do realize that, as you read this here editorial, it’s only November of 2024, yet the cover date is January—hence my Happy New Year salutations! Without getting into why the issue dates don’t fully correspond to what the actual calendar says, let’s just talk about what’s in store for 2025, shall we?

First off, we’ve got some projects to finish up. As I alluded to in-depth last month, that includes my long-overdue 1969 C10, which by the time you read this should be at FiTech in Corona, California, gettin’ some fuel and spark and exhaust gases flowing! There are some major cosmetic items that will need tending to after, but I think I’ll put quite a few shakedown miles on her before addressing the front sheetmetal, body/paint, and eventually, Vintage Air Gen 5 A/C and an elaborated (i.e. loud) sound system. The 1948 will get a full rewire to accurately functionalize all the electronics (we’ll be using American Autowire’s Highway 22 Plus), a front suspension overhaul, and if the elements (spacing) will allow, a set of Billet Specialties 20-inch Motor City smoothies to (part time) replace the Cragar Star Wires! 

Above and beyond my personals, we’ve also got our in-house 1964 Chevy, which is currently undergoing semi-extensive cab sheetmetal rehab before it, too, enters the wiring and subsequent body/paint phases. With that one we’ll be utilizing American Autowire’s Classic Update harness, which mimics the OE while allowing all the conventional modern upgrades (LS/700-R4 and so on). Additionally, due to the raised bed floor preventing me from using it on my 1948, we’ll be integrating Legens Hot Rod Shop’s fuel access kit with a Bedwood & Parts Carbon Series wood kit. Then there’s our resident Ford fan, publisher Tim Foss, who’s juggling a couple Bumpside projects that we may just see some progress on in the coming year … hopefully!

We’re also looking to acquire a clean, bone-stock (or close) 1988-1998 Chevy/GMC SWB (though I’m tempted to find a cherry longbed and cut it down, as it’s only a matter of time before the prices of shortbeds gets too out of hand and, well, you know …). Along with the usual brakes/suspension and what have you, if things keep moving in the direction they are now regarding emissions in California we could/should have a lot of opportunities for (legal) drivetrain upgrades—fingers crossed on that one.

Outside the walls of In The Garage Media, we’ll continue following Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs’ 1951 Chevy with one of our favorite metalmen, Kenneth DeKissere, plus more from across the country, including Phoenix area projects with Arizona High Test, RevB, and of course our buddy Shane at All American Billet with the highly anticipated All-Aftermarket Squarebody (in conjunction with our good friends at Auto Metal Direct, whose 1966 C10 we’ll continue following, as it will soon get a Summit-based LS upgrade). Also, there will be plenty of pages throughout the year for additional projects from far and wide—even as far as the East Coast (courtesy of our roving reporter Chuck Vranas with Chris Cerce Customs, Procision Industries, and so forth) and as local as Bakersfield with Ironworks’ line of Squarebody and Bumpside crewcabs we’ll be covering.

Plus, there will be room for plenty more. Show us what you got via social media by tagging @classic_truck_performance on the IG … who knows, maybe it’s worth its own paper/digital real estate in CTP one day!