MONICA

Jack Martin always knew he wanted something different. Not just different for the sake of being unique, but something that paid tribute to what GM could have—should have—built. He’s been a truck guy for as long as he can remember, wrenching on square bodies before he could legally drive. But his latest creation, a 1989 GMC V3500 crew cab square body named Monica, is more than just a custom build. It’s the truck he always envisioned, just never had—until now.

“I remember a guy in high school had a truck kinda like this,” Jack recalls, leaning against the gleaming blue beast. “His dad gave it to him, and he never took care of it. Always dirty, beat to hell. That truck deserved better. I told myself, one day, I’d build one for my collection—the right way.”

GM never made a crew cab short bed square body, so Jack did. The Oklahoma native wanted something that looked like it rolled off the factory line but with the kind of modern upgrades that turn heads and snap necks. His personal tag, NVRBILT, says it all—this truck is a vision of what never was, but should’ve been.

The factory frame was shortened by 20 inches to accommodate the short bed. Sam’s Off-Road and Jack himself tackled the chassis modifications, ensuring the truck had the right stance without sacrificing capability. Underneath, the truck is a fortress—GM Dana 60 front axle, GM 14-bolt rear, 5.13 gears, and a full custom four-link suspension at all four corners. The 10-inch custom lift is paired with 2.5-inch King coilovers with bypass reservoirs, ensuring Monica has no problem towering over traffic or handling off-road punishment.

Jack wanted reliable, modern power, and the GM LS 6.0L engine delivers. It’s been upgraded with a Brian Tooley Stage One truck camshaft, Holley water pump, and an Entropy radiator with dual electric fans. A Mechman alternator keeps everything powered, while Schoenfeld headers feed a three-inch custom exhaust with a Flowmaster muffler—because no truck like this should sound rowdy.

Backing the powerplant is a GM 4L80E transmission, custom torque converter with a 2500 RPM stall, and a five-inch aluminum driveshaft to make sure all that power finds its way to those massive Michelin military tires wrapped around 20×10 Vision wheels.

While Monica is a brute under the skin, the exterior is all about refined execution. The bright blue paint, a factory GMC color from 1989, was laid down by Rick Steinberg of Mounds, Oklahoma. Jack doesn’t remember seeing many trucks in this shade back in the day—“Maybe it wasn’t ‘manly’ enough,” he jokes—but now, it stands out in all the right ways. Custom billet badges, GSI billet door handles, and a snug top fiberglass bed cover round out the polished look. Pinstriping by Terry McConnell, aka The Wizard, adds that final touch of old-school artistry.

Jack knew he didn’t want to sit on a 35-year-old bench seat, so he sourced something better—seats from a 2017 Honda Odyssey, fully reworked by King Covers of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The stock headliner was wrapped in suede, Dakota Digital gauges replaced the factory cluster, and a Billet Specialties steering wheel ties everything together. A Suburban overhead console, Retro Sound head unit, and a 100-watt amplifier feeding Kicker speakers ensure that Monica sounds just as good inside as she does when she’s rumbling down the road.

Jack Martin’s Monica isn’t just a truck—it’s a statement. A nod to what GM never did but should have. A build executed with precision, power, and just the right amount of attitude. It’s a truck that’s as at home on a showroom floor as it is tearing through Oklahoma backroads.

“I built it for me,” Jack says with a smirk. “But yeah, I think GM would’ve been proud.”