BEST OF THE BEST 1948 Chevrolet Pickup

1948 Chevrolet Other Pickups Thriftmaster 3100 Additional Info:

1948 Chevrolet Custom Pickup

Perhaps there has never been another truck with so many modifications. This custom one off Chevy 3100 has been handcrafted from bumper to bumper, including the bumpers. Nothing on this vehicle remains as it was. Two haulers, a 1948 and a 1951 were cannibalized to make this dream truck, but all that remains of those pickups are the reminiscent, nostalgic shape of these popular trucks. Taking a page from the books of such well known designers as Chip Foose and Troy Trepanier, builder Dermie Close has delivered a noteworthy world class ride that has won a cargo bay full of top show awards since it was finished a year (and less than 50 miles) ago.

To the untrained eye, this pickup simply looks amazing. To the knowledgeable custom vehicle builder, the number of subtle modifications of this hand built beauty seem endless. The truck has been so skillfully shaped in its construction, the stretched cab and gently chopped top, the aesthetically reshaped hood, widened fenders, flowing curves of the bed and drastically transformed body hugging bumpers seem strangely like they were originally made that way. In all, every inch of this pickup has been innovatively created, carefully designed, masterfully constructed, and magically assembled to be one of the very best of its kind in the world.

This truck has appeared on the cover of several magazines, has been featured in custom truck articles, and has won the hearts and awards of car enthusiasts at several national shows. It was on display at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, both as an unfinished project and in its completed form last year. It brings jaw dropping responses and huge smiles from those who witness the wonder of this show truck up close. It is the perfect blend of artisan craft and engineering excellence. All of the state-of-the-art components that make up the drive train, chassis, suspension, and interior appointments of this Chevy pickup are of the utmost quality, unmatched by 99 percent of the other trucks of its kind in the world.

Fitting the desert environment from which it emerged, this Chevy wears a stunning coat of Sage Green PPG basecoat clearcoat paint, beautifully contrasted inside the cabin with honey hued Dumbarton brown leather and rich German square weave wool carpeting. The stained white oak bed inside the handcrafted cargo box is finished like a grand piano, and the custom tailgate between the vertical Cadillac taillights fits like a custom made suit. Throughout the build stage, this truck was a coveted stage for many aftermarket parts vendors to display their finest products, so the hauler has only the best of components throughout.

Here is a very, very brief synopsis of the features found in this Chevy:

The body has elongated, sectioned doors and a slightly chopped top; the custom bed has been hand formed to the contours of the cab; bolt-on, factory-style (not welded) fenders; a basically stock appearing grille with the running lights removed; a radically pancaked hood with custom inner supports and dimple die holes; and custom formed bumpers powder coated in satin silver. Mercedes headlights, Cadillac taillights, and a unique center dual exhaust port catch the eye of the beholder.

An Art Morrison chassis with 2 X 6 inch frame rails is fitted with a Ford 9 inch rear end, triangulated 4 bar suspension aft and C6 Corvette front suspension, power Baer 14 inch disk brakes on all four corners, a custom hardened driveshaft, and extensive crossmember support to handle the performance drive train. The truck rides on Toyo radial tires on Foose Legend rims. The power plant is a performance cammed Corvette LS3 V8 generating over 500 horsepower that turns a GM 4L70E automatic overdrive transmission. It is cooled by a big aluminum radiator made by Howe Racing with dual Spal electric fans. In the cab, a Lokar shifter, modified by the builder, takes care of the gear selection. Vintage Air Gen5 air conditioning and heating keeps the environment comfortable, and a theater quality Kicker audio system, and prodigious application of Dynamat insulation make riding in this Chevy more like cruising in a Rolls Royce.

From start to finish, creating this truck was a 20 year journey for Dermie Close. This labor of love was completed in 2016, so this ride is as fresh as new snow. Already into another dream project, the truck is offered for sale brand new so that the buyer can enjoy owning one of the best custom trucks in the world while it still has that new car smell. Over 4000 hours of direct labor have gone into its creation, and the list of new parts would fill a book. If it were possible to duplicate this ride, a professional rod shop would charge more than $350,000. Serious buyers are invited to inquire and inspect this world class ride.

In its infancy, this 1948 Chevy has earned a lot of notoriety. Glowing articles about the truck, and its builder, have been featured in magazines and on internet sites. Here are links to some of those stories for your enjoyment:

https://www.facebook.com/Project-Dream-1948-Chevy-Pickup-920794441306823/

http://www.onallcylinders.com/2016/08/05/hot-august-nights-mini-feature-dermie-closes-1948-chevrolet-pickup/

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/saga-fanatically-detailed-1948-chevy-pickup/