Hot Rods by Dean Resculps a 1972 Chevy C10 to Contemporary Standards
When crafting a custom car or say a 1972 Chevy C10, it’s easy for a builder to ask themselves, “What can I do that hasn’t been done before?” It takes a manner of thinking for a builder to consider a variation of that question: “What can I do that’s fresh and new, yet also timeless?” It’s that latter part of the equation that trips up many builders.
Fortunately, Dean Livermore at Hot Rods by Dean is a builder who tends to err on the side of subtle, tasteful, and timeless. So, when Mark DeAtley asked him to create something different out of his 1972 Chevy C10, Dean and his team stepped back to consider a fresh approach to customizing a Chevy pickup. The result is a finely executed truck with contemporary style and many innovative mods, yet it still retains its classic Chevy identity.
To make a ’72 truck stand out, it was going to take a lot of metal work and the crew at Dean’s shop was prepared to go the distance. A few of the highlights include the top being chopped slightly, joining the lower part of the doors with the rockers, and lengthening the hood through the cowl area to reach right up to the flush-mounted windshield. You’ll also note that the front of the hood has been leaned back, more like an earlier model.
Fresh fender wells were fabricated along with a custom bumper tucked neatly below a one-off grille (highlighted with illuminated “Chevrolet” lettering). The bed floor of the pickup is completely custom featuring a unique aircraft mesh material in panels that are hinged to open accordion style to showcase the attention to detail of the independent rear suspension, exhaust, and plumbing. The trick suspension is part of the chassis from Roadster Shop equipped with a custom stainless exhaust system snaking through the structure. The truck rolls on Michelin tread mounted to 18- and 20-inch Schott Mod 5 wheels.
Mark chose a burly Chevrolet Performance LT4 for power coupled to a 4L75E transmission controlled by a Lokar shifter mounted below an Ididit column and Sparc Industries wheel. The interior features modern styled door panels and a lot of one-off trim, while the dash was reimaged and fitted with Vintage Air, Classic Instruments gauges, and Lokar pedals and pulls. The custom seat and upholstery were handled by Stitchwurx in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.
The 1972 Chevy C10 debuted at the 2024 GNRS Show scoring the Al Slonaker Best Engineered award, and then rolled into the Goodguys Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals to earn a finalist position for Dakota Digital Truck of the Year Late. Congratulations to Mark and the crew at Hot Rods by Dean!
Photos by Terry Lysak
