Chris Nocella of Tuscon, Arizona tells us a little bit about his truck… “My truck, ‘Best of Show’, was built over a 7-year period. It’s a 1958 but wears ‘59 fender and hood emblems and 1959 stainless bed trim.”
“The bed has over 200 hours of metal fabrication. The front of the bed was sculpted to follow the contour of the cab, inside walls of the bed were lined with sheet metal and bead rolled to mimic the firewall. There are no visible fasteners in the bed and the wood floor appears to be “floating” with a 1/8” reveal around the perimeter. The center of the bed floor lifts to reveal the rear suspension.”
“The engine cover was the vision of Mike Quigley and completely fabricated from sheet metal and houses the air cleaner. The truck is the result of two people, thinking of every small detail, trying to create a great example of a beautiful truck. This truck is driven and enjoyed, and to date has clocked 3,600 miles since its completion over a year ago.
This truck was a journey made possible by my wife Andrea, daughter Miah, and son Alexander, along with countless incredible folks – my best friend Tom Showers, my entire family, the “Maestro” Mike Quigley, numerous friends and craftsmen. Aaron Tritschler was always there with his guidance, Danny O’Neill always comes through, and big thanks to the city of Tucson for the support and love for all the rides I create.”
We’ll let the photos and the tech sheet do the talking, because they do it well! Kudos, Chris.
Chris Nocella • ‘58 Apache
- 2006 LS2
- Custom fuel cell with stock Blazer in-tank fuel pump
- Howell stand-alone harness
- Hand-built headers into stainless Borla mufflers and polished stainless 3” pipe (exiting through bedside)
- 4l65E GM electronic 4 speed with overdrive
- Ford 9” rear, narrowed,3.08 gears
- 1981 Trans Am front clip - 20” of the original frame in the center (keeping the factory stamped VIN number)- custom from the cab mounts back; rear section was built in CAD, laser cut from 1/4” plate, and welded together
- Upper stock A-arm mounting points were moved outward to accommodate air ride, Ridetech Shockwave air springs
- Quick ratio GM steering box, Borgeson Stainless universal joints and stainless shafts
- Hand made 4-bar rear suspension and Watts link, fabricated by builder
- GM stock 4-wheel disk brakes with A/M power booster mounted on frame
- Custom built air ride system using two 3 gal. tanks, 2-Viair compressors, line dryer and in line pressure switch- stainless hard lines used for air, brake and fuel lines-custom machined fasteners
- American Racing Salt Flat wheels, 18X8 front, 20X10 rear
- General GMax 235/40R18, 275/40R20 tires
- Metalux “Champagne” paint
- All metal work, bodywork and paint done by Mike Quigley at Quigley Custom & Classic
- Custom interior created by Wes Walker at Welfare Customs
- 1959 steering wheel
- Ididit steering column
- 1958 Impala Anniversary cloth seat inserts from Ciadella Interiors
- Stainless cup holders
- One piece power windows from Andy’s Auto Glass)
- Classic Instruments gauge cluster
- Vintage Air molded air vents and custom center vent fabricated by Mike Quigley
- Air ride switches housed in ashtray
- Custom, suspended headliner by Wes Walker
- Audio system designed, wired, and fabricated by Danny O’Neill
- Helix Bluetooth Digital Sound processor
- Dual Helix Amps providing 1,000+ watts to two Digital Design 10” sub woofers and four JBL 6.5”
& tweeter components