Repurposed Wood Hauler

Feature

InTheGarageMedia.com

By Ryan Manson

Photography By Mike Chase

The Richmond ’68 Chevy C10

I

t’s a common thread in the classic car world where a vehicle is purchased to fulfill a sense of nostalgia—and the truck market is no different. Growing up exploring the Northern California countryside with his family as a youth, it was this nostalgia that prompted Pete Richmond to search for a classic truck similar to what was used on the property that the family so enjoyed. Pete and his wife, Leslie, contacted Zane Cullen at Cotati Speed Shop and together the team came up with a fast and loose plan reflecting what Pete wanted in his classic truck build. A ’67-72 Chevy would be the foundation upon which they would build a well-functioning, upgraded pickup with the performance, ride, and comfort eclipsing a modern vehicle and the aesthetic of a workingman’s truck. While searching for the perfect candidate, Cullen caught wind of a project truck that had already received a number of upgrades that ticked off a handful of Pete’s requests. This would turn out to be the perfect jumping-off point, saving the team countless hours of labor and allowing for said upgrades to be purchased in one fell swoop.

The truck that the crew started with had a previous life as a magazine tech project, but that’s a story for another day. Suffice it to say, it had already received a powerplant upgrade in the form of a supercharged LS327 crate engine and six-speed TREMEC T56 transmission. The 12-bolt rearend had also been upgraded with an Eaton Truetrac limited-slip differential and 9-inch Ford axles. A QA1 coilover kit controls the damping and rebound at all four corners via double-adjustable shocks, tubular controls arms up front, and tubular radius rods in the rear, with oversized sway bars at both ends. (You can see the full story on the suspension installation at inthegaragemedia.com/c10-suspension-upgrade-tubular-control-arms-coilover-shocks-big-brake-kit/ and inthegaragemedia.com/tubular-trailing-arms-coilover-shocks-and-brakes-for-a-1968-c10/.) Classic Performance Products (CPP) dropped spindles were mated to the QA1 components and finished with a pair of big CPP disc brakes. Out back, similar CPP components can be found as well.

Underhood, the LS327 crate engine is fed via a TorqStorm centrifugal supercharger cooled by a Vibrant Performance intercooler before the air meets the fuel in the Holley Mid-Rise cast-aluminum intake manifold. A Holley Dominator EFI system controls the fueling of the engine as well as the combustion through relocated, stock LS coils. The front accessory drive is another TorqStorm product, locating the Vintage Air A/C compressor, Type II power steering pump, Powermaster 220-amp alternator, and one serpentine belt and the Torq Storm blower on another. PML valve covers finish off the Trick Flow aluminum heads, shod in a Cerakote finish to match the similarly treated intake and Holley headers, all applied by Cotati Speed Shop.

Come time for body and paint, the crew at Cotati Speed Shop proceeded to apply their typical sharp attention to detail, completing any needed rust repair on the truck followed by hours of blocking and finessing until all the sheetmetal was deserving of a flawless paintjob. But flawless is not what Pete craved. Instead, a more well-worn finish, similar to the working trucks of his youth, is what Pete had in mind. Ever the artists, the Cotati crew partnered with Eric Sedletzky Designs, applying a carefully worn finish complete with door art that’s a nod to one of Pete’s father’s favorite camping spots, Arbor Camp. The result is a show car–worthy finish with a slightly worn aesthetic, which is the perfect combination of a shop’s ability and the customer’s vision.

Inside the truck, the Richmonds desired a more refined sense of comfort than the exterior might exude. The stock seat was modified for comfort before being covered in black Relicate leather by Dan Williams of DJ Designs in Hayward, California. Matching Relicate leather headliner and door panels were also added to the interior of the truck, as well as a complement of Daytona carpet. Together, these materials give the cab a more impeccable aura in contrast to the rather boorish original interior. A dash full of Classic Instruments gauges allow Pete to keep a keen eye on the operation of his pickup while a Vintage Air A/C unit and RetroSound stereo ensure all occupants receive the utmost in comfort and entertainment. Wiring all the components together is handled by an American Autowire harness, meticulously installed by Daryl Dickerson at Current Fab in Tracy, California.

Overhead view of C10's rolling chassis and drivetrain

With a nod to the past, and one deeply rooted in the Richmond family’s heritage, the Arbor Camp Timber Company C10 is not only a nostalgic trip to a simpler time for Pete, it also functions as a rolling tribute to his late father and the specific plot of land that he so loved.

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