GOOD LUCK

Just like that, Goodguys has returned with another amazing grand prize giveaway – this 1985 Chevy C10 pickup! Some lucky individual out there will actually be handed the keys to this absolutely stunning Squarebody and allowed to drive it off into the sunset. It sounds almost too good to be true, except that it isn’t. While this is the stuff that dreams are made of, rest assured, this happened in real life.  

To help make something a big as this possible, Goodguys teamed up with a top tier list of manufacturers for all the parts necessary to a complete a project like this. A custom shop to handle the breakdown, re-installation, fabrication work, and all other facets that go into creating a full-custom truck is also required, and for this particular build, award-winning Goolsby Customs of Hueytown, Alabama, was all too down to join the cause. Goolsby can do it all and present a fully turnkey customized work of automotive art once the dust settles, which is exactly what was required for the transformation of this ’85 C10.  

To begin the build, the Squarebody was dropped off at Goolsby’s shop in the condition it was found in. The truck looked like it had worked hard for a living, but for the most part, proved to be a solid base for the project to build upon. Now, the ’85 did show up as a long bed pickup, but that would be addressed in the during the process. The cab was removed from the frame and sent out to Coyote Coatings, also of Hueytown, for a proper media blast. It was at this time that LMC Truck was contacted to join the project by first sending over a short box bed, as well as a few odds and ends Goolsby would need for the build soon enough.   

Since not much of the original truck would be used, the Goolsby crew then moved onto the next phase of the build – the suspension system. Since the factory frame was permanently retired, a brand-new chassis was lined up, but not just any chassis would do. Roadster Shop was sourced to provide their SPEC full chassis system to not only deliver an aggressive ride height but also well-rounded performance ride quality due to the AFCO coil-overs, tubular control arms and parallel four-link rear setup. This addition to the Squarebody is absolutely huge!  

Next, the C10 was outfitted with a full orchestration of Baer braking components as well as a healthy upgrade in the wheel and tire department. A staggered fitment of 20-inch front and 22-inch rear Billet Specialties Invader hoops from their SLC Series were secured, as well as all-season performance Michelin Pilot rubber to complete the new rolling combination.  

With the Squarebody coming along nicely, the team at Goolsby jumped on the engine and transmission portion of the process. Looking to add some bite to this truck’s upcoming bark, a Chevy Performance LT1 crate engine from Pace Performance Chevrolet was placed on order and modified a touch before being dropped into position between the SPEC frame rails. The 6.2L motor is the very same power plant found in the seventh gen ‘Vette and has a factory rating of 455HP with 465lbs/ft of torque – not a bad jump off point for this once old and lowly work truck.  

The LT1 was soon upgraded with a dual Spal fan equipped aluminum radiator from C&R Racing to keep the high-performance engine cool and collected no matter the temperature. Adding to the engine’s prowess is a Tru Trac accessory drive system from Billet Specialties along with a custom cold air intake system from Spectre Performance, a customized set of headers from Ultimate Headers, and a one-off exhaust system featuring two MagnaFlow mufflers.  

Gearstar Performance was next to contribute to the project by sending a 4L65E transmission that they reprogrammed to complement the LT1 and truck specifically – a service that has become their specialty.  

LMC Truck is a good company to have onboard any classic truck project, and they came in particularly clutch with this build. They not only provided aforementioned short box bedsides, but they also sent over the bed and cab floor, a replacement hood, grille and a whole lot more. The fabrication team at Goolsby made easy work of seamlessly assembling the fresh panels but also all the custom bodywork that made all the difference in blending them into the Chevy’s subtle one-off styling cues.    

The time was finally upon the team to spray the C10’s outer surface with BASF primer to ensure the panels were smooth and straight before laying down the finalized layers of paint. Eric Brockmeyer’s initial rendering of the truck portrayed a clean two-tone white and blue paint scheme with orange striping down the center, and that’s exactly what the guys at Goolsby ran with. The hours spent masking, spraying color and clear, wet sanding, and polishing all paid off, as the finish is just as it appeared in the rendering.  

Moving inside the cab, the crew first lined the floor with DEI Boom Mat to keep heat and outside noise outside. From there, the dash was loaded with goods in the way of a Vintage Air A/C system, Dakota Digital RTX gauges, and a Squarebody Syndicate series tilt column from Ididit. A full Kicker audio system was also wired up as dash and door speakers fire along with two loaded subwoofer enclosures behind the seats to make for a surprisingly full spectrum of sound inside the cab space.  

Cato’s Custom Upholstery was next to get down on the C10 with a complete overhaul of the factory bench seat and just about every interior panel. Custom kick panels and a center console were also created from scratch to give the cab well-rounded modern appeal. The Moore & Giles leather hides and plaid cloth material used in the fresh upholstery work make for an excellent combination that adds a sense of timelessness to the C10’s interior.  

After a few more finishing touches made throughout the truck, it was it was finally called a wrap and ready to be given to its new owner. The Goolsby crew affectionately named the C10 Jenny, and everyone who lent a hand in the process signed their name underneath the tailgate trim. And just like that, Goodguys along with every sponsor involved in the build were able to make someone’s dream come true.