hen Vic West was a kid growing up in South Florida, he would stare out the window during high school class and daydream about the myriad of muscle cars patrolling the local streets. “The rich kids down here had all the best cars; from Corvettes to Shelby Mustangs, with even a few Cobras mixed in. The quality was there for sure. When I got my license, it made me want to get some streetable power to call my own,” states Vic. And the pair of C10 Chevy pickups gave him a dynamic duo with all the power he would need.
Photography by the Author
hen Vic West was a kid growing up in South Florida, he would stare out the window during high school class and daydream about the myriad of muscle cars patrolling the local streets. “The rich kids down here had all the best cars; from Corvettes to Shelby Mustangs, with even a few Cobras mixed in. The quality was there for sure. When I got my license, it made me want to get some streetable power to call my own,” states Vic. And the pair of C10 Chevy pickups gave him a dynamic duo with all the power he would need.
Photography by the Author
That first ride in question was a 1973 F100 that had seen much better days but was still in good enough condition to run for a few more. “I immediately did mods that I could afford on my small budget, like cutting off the exhaust to install a set of glass-packs, adding some used chrome reverse wheels to the corners, and doing some easy engine upgrades to the 302ci power plant,” says Vic.
A big change came his way after owning a few Blue Ovals. “In 1979 I purchased my first C10, and from then on, Chevy would be my brand of choice and the sole manufacturer I would pursue and purchase,” says Vic. There would soon be a steady parade of bedded Bow Tie’s through his ample garage space, and he’s never looked back. Right now, these trucks are just two of the many C10s in his possession, and they are the pair of rides that occupy the main stalls in his vast stable. Let’s look at this perfect pair of Chevy trucks.
This “Cardinal Red over Cameo White” motif stunner came to Vic through a Craigslist ad. “I bought it out of Northern Florida. The paint wasn’t too bad, and the body was clean; but it had driveline issues like a blown transmission and had no brakes. It was a project from the start without question. It also came with factory air conditioning which is pretty rare for this model,” says Vic.
To get the stance that he wanted, Vic installed a Classic Performance Parts front end kit, which came complete with 3-inch lowering springs and 2-inch drop spindles. CPP shocks and sway bar finish-off the suspension add-ons up front. In the back, Belltech springs, shackles and shocks give the truck a 6-inch drop and just the right ride height with a touch of rake. Wilwood disc brakes supply the stopping power at the corners and are pushed by an 11-inch booster out of a 1970 Chevelle. For a little bling Coys Wheels; 20×8.5 up front and 20×10 in the rear fill up the wheel wells. They are shod in Nexen rubber; 245/40/20 and 275/40/20 respectively.
The interior starts around a bench seat from a ‘91 Silverado which was re-covered in ostrich skin.
To keep this truck pointed in the right direction, a Billet Specialties steering wheel is mounted to the stock column and is assisted by a power steering set-up from a 1987 C10. The beforementioned air conditioning is still there, now pushed by a Sanden compressor. AutoMeter gauges help keep track of the truck’s vitals on the dash. The armrests are courtesy of an old Volkswagen!
This top of the line pickup took a while for Vic to seal the deal on. “I saw it at the Turkey Rod Run in Daytona, Florida. Out of 1,600, vehicles in the car corral, this one just stood out for me”, says Vic. For four days straight at the show he couldn’t get the owner to make a deal with him, but somehow convinced him to sell it to him once the truck went back to its home in Nashville. After meeting the seller halfway in the middle of Georgia, Vic loaded up the truck and headed back to the Keys. Once back home, he tore into the Cheyenne to see exactly what he had just purchased.
The body is purely stock and was repainted its original Medium Blue and White motif before purchase. The interior was restored with only a few small changes. “There’s a Flaming River tilt column along with a Billet Specialties steering wheel. The upholstery is stock and appears to be the original skins, which are in amazing shape. Besides those pieces and the Blaupunkt stereo, the interior is the way it left the factory,” says Vic.
Since completing both trucks Vic has given them ample road time out on the blazin’ hot streets of the Keys. However, he’s also got mucho other bedded hot rods just waiting for their turn as well. “I’ve got other iron s the fire as I’m working on nine trucks as we speak. They are other C10’s, along with some Chevy trucks from the ‘50’s through the ‘90’s,” says Vic. “I obviously have a lot of trucks, but when it comes down to it, the C10’s are still my favorites”.
