Goolsby Customs Brings New Life to a Family’s 1966 Chevy C10
Kenny Frederic’s father drove his treasured 1966 Chevy C10 almost every day that he owned it, right up until his death in 1999. “After his death the vehicle was sold,” Kenny says, “but I always kept abreast of its location. When it came for sale, I bought it with the intention of driving it.”
Kenny describes the truck when he brought it home to Louisiana as a good “20 footer.” You know, it looked pretty good from 20 feet away, but closer inspection revealed a lot of rust and other issues that needed to be fixed. That discovery led Kenny to the team at Goolsby Customs to remedy the things that needed fixing and to transform the nearly 60-year-old truck into a modern highway cruiser.
The base for a ground-up build is a modern chassis, in this case a Roadster Shop Spec unit with coil-over components all around, rack-and-pinion steering, as well as a four-link rear suspension connected to a Gear FX 9-inch rearend housing 3.70 gears. Baer disc brakes front and rear rest behind Schott Fuel wheels (20×9.5 in front, 20×11 in the rear) that are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sports tires.
A healthy dose of modern power comes from a Chevrolet Performance 6.2-liter LS V8 that produces 496 horsepower, thanks in part to a boost from a Magnuson supercharger. Ultimate headers guide exhaust waste through a Goolsby-built 2.5-inch exhaust system that utilizes Magnaflow mufflers. A 4L65E automatic transmission handles the gear-changing responsibilities.
The body was massaged and modified by the Goolsby team. In addition to refining panel gaps and other minor metal mods, the team smoothed, tucked and flipped the front bumper for a distinctive look. Another modified front bumper was used in the rear. A custom bed floor and tailgate were also installed. LED lights were added, with headlights coming from Dapper Lighting and rear units from Greening Auto Company. A custom-mixed BASF paint – dubbed Shorty Maroon in honor of Kenny’s father’s nickname – was applied by Goolsby’s refinishing specialists and is complemented with fresh chrome from Advanced Plating.
The interior features a custom-built bench seat, built and covered in Douglas leather by Goolsby team member Jeremy Calloway. A stock dash was modified to accommodate Vintage Air A/C vents, controls, and a radio, plus Dakota Digital replacing the originals. A Sparc Spindle steering wheel sits on the Ididit tilt column.
Kenny says driving the newest version of the pickup brings back fond memories of time spent with his dad. He says he and his family are very pleased with the results, especially the work by the Goolsby team. “I wouldn’t change a thing,” he says.
Photos: John Jackson, Damon Lee
