Power-Pac 265-cid V-8, through mildly customized examples, to an all-out drag racer. That original powerplant design could be found throughout AutoRama in an array of modifications under the hoods of many light trucks, like those in the "Pickups and Panels Club" display. It even powered two of the three phantom '37 Ford Ute-style pickups, which seems to be the street-rod design-of-the-year. The mid-February exhibition in the Dallas Market Hall drew about 300 entries in all classes (even power boats). This fun-loving group has very hot trucks, and we aren't referring to Dallas' semi-tropical climate. We were surprised to see how many trucks were set up for racing, some with Pro Street chassis, big-block engines, superchargers, and multiple carburetors. There were several trucks among the top entries competing for points in the GM Performance Parts Show-Car Series. Louisiana-based Cliff Angelle showed his 454ci big-block-powered '57 Chevy 1/2-ton with a custom Optima Leather interior (CCT Feb. '05). Lloyd Conley of Stafford, Missouri, is making the show rounds again this year with his immaculate, Sunset Orange Pearl '57 Chevy Cameo (CCT Feb. '03). Jack McCandliss came a long way from Des Moines, Washington, to show his Viper Red Pro Street '71 Ford Ranchero, and John and Mary Sue Bedenbender are again traveling the show circuit out of Mt. Vernon, Texas, with their black '66 El Camino with satin-finish trim. The Dallas AutoRama is always a showcase for the best street, show, and race trucks Texas has to offer. Take a look at this small sampling of the custom trucks we caught in our view-finder this year.  Mickey Thompson Sportsmans...  Mickey Thompson Sportsmans on Weld Drag Star wheels attempt to provide traction for the torque from a 468-inch big-block with a roller cam and Holley 850 in Kenny Walker's '85 Chevy short-wide-bed pickup from Burkburnett, TX.  Tye Farmer from San Angelo...  Tye Farmer from San Angelo uses airbags to adjust the ground clearance of his '97 Chevy S-10 from none to enough to clear a monster speed bump! Gray leather, a custom console, and a billet grille complement the blue and silver paint.  Candy Apple Red paint, a 502-inch...  Candy Apple Red paint, a 502-inch big-block, and a B&M-shifted automatic were the choices David Cardoza of Dallas made for his '81 Chevy short styleside. The dark-red cloth upholstery has an embossed-flame pattern.  A Maltese cross combined with...  A Maltese cross combined with flame licks make for distinctive graphics on S.M. Johnson's '68 Chevy short-wide pickup from Dallas. A Weiand 8.71-blown 355ci Chevy spins the Weld wheels on a narrowed 9-inch rearend.  S.M. Johnson turns the 1/8-mile...  S.M. Johnson turns the 1/8-mile in six seconds with his 468ci big-block-powered '89 S-10. Black racing bucket seats are fitted inside the cab.  A ZZ4 Chevy engine powers...  A ZZ4 Chevy engine powers Michael Hall's '69 Chevy short stepside from Dallas. A billet grille, Boyd Coddington wheels, and silver paint decorate the exterior, while red leather and a custom console upgrade the interior.  One popular trend in street...  One popular trend in street rod trucks is the phantom '37 Ford Ute-style pickup from Wild Rods and Downs Manufacturing. From Seagoville, TX, this rendition by Jim Bayne was assembled with a lipstick-red Wild Rods body, 350ci Chevy engine and 700R4 trans, Mustang II front suspension, Chamois leather seats, and interior panels.  The classic Chevy Cameo body...  The classic Chevy Cameo body style never looked finer than with the Sunset Orange Pearl finish Lloyd Conley sprayed on his. Among a multitude of modifications are an '87 Chevy chassis with chromed suspension parts, a 350/400 drivetrain combination, and Ultraleather-covered LeSabre seats.  Don Sharp has a neat street...  Don Sharp has a neat street truck in his blue '59 Chevy Apache. A dual-carb, dual-exhaust 235ci six-cylinder engine rotates those chrome Rally wheels.  Chad Gorczyca had his Midnight...  Chad Gorczyca had his Midnight Blue '50 Chevy pickup looking much better than a fresh factory-built item! The truck rides on a Fatman Fabrications chassis with 18- and 20-inch Billet Specialties wheels. Adobe Ultraleather dresses the interior.  Check out the '58 Ford-style...  Check out the '58 Ford-style side trim airbrushed onto this '37 Ford Ranchero. Doug Pedersen of Highland Village, TX, built this Downs-bodied rod with a swinging tailgate, 350 Chevy power, Coddington wheels, and white and tan leather.  Rolled pans and a hard bedcover...  Rolled pans and a hard bedcover serve to integrate the clean lines of this '70 Chevy short-wide bed by Dwain Spence of Wylie. A tuned, port-injected 350 provides the power, and Coddington Wheels the rolling stock.  Demonstrating what can be...  Demonstrating what can be found at the Mopar speed store, Dallas Speed Shop powered this '84 Dodge D100 with a 5.7L Mopar Performance Hemi crate motor producing 360 hp. It's channeled through a Chrysler four-speed and rearend to the Cragar wheels.  A '71 Ranchero isn't the first...  A '71 Ranchero isn't the first truck that comes to mind when thinking of a wild street machine-which may be why Jack McCandliss built this potent piece of machinery. This Des Moines, WA-based ride runs a 514ci Ford engine with dual-quad carbs, a C6 automatic, and a narrowed 9-inch rearend. Additional details include Weld wheels and tan leather bucket seats.  Lincoln never built a pickup,...  Lincoln never built a pickup, but when Rick Dore finished mixing '40 Zephyr parts with a '40 Ford pickup, this was the result. Terry and Sharon Tyler of Wylie now own this cool phantom with aluminum wheels styled like '57 Cad hubcaps!  Joe Brown of Lafayette, LA,...  Joe Brown of Lafayette, LA, used a Wild Rods body to build his version of a '37 Ford coupe pickup and powered it with a 4.6L DOHC Cobra supercharged engine, followed by a Mustang five-speed transmission and a 4.10:1 Ford 9-inch rearend.  Satin-finish stainless trim...  Satin-finish stainless trim and aluminum wheels contrast mile-deep black paint to give John and Mary Sue Bedenbender's '66 El Camino a unique appearance. John, from Mt. Vernon, TX, did all the work, including the swap to a 454 engine/400 Turbo trans.  Kerk Van Meter of Wylie, TX,...  Kerk Van Meter of Wylie, TX, swapped to a more modern LS1 350 engine, a Buick Grand National rearend, and American Racing wheels for his '86 El Camino. The bench seat is upholstered in gray fabric.  Glenn Woods' three-year frame-off...  Glenn Woods' three-year frame-off rebuild of his '57 Chevy hauler included swapping on a later-model stepside bed and fenders. It's powered by a 350/400 Turbo and rolls on painted wire wheels.  These days it's hard to tell...  These days it's hard to tell if a rod like this primer-painted '30 Model A is finished or not. Either way, Tyler Zandeli of Arlington has a pretty cool early-Olds-powered hauler with a unique roll-back roof.  Carl Daubitz came from Midlothian,...  Carl Daubitz came from Midlothian, TX, with his well-detailed '73 Bronco. A 302 and an automatic drives the 4WD with 15-inch Cragars and BFG all-terrain rubber.  John Taylor's '70 El Camino...  John Taylor's '70 El Camino from Dallas runs Goodyear Eagles on Weld wheels, has a 350 under the hood, and black vinyl buckets with a console inside.  After years of reconstruction,...  After years of reconstruction, Jack Ellison of Kaufman was showing his '32 Ford pickup for the first time. A 4.3L Chevy V-6 and a 700-R4 AOD trans makes an out-of-the-ordinary powertrain, and the interior has red cloth and black vinyl on a bench seat.  The Harold and Lisa Sahs family...  The Harold and Lisa Sahs family from Grand Prairie spent eight years rebuilding this bright yellow '66 Chevy, but we bet Dad does most of the driving!  That rumpin' 400-inch small-block...  That rumpin' 400-inch small-block with dual-Holley 450 carbs on a tunnel ram manifold cranks out 596 hp. This truck served 25 years in the painting business.  A big-block Chevy powers this...  A big-block Chevy powers this sharp late El Camino, rolling on American Racing wheels and red and black upholstery on vinyl bucket seats with a console.
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1959 Ford F-100
Scott Oshinki rebuilt a 1959 Ford F-100 for his father-in-law Art Carney....
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