THE ENCORE

Don’t bet on the demand for classic Chevy C10s to decline any time soon. At this point, sellers of any generation C10 can pretty much name their price if the truck is rust-free and devoid of any major problematic issues. While those looking to buy into the C10 scene now are sure to pay a premium, there are lots of truck owners who have been into these trucks for decades and have a surplus of these gems just waiting for their time to be put back into rotation. 

Luckily for Danny Griffin of Hermitage, Tennessee, he classifies into the latter category of C10 owners. He had a 1967 Chevy truck that has been sitting in the back corner of his shop for a 5-year period before he decided it was time to knock the dust off it. “I purchased this truck on eBay in the early 2000s when you could still source one easily and reasonably priced”, he says. “I think the winning big for this one was $3,500. It was fairly rust-free and was still running and driving when it was delivered.” 

Danny did a lot to that truck back when he first got it. He had his good friend Ken Overbey paint it with a single stage urethane paint in the original color, then Danny rebuilt the 283 engine, and added a 700r4 transmission for better street behavior. While this was enough to pique Danny’s interest in his truck, it eventually found its way to the back of his garage while he came up with a new plan to build upon that progress.

“I had a feeling after I parked my ’67 C10 there would be a day that I would feel compelled to restart the revitalization process once again”, Danny says. “I did price the truck several times to some interested purchasers, just to see what would happen, but a deal never materialized. I figured I was meant to be the one to finish the truck with a new round of restoration work.” 

This is where a custom builder by the name of Ernesto Gutierrez entered the truck’s story. “Ernesto was just opening up a new hotrod shop called E-Built”, Danny adds. “He was looking for a build to get his business off to a good start, so I took this as another sign to entrust him with my C10 project. I quickly sourced a new Detroit Speed & Engineering frame from my friend Brian at Finch Performance. From there, the build picked up pace in a hurry.” 

With the Detroit Speed front clip, rear 4-link setup and Finch’s Apex Predator chassis in Danny’s possession, Ernesto was given the task of assembling a high-performance foundation for the C10 to be rebuilt upon. The new frame’s lineup of features included Hyperco springs and Viking double adjustable shocks, a Quick Performance rearend, upgraded Baer Pro+ 14-inch brake kits, and a 19/20-inch Forgeline wheel and Michelin Pilot Sport performance tire combo “I have never been a fan of attempting to keep the factory suspension systems from the 60’s”, Danny states. “I was interested in increasing horsepower, and nothing about that old frame would have been able to keep up.” 

The amount of horsepower Danny was looking to end up at was roughly 775, and to get there, a much newer 2022 Chevy Performance Connect and Cruise LT5 crate engine and 8L90 transmission package set the stage for the dramatic increase. The fresh factory mill was then upgraded with a few aftermarket power-ups in the form of Holley headers, a MagnaFlow muffler, a custom 3-inch exhaust system made by Ernesto, a Wegner front accessory drive setup, as well as a DeWitts aluminum radiator to keep all those ponies cool. 

The need for a set of Slosh Tubz front tubs was apparent right off the bat. With the truck’s lowered stance and increased wheel/tire diameter, adding these would be an absolute must, as was the raising of the bed floor and extending the rear tubs as well. Once these necessities were addressed, Blake Grogan of Paint by Blake was contacted to bodywork the C10’s panels, and then spray a custom blue paint to freshen up its curb appeal. Updated headlights and taillights were put into place, as were Alumicraft grille inserts and one-piece side glass kits from Brothers Trucks. 

Inside the cab, Paul Atkins was recruited to reupholster a pair of GM OBS seats in black leather skins. Dakota Digital RTX gauges, an Alpine deck, and a RestoMod climate system were stuffed into the dash to give Danny modern styling with the convenience of always cruising at a comfy temperature. JL Audio front and rear speakers, as well as an amp to increase the juice were also added to make for a more exciting driving experience. Before he knew it, Danny’s C10 had been redone completely from top to bottom, inside and out. 

“I wanted to keep this truck as a good comfortable driver that my wife Paula and I could use leisurely since I still have my other truck—a ’66 C10 that was designed more for auto crossing and vintage racing”, Danny states. “Ernesto helped achieve this goal perfectly, and the fun factor of the 775 horsepower LT5 pushed it over the top. Ernesto started on the truck in January of 2024, and got it finished before Goodguys Nashville in May 2024. It has been a great experience so far!”