or some folks, owning a customized vehicle of any sort can serve as the ultimate form of self-expression. Cultivating the overall aesthetic becomes a very personalized way to transform a production-built car or truck into a truly one-of-a-kind motorized art piece. Ralph Amezcua, a scaffolding contractor out of San Diego, California, learned the value and sense of accomplishment that comes with building a custom vehicle from his father who was an established builder himself. “All my life my dad always had classics,” Ralph says. “It wasn’t until I was a little older in 2016 when I followed his lead and started building cars that were tailored to my specific tastes.”
With an impressive lineup of previous custom projects to Ralph’s credit, such as a ’65 Chevelle Malibu, a ’64 Nova, a ’73 GMC Sierra, and an ’83 C10, he felt the need to add yet another classic GM pickup to his ownership portfolio after he saw one for sale that he just couldn’t pass up. “I’ve always really been a truck guy,” Ralph admits. “My dad owned two GMC Squarebody pickups while I was growing up, so I wanted to carry on the tradition by securing a modern classic for myself.”
This lucky turn of events was a great surprise for Ralph, and thankfully the previous owner was able to fill him in on a great deal of the details of what was done to the truck and where. This allowed him to not feel like he was going in completely blind on the deal. Ralph found out that the chassis was outfitted with a front coilover setup by Choppin’ Block that featured Classic Performance Products spindles and Aldan American coilovers. The rear was ’bagged and equipped with Aldan shocks for a low yet comfortable ride. Wilwood front six-piston and rear four-piston brake kits along with a master cylinder were put into place to bring the ’71 to a quick and reliable halt. The rolling stock consists of 22×9 and 24×12 NewGen wheels and Falken Ziex S/TZ rubber to promote all-season easy cruising, which Ralph would soon be partaking in.
The exterior had been designed to keep the truck’s original styling at the forefront, although some modest custom alterations are present. The Heritage Red paint and white roof, along with fresh body trim maintain the GMC’s nostalgic appeal, while the raised bed floor has been enhanced with a wood plank kit from Mar-K and capped off with a one-off GMC panel behind the tailgate. With some extra metalwork completed within the engine bay, the efforts to hold onto its largely OEM appearance were well rewarded as the trick additions only complement the truck’s original character.
You just don’t see trucks like this posted for sale on local resale sites. While this GMC couldn’t have come cheap, it did come heavily customized to an extent that would please even the most selective classic truck builders. While the truck’s previous owner wasn’t too keen on taking many chances with it, Ralph has made it a point to drive his new ride as much as he can. From bigger local shows like Goodguys Del Mar along with a string of cruises and cars and coffee hangouts in the San Diego area, plus the Quarantine Cruise and Dino’s Git Down, Ralph and his GMC are native regulars. For a guy who has grown up with custom vehicles all around him and has had a great selection of personal builds of his own, having a truck in this condition is a treat that Ralph makes sure to show his appreciation for every chance he gets.
“Before the opportunity passes, I’d like to give the folks who have contributed to this project a shout,” Ralph says. “Dan Nic, Jon Henson from NewGen Wheels, Michael Wahl from FiTech, Jason McEntire of JM Garage, and Customs By Lopez were essential in the creation of such a quality build that I am lucky to now have the pleasure of taking care of and enjoying now and in the future.”