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 Raymond Treuthart incorporated...  Raymond Treuthart incorporated the headlights into the fenders and painted the original chrome grille to match the body. |
 The top of this '46 Chevy...  The top of this '46 Chevy has been chopped 5 inches and moved forward 2 inches. Inside the cab, the '89 Cavalier seats and the sculptured door panels and headliner are all covered with gray and charcoal tweed. |
 One of the final touches that...  One of the final touches that Raymond opted for was this oak-stripped bed with stainless-steel ribs and bolts. |
 The Chevy 350 is assisted...  The Chevy 350 is assisted by an Edelbrock manifold and carburetor. It's dressed up with billet valve covers, a billet air cleaner and a chrome water pump. |
 Goodyear rubber and American...  Goodyear rubber and American Racing wheels fill the fenders at each corner. |
Imagine how great it would be if you had the abilities of a professional bodyman at your disposal or if you had years of experience that you could call upon to do whatever project you wanted. Raymond Treuthart doesnt have to imagine. The Lincoln, Illinois, resident is an autobody technician, and whenever he wants to he turns his experience into classic customs of his own. The latest result of his talents is a red 46 Chevrolet pickup.
Being a professional bodyman has its advantages. Raymond didn't have to attempt time and time again to communicate his customizing ideas to an unwilling employee whose shoelaces weren't tied properly. He didn't have to return to a shop every day to ensure that the job was progressing as he wanted it. And he didn't show up one day to find that the shop had put the graphics in the wrong location. No, everything turned out just as Raymond wanted. That's what happens when you have the time and the training to do it yourself. As the old saying goes, "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."
For starters, Raymond chopped the top 5 inches and moved it forward 2 inches. Next, he shaved the door handles and installed power windows which operate using the same remote that controls the entry system. The front of the truck retains many of its classic lines, with a few tasteful changes. The polished chrome of the original grille was covered and color-matched to the body. An aluminum bumper replaced the stock piece, and the traditional fender-mounted headlights were frenched into the sheetmetal, eliminating the parking lights that once sat atop the headlights.
The rear end didn't escape Raymond's creative vision either. Custom Bow-Tie taillights sit below the tailgate in an area he created by adding 10 inches of sheetmetal under the smoothed tailgate. The floor of the bed was redone using oak strips and stainless-steel ribs and bolts. To continue the clean lines, Raymond opted for smooth running boards between the front and rear fenders. Once all the pieces were fit and finished to his fancy, he covered the '46 in red urethane enamel. Since he did all the bodywork, it turned out just as he had planned.
To ensure that he retained complete control over the resto, Raymond enlisted several close friends to assist with the remaining tasks. Lonie King helped him create the interior. The seats and the console were taken from an '89 Cavalier. They were recovered with gray and charcoal tweed to match the custom sculptured doors and headliner. The dash houses Classic gauges, and a LeCarra steering wheel replaced the original. It should come as no surprise that Raymond installed the JVC and Pioneer stereo components himself.
The classic stance was lowered using drop spindles and cut springs in the front and modified springs in the back. Raymond installed Gabriel shocks, Mustang II front brakes and a steering box from a '78 Mustang. The '46 now rides on Goodyear tires and American Racing wheels. A '77 Chevy 350 resides under the hood. Of course, Raymond helped bolt on an Edelbrock intake manifold and carburetor, a set of billet aluminum valve covers, a billet air cleaner and a chrome water pump. Being directly involved in every step of the restoration allowed Raymond to create the cruiser he wanted.