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Paved Road Course to the Dusty, Coarse Terrain, Spectre's Brian Finch Does it All

Brian, at the podium with microphone, at the SEMA Pro-Touring Dinner chatting with the drivers

Brian taking time after pre-run practice in Las Vegas to chat at the SEMA Pro-Touring Dinner

Brian Finch is one of those folks that does it all — and does it well, too. He's won autocross and road races as well as the Baja 1000. Oh and he’s also a TV personality and a pro car builder. His latest project? A 1963 Split Window Corvette — light weight and all business. Well maybe not all business!

After a few minutes chatting with Brian you are immediately engaged. He’s witty, charismatic, down to earth, has passion for life and incredible energy. Just take a look at what this young man has accomplished in ten short years —

Co-Owner and founder of the American Street Car Series

Cast Member on PowerNation, R U Faster Than a Redneck, and featured on multiple shows

Featured in Chevy High Performance, Hot Rod, Camaro Performers, and Popular Hot Rodding

Champion autocrosser, road racer, and Baja 1000 competitor

Artist Rendering of the Finch Performance 1967 Mustang "Mustake"

Finch Performance will debut the "Mustake" at SEMA 2017 Battle of the Builders

Finch has been a team driver for Spectre for 3 years but a loyal brand enthusiast for close to seven years. Spectre is a Brand that has been behind the Pro-Touring movement from the start. They have supported racers and most importantly events that let drivers like Brian go out and enjoy their cars. Brian says that being selected to represent the brand is something he is very proud of and also something to not take lightly. Having the responsibility and honor of flying the Spectre flag helps keep him focused and drives him to keep reinventing what and how he does things; reminded of how easy it can be to get a sponsor, but much harder to keep them year over year.

Spectre Performance Banner showcasing the Team Driver's

The 2016 SEMA Spectre Performance banner with team drivers and their cars

His very first ever Goodguys Autocross was at the First Annual Nashville Goodguys show. He took his 1971 Camaro, which at the time was a Pro-Street Build with a blown 454 and 6 speed and had it in the Home Built Heaven corral. He heard the tire squealing and saw the tire smoke from the autocross so he walked over to check it out on Friday afternoon. It looked like a blast but he was way too nervous about making a fool of himself since he’d never done anything like that before. Fast forward to Saturday afternoon where he finally worked up enough nerve to go try it. He remembered that he could barely keep the car pointed straight due to the lack of grip with all the power it was making. The one thing he did know was that he liked it and had to have more. So he kept jumping back in line to run over and over again. He started getting a little faster with each run as he learned to tame the beast and in the last hour of the event made that glory pass that put him ahead of the G-Force Cuda of Bob Johnson for the event win. From there he exploded onto the scene and started converting the pro-street car to pro-touring and the rest is history. Bottom line it was just getting off the fence and making that first pass that started him down the path of a racing career.

Finch and his team had another great year with continued success in the Spectre 1971 Camaro. Here are some of the 2016 Race Season highlights:

Summit Racing Motorama Autocross, set fastest time of the event;

Shot of the studio/set of TV Show POWERNATION where Brian will appear throughout 2017

Brian, also a TV personality, will appear on POWERNATION throughout the 2017 Season

Midwest Muscle Car Challenge, Vintage Class winner;

Nashville Goodguys, Street Machine Champion and second fastest time of the event;

USCA National Corvette Museum Event, Overall GTV champion (second year in a row) Road Course winner, Speed Stop winner, 2nd Place on Autocross, OUSCI invite;

NSRA Springfield, Fastest Autocross time of the event.

Cruisin the Coast Biloxi, with the Top 3 fastest autocross times of the event in 3 different cars (Finch Performance C5 – Spectre-sponsored 1971 Camaro – and Tyler Powell’s 1963 Grand Sport in that order);

Shot of Finch's next project, a '63 split window Corvette

Ready to be ultra competitive in an "ultra light" 1963 Split Window Corvette

And at the 2016 SCORE Baja 1000, Second place finish in the Baja Challenge class. (Over the last 4 years he and his team have 2 class wins, a second place and third place finish)

At this year’s Baja 1000 race, BFGoodrich had 2 team vehicles entered. Brian and his team were tasked with using the race to test a new tire that will be launching in 2018. Before BFG can stamp Baja Champion on the tire they first must win the race on that tire and having 2 BFG cars in the class of 11 entries increased those odds. The team mission was a 1-2 finish and that is exactly what they delivered. It was not without challenges, but they were not mechanical nor course related issues. Sadly they were plagued with over half of the two BFG race teams coming down with a very bad intestinal virus the morning of the race. Several drivers had to exit the car early, stop to expel fluids on the side of the race course or even not get into the vehicle at all. This required some quick adjustments to the driver assignments but in the end they made it through. Both teams were neck and neck up to the last pit stop when Brian’s team found a torn CV boot on his car that had to be changed. The 45 min swap took he and his team out of contention for the win, but they had enough of a gap over the 3rd place car to stay in 2nd place. Brian was driving the last leg of the race this year so he enjoyed that great moment of crossing the finish line.

Shot of Brian on the road course at Optima's National Corvette Museum Qualifying event

Out on the road course during the Optima event at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY

2017 looks to be another growth year for Brian on many levels. His event promotion company, Autocrossguys.com, has 10 events on the calendar for 2017 with 5 of them coming from a new NSRA partnership. His parts line, Finch Performance, is growing and making the move to Summit Racing for distribution. Finch Performance is also in the development stage on their first line of suspension products for the C5, C6, and C7 Corvettes, starting with a full tubular control arm swap kit.

Shot of the Start Line at this years Baja 1000 presented by SCORE

The start line at this year's Baja 1000 presented by SCORE

Finch is well underway on the build of a 1967 Ford Mustang that Spectre Performance is collaborating on, which will be making its debut at the 2017 SEMA show. The suspension is complete, body mods are at 90% and now they are working with Precision Turbo on the fun part of the build and in his words, should be slinging mud soon. Brian, no stranger to competition, will showcase this 1967 “Mustake” in the SEMA Battle of the Builders® competition. Now in its fourth year, this competition, open only to vehicles displayed at the SEMA Show, features the best builders in the country who come to SEMA in seek of the coveted title of ultimate builder.

The Baja 1000 and off road desert racing in general has quickly become his favorite type racing. Kyle Tucker, of Detroit Speed and Engineering, and Brian are in the throes of building a trophy truck team to compete in the 50th running of the Baja 1000 with BFGoodrich which will be a major bucket list item for them both. “The race is not just about who can go fast but is about who can go fast and get the car a thousand miles to the finish line”, said Brian.

Photo pf Finch's 1971 Camaro and the OSUSC GTV Class Trophy for his win at NCM.

Finch wins the OUSCI invite at Optima's Search for the Ultimate Street Car in Bowling Green, KY

Already on the calendar for 2017, Brian will be making several appearances on Powernation shows as the official BFGoodrich rep and will continue to support them in his Brand Ambassador role. As in years past he will be out and about at events all over the Midwest, competing for the win, keeping his skills honed, and taking care to do his very best when representing sponsors, like Spectre Performance. He said, “I am proud to have great sponsors, like Spectre, behind me. I still consider myself a regular guy and never try to get a big head. I always make sure I give back more than I get and never take sponsorship from companies if I know I cannot return the value to them in what I do.”

Brian will continue this year with his on track “Share the Ride” program that he started with his American Street Car events and with the BFG “Are You Driver Enough” tour that allows for their dealers to come and experience the new product offerings. As one of the programs lead spokespersons, Brian provides instruction both in the classroom and on the track offering the driver an opportunity to safely drive as hard as they want to!

The '68 Camaro of Spectre Driver, Rodney Prouty & the '71 Camaro of Spectre Driver Brian

Spectre team drivers Rodney Prouty and Brian Finch at NSRA American Street Rod Challenge

The '71 Camaro out front on the road course at Putnam Park for Midwest Muscle Car Challenge

Finch out front on the Road Course at Putnam Park for the Midwest Muscle Car Challenge

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Bret Voelkel: From Autocross to Innovator, RideTech's Common Sense Fearless Leader

View of Bret Voelkel's Car Collection in front of the RideTech HQ.

The RideTech HQ in Jasper, Indiana, with Bret Voelkel's beautiful car collection

Bret Voelkel seriously can do it all. Not only does he own and operate RideTech, the successful suspension company, he’s a published author, an avid car collector and car builder, plus a serious wheelman in virtually anything he builds or drives. The catalyst for the very popular “Goodguys Autocross” that launched in 2008, Voelkel has teamed up with Spectre Performance to create Team RideTech that features a group of competitors that can be regularly seen at Goodguys shows and autocross, OPTIMA’s Search for the Ultimate Street Car Events, Cars & Cones, and even the Hot Rod Power Tour. They have a bold presence throughout the automotive industry and with Bret at the helm it seems there’s nothing that this team can’t do.

Voelkel says he didn’t grow up with a passion for hot rods. In fact, no one in his family even liked cars when he was a kid. Enter the teen years and that all changed. This marching band tuba player is a first generation hot rodder and says that he and a few friends developed a need for speed while in high school because it was “cool”. Today, RideTech employs over 50 people and Voelkel attributes his success to hard work and a lot of help along the way.

Now in their 21st year, RideTech continues to design and manufacture shocks and suspension systems for a variety of vehicles including hot rods, muscle cars, Corvettes, and OEM/defense projects. All RideTech products are designed, engineered, and manufactured in the USA. Forward thinking and a common sense business model employed by hot rod owners seems to be their recipe for success.

Shot of Bret Voelkels '33 Ford on track at Goodguys Del Mar.

Bret Voelkel and his 1933 Ford, Grouchy, slaying the Goodguys autocross track in Del Mar

Last year alone Bret Voelkel competed in more than 15 competitive events, including RideTech-sponsored events like Cars & Cones and the Hot Rod Power Tour, developed an innovative suspension package RideTech calls Instinct, and has partnered with the National Corvette Museum that includes the install of RideTech triple adjustable coilovers and Delrin bushing components on the NCM track cars, offering RideTech suspension components for sale at the track, and various track support activities.

Instrumental in the creation of the Goodguys autocross back in 2008 you can see he is pretty proud of that success. It certainly helps to allow for he and his friends to get out and slay some tires and the occasional cone or two. In the beginning, he was the fastest guy there. But now, the people who finish ahead of him happen to be his customers. He provides fellow competitors with advice and the suspension components they need to create a successful autocross car. For Bret Voelkel, autocrossing is not just a passion, it’s his job and that’s really cool. While Voelkel has his choice of competition cars, it seems he prefers the styling and feel of his 1969 Mustang and maybe even his new C7 Corvette that he seems to be killing it in.

Shot of Bret Voelkel with his 1st Place Finish awards for the Baer Brakes 3s Challenge at LS Fest

Bret Voelkel wins the Baer Brakes 3S Challenge at the 2016 Holley LS Fest

Best known for their Air Ride Technologies suspension components, RideTech has developed a product line far beyond their humble beginnings. Voelkel has brilliantly retuned and virtually reinvented everyday technology and created easy-to-use, but intricate, control systems in both analog and digital formats. RideTech’s product lines are for use in hot rods, ATVs, and even powerboats, with equipment like the air-over-leaf-spring suspension, anti-sway bars, shocks, and roll cages. These are just a few of the goodies they offer. With Voelkel’s experience and talent in designing and manufacturing performance suspension components, it seems only natural that he and the RideTech team would come up with Instinct line, which is an intuitive suspension system that anticipates road conditions and improves the ride instinctively offering greater customer satisfaction.

RideTech’s plans don’t seem to be slowing down in any way, shape or form. After the incredible success of the build of the 48 Hour Camaro back in May 2011, and the 48 Hour Corvette, in 2015, they are at it again in an even bigger way. The crew from RideTech are heading to the Barrett-Jackson Auction at Westworld in Scottsdale, Arizona, where they will build out an existing 1968 GMC C10 truck over the duration of the auction and transform it into a complete, upgraded version to send over to the auction block for sale on the final day! The RideTech 48 Hour build will be part of the new Barrett-Jackson Do-It-Yourself Pavilion, where select automotive companies will provide hands on demonstrations and exhibitions on a variety of projects being conducted in real time. They are starting the year off with a bang.

View of Chris Smith and Bret Voelkel on track at National Corvette Museum in the 48 Hour Corvette

RideTech Team Driver, "Smitty" in the 48 Hour Corvette & Bret in his C7 at National Corvette Museum

For the 2017 race season we will see Bret Voelkel and his Team RideTech competitors once again at the Goodguys events across the nation. You can also catch up with Bret at the OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car qualifying events, Holley LS Fest, Midwest Muscle Car Challenge, 9th Annual Motor State Challenge along with select SCCA/CAM Events.

Spectre Performance is honored to be in partnership with Bret Voelkel and RideTech. Their dedication to the consumer, commitment to performance, and simply being leaders in the automotive industry at the forefront of technology speaks volumes. Congratulations to you Bret Voelkel on your 2016 race season. We look forward to watching your continued success as it unfolds in 2017.

Shot of the Spectre and RideTech equipped C7 driven by Bret Voelkel on track at LS Fest

Bret Voelkel and his beautiful Spectre and RideTech equipped C7 on track at Holley's LS Fest

Picture of the RideTech built '69 Camaro of Goodguys Marc Meadors

Goodguys Marc Meadors beautiful 1969 Camaro built by RideTech featured at SEMA

Picture of Bret Voelkel accepting his award for 2nd place finish at the Motor State Challenge

Bret accepting his award at the 8th annual Motor State Challenge for his 2nd place finish

Shot of the 48 Hour Corvette and the RideTech '69 Ford Mustang Texas Motor Speedway with drivers

RideTech's 48 Hour Corvette and Bret's 1969 Ford Mustang at Texas Motor Speedway winner circle

Picture of the 48 Hour C-10 before and after rendering for the Barrett-Jackson Auction at Westworld

RideTech's next 48 hour build, the 1968 GMC C10 heading to Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale

Picture of ad for the Live Install of RideTech equipment at the Scottsdale Goodguys show.

RideTech live install at Goodguys afforded driver, Jeremiah Stotler an 8 second track improvement

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Spectre Offers a Full Line of Air Intake Solutions From Full Kits to Intake Components

Spectre cold air intake systems are designed to add horsepower and torque

Spectre air intake kits are custom designed for each vehicle to provide the enhanced performance

Whether you’re looking for an OE replacement air filter or you’re planning the air intake system for a ground-up custom car build, Spectre Performance has the high quality, high performing components you need. Spectre Performance offers a complete line of air intake systems, air filters, and performance accessories that will meet the needs of the most demanding automotive enthusiast.

Vehicle Specific Cold Air Intake Kits

These Spectre vehicle specific cold air intake kits are an easy way to add performance to your stock late model car or truck, hot rod or classic muscle car. Designed to be a direct fit bolt-on replacement to the stock intake system, installation can be quick and easy. Manufactured from high quality polished aluminum tubing, each system is designed to give you an added increase in performance by routing the intake inlet away from heat sources like the radiator and headers. Powdercoated heat shields, where applicable, can also help prevent hot air from entering the intake inlet. Available with Spectre HPR air filters engineered for increased flow for greater performance. Find vehicle specific air intake systems using our vehicle search tool.

Chevy LS Engine Swap Intake Kit

Spectre has designed air intake systems for the LS engines swapped into classic Chevies

LS engine swap kits provide a modern filtration solution for classic Chevys with LS motor swaps

Chevrolet has made it a relatively easy task to install one of its modernized LS crate motors into classic Chevy models from the early 1960s through the early 1970s. The LS provides modern driveability with more power and surprisingly better fuel economy in most cases.

However, one area left for the installer to develop his own solution is the air intake system. For this reason Spectre has designed LS engine intake systems for certain model years of the Chevrolet Biscayne, Caprice, Camaro, Chevelle, Impala, Nova, and C/K pickup. These LS-specific air intake systems are available in several different configurations, taking into account the model, engine, and mass airflow sensor configuration. In addition, each air intake features one or more heat shields to keep hot underhood air from contaminating the cool intake flow.

Universal Air Intakes

Spectre’s muscle car air intake systems are designed to increase performance

Spectre muscle car air intake systems route the intake away from underhood heat sources

Spectre’s universal air intake systems are designed for muscle car and truck owners seeking to increase the performance of their rides. Heat rises, so the standard air cleaner location is actually limiting your engine’s ability to generate maximum power. And if you’re using a high-rise manifold that limits underhood clearance, instead of having to fit an air scoop, a low profile or an ultra low profile Spectre universal air intake system will provide hood clearance as well as increased performance. All of the Spectre universal intake systems draw intake air from the front of the vehicle where it’s not been contaminated by intake heat sources like the radiator and headers. Manufactured from high quality polished four-inch diameter aluminum tubing, these air intake systems are available in single and dual plenum and V6 and V8 motors fitted with throttle body fuel injection (TBI).

Air Boxes

Spectre offers several different styles of air boxes and inline air filter housings to meet your specific air induction needs. These air boxes offer an enclosed housing for the air filter that is designed to help block engine heat.

Spectre offers three snorkel air boxes: a single oval opening, and two with dual openings

Spectre 14 inch snorkel low-profile air boxes outflow housings with two four-inch inlets

Our 16-inch and 14-inch low profile round air boxes are available in single inlet or dual inlet openings that are set at 120 degree, 135 degree, 150 degree, or 180 degree separation between the openings to mate with your air intake configuration. These inlets are designed to accommodate different air intake tube and engine configurations, and come in a polished aluminum or chrome plated finish.

Spectre also offers 14-inch snorkel low-profile air boxes that feature high quality polished aluminum and are available in three different styles: a single 10-inch by 2.4-inch oval opening, dual openings set at 90 degrees, and another with dual openings set at 180 degrees, both with 8-inch by 2.4-inch oval openings, providing better airflow than a filter housing with two four-inch round inlets.

Spectre offers inline air boxes with three different size inlet and outlet options

Spectre inline air boxes allow you to remotely mount the air filter anywhere in the intake tract

Spectre also offers inline air boxes that give you the flexibility to remotely mount the air filter and housing away from your engine when space, access, or heat is an issue. Spectre inline air boxes can be located away from engine or even as part of a snorkel system for off-roading.

Spectre offers inline air boxes with three sizes: three-inch inlet with a four-inch outside diameter, four-inch inlet with a five-inch outside diameter, and five-inch inlet with a six-inch outside diameter. These housings have a polished aluminum finish and come with a high flow inline cone air filter.

Each of the air box assemblies feature a Spectre HPR washable and reusable air filter. Manufactured using high quality materials throughout including washable synthetic media, so you shouldn’t ever need to purchase another disposable paper filter for your car, truck, or SUV.

Spectre offers air intake components for enthusiasts so they create their own intake

If you're building a one-off custom air intake system, Spectre has the components you need

Air Intake Components

Spectre offers a vast range of intake components for custom car and truck builders to facilitate the construction of a unique designed cold air intake system. Available products range from air ducting components in three-inch and four-inch diameters, aluminum tubes in 2.5” to 5” diameters, a wide range of mounting brackets and mounting plates, couplers and reducers, clamps, air inlet funnels, including ones that replace headlamps, velocity stacks, single and dual plenums, and components for mounting and wiring mass air flow sensors. Virtually everything a builder would require to install a custom cold air intake system.

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Spectre Offers Air Intake Engineered For 1967-1969 Camaro LS Engine Swap

The Spectre 900235 air intake kit is designed for engine swaps on 1967-1969 Chevy Camaros.

The Spectre 900235 air intake kit enhances the LS engine on Chevrolet Camaro engine swaps

Now in its sixth generation, the Chevrolet Camaro is probably one of the most iconic cars to come out of Detroit. It was Chevrolet’s answer to the Ford Mustang when introduced in the 1967 model year and the first generation of the car was produced through the 1969 model year.

It is not uncommon for Chevrolet Camaro enthusiasts to get a hold of a first generation Camaro and swap the original engine out for a more powerful General Motors LS engine. Spectre is now offering the Spectre 900235 air intake kit to boost the horsepower, acceleration, throttle response, and torque of the engine and is ideal for those who want to swap in a modern LS engine for the original factory engine of a 1967 through 1969 Camaro.

The Spectre 900235 air intake kit includes the HPR9891 red filter. If you desire another color, Spectre offers the HPR9891B in blue, HPR9891K in black, and the HPR9891W in white.

All four filters are washable and reusable and have a tapered conical shape. They feature a non-woven synthetic media with a urethane frame and reinforced steel mesh. The non-woven synthetic material is pre-oiled in the factory so it is ready to use straight out of the box.

The air intake system is designed to fit into the first generation Camaro’s engine bay and fender area when using the LS engine and blade style mass airflow sensor. The system places the air filter on the passenger side of the engine compartment and includes a heat shield that blocks hot air from the engine from entering the intake. It is designed to use the existing vehicle mounting points and can be installed using common hand tools.

The Spectre 900235 air intake kit fits the following vehicles:

1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO 427 V8 CARB - All Models
1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO 396 V8 CARB - All Models
1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO 350 V8 4 BBL. - All Models
1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO 350 V8 2 BBL. - All Models
1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO 327 V8 CARB - All Models
1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO 307 V8 CARB - All Models
1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO 302 V8 CARB - All Models
1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO 396 V8 CARB - All Models
1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO 350 V8 CARB - All Models
1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO 327 V8 4 BBL. - All Models
1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO 327 V8 2 BBL. - All Models
1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO 307 V8 CARB - All Models
1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO 302 V8 CARB - All Models
1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO 396 V8 CARB - All Models
1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO 350 V8 CARB - All Models
1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO 327 V8 4 BBL. - All Models
1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO 327 V8 2 BBL. - All Models
1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO 302 V8 CARB - All Models
1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO 283 V8 CARB - All Models

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Stunning 1967 Chevy C10 From Former Mini Truck Specialist, Tre 5 Customs

The 1967 Tre 5 Customs Chevrolet C10 rides on a full air suspension

Even from this angle, the quality of Tre 5 Custom's work is easily visible.

This stunning 1967 Chevrolet C10 pickup came out of the tiny shop of a builder known mostly for his earlier mini truck creations and has impressed the crowds with the level of detail every place it’s been shown.

Tre 5 Customs, out of Peoria, Arizona, is not a big name yet, but expect big things out of this small-scale builder - just a two-person 2700-square foot shop. And don’t bother to ask what Tre 5 means, as owner Jeremy Rice won’t tell you. In fact, he’s not even told his wife.

While Jeremy started out in the world of mini trucks years ago, he's been working on full-size trucks and customs starting about 2.5 years ago, adding his right hand Hector Garcia about two years ago.

The C10 you see here was built for Mike Baldwin, of Dallas, Texas. It’s the fourth vehicle Jeremy has built for Mike over the last year, so clearly he has good reason to keep coming back.

The metamorphosis began with the engine, a 5.3L LM7 Vortec 5300. While based on the famous LT1, it was developed as a truck engine, so there are several advantages for this application. The biggest shortcoming of the engine though is the incredibly mild cam, so after the engine was completely cleaned, machined, and refitted with several pages of new parts, it received a more aggressive cam along with upgraded rockers, springs, and pushrods more up to the task. LS3 injectors were swapped in to provide a higher volume of fuel flow. Topping the engine is a Pro Products intake manifold fitting to the stock throttle body.

The intake system is comproised of components available through the Spectre catalog

Under the hood, everything starts with fresh air drawn in by the Spectre 4" conical filter

Delivering all the needed air are a Spectre conical air filter, heat shield, and 90-degree coupler – all straight out of the catalog. A thorough test on the dyno and the engine was approved for installation.

Little remains of the original frame with the exception of the rails forward of the cab. At the rear is a Choppin’ Block rear back half kit, new framerails from the cab rearward, and the rear body mount. The rear axle is mounted via a triangulated four-link system, with air bags mounted on the link bars. Cleverly, components are kept inboard, to allow for up to 12" wide wheels.

Replacing the front crossmember and pretty much everything attached to it is a Choppin’ Block front crossmember system, designed with improved suspension geometry. The tubular double a arm system narrows the front track width by about 2.5" per side and moves the wheels one inch forward from the original location.

The interior is subtle and not too far removed from stock

No deep bucket seats here. The split bench from TMI is both comfortable and traditional

Controlling all changes in altitude is a Slam Specialties controller. Only about the size of a business card, the MC.1-SS remote provides fast, intelligent response and precise manual control at any time.

With all the mechanical work behind us, we can turn our attention to the interior, which is both subtle and sophisticated in its detailing. Seats are from TMI, their Sport Pro-Classic split bench seats, covered in brown ultrasuede (not unlike the material used by Ferrari) with textured insets in the seats and on the door panels. Sound comes courtesy of a well-integrated Powerbass audio system. What was first hinted at under the hood is making more of an appearance in the interior – the secondary copper trim color Jeremy has selected. Check out the steering wheel and dash trim. Others might have been tempted to add more of the color to the interior – the pedals, the shift knob, the door handles, but Jeremy’s restraint in the limited use of copper makes it that much more appealing.

The bed is finished in African Sapele wood, cut, trimmed, and installed by Tre 5 Customs

The bed is finished in a Mahogney-like wood that's finding favor with musical instrument makers

As we move to the exterior, its clear this is a bagged truck, dropped down on its rocker panels, you notice the smoothed bumpers and simplified grille. Back in the exterior of the bed – just in front of the rear tire, is the outlet for the exhaust system. It was fabricated in-house by Hector and Jeremy and fitted with dual three-inch Black Widow mufflers. Exterior paint is by Frank at IKandy, who’s not just a great painter but is just two doors down from the Tre5 shop. It’s very convenient to have an artist next door.

Frank continued the copper theme to the roof of the C10, as well as applied the gorgeous white to the rest of the body. The bed is African Sapele wood, often used in guitars, which was cut and fitted by Hector and Jeremy, then Frank covered it in “about a gallon” Vintage Flatz high gloss automotive clear coat to protect it.

The final pay off are the wheels. They’re from Intro Wheels, 8.5” wide in the front and 12” in the rear, 22” diameter all around, with the centers powder coated copper. The fascinating aspect to the wheels is that at first they appear to have a swirl design in the paint but as you draw closer you realize the design is actually the reflections the wheels are throwing back at you.

It’s that type of attention to detail and subtlety in their work that makes us think that Tre 5 will become an even bigger name in the world of customization than it is right now.

The copper center sections throw off intriguing reflections

The wheels are from Intro and the centers have been powder-coated Copper

Autorevolutiononline.com

A big thank you to our friends at Auto Revolution for the photography of the Tre 5 built C10

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