Home Blued – Russ Moen’s ’66 Chevy C10 is a Shining Example of Garage-Built Greatness
When most people think of high-end custom trucks, they think of big-name builders holding court somewhere in a mythical Northern California or a glitzy Los Angeles. Some have reality shows, many have their own product lines, and some were stars before the Internet. As any seasoned Goodguys attendee knows, some of the most fantastic builds at our events are lurking on the show’s periphery, built by a “Driveway DaVinci,” from a decidedly non-glamorous location.
Way up in Port Alberni, British Columbia, there is a textbook example of said phenomenon. Russ Moen is well known as the creator of the incredible 1954 Chevy COE-based “Tourliner,” a Bauhaus-influenced streamlined RV that must be seen to be believed.
We were keen to see what he’s been up to, and he didn’t disappoint. He brought his latest creation to the Goodguys 34th Pacific Northwest Nationals in Puyallup and the crowd cooed with delight. Moen’s ’66 Chevy C10 truck, dubbed CGT (a mash-up of C10 and GT), is a breathtaking blue beauty. Except for the finest hardware he could find, he handled every aspect of the build except for stitching up the interior.
He found the old truck in Saskatchewan, Canada, and took on the project when his retirement and COVID-19 collided serendipitously. After two years, CGT was born, and we bring you the breakdown on this handsome Bow Tie build.
Moen wanted coils springs (not air bags) and big gumball rolling stock, so he commissioned Dale Gerry Street Rods in Kelowna, British Columbia to build him a custom chassis. The truck’s original frame was brought to Gerry, who combined the stock factory measurements with Moen’s wish list of mods and fabricated a sparkling new, modern chassis. To that foundation, Gerry added C6 Corvette A-arms, Aldan American coil-overs, a four-link rear suspension, Wilwood brakes, and 22-inch Budnik wheels and Pirelli tires. Stance is everything, and with no air bags to adjust the right height, Moen and Gerry skillfully hit the bullseye with the low-down look of the CGT.
All that metal created the perfect roost for the 650hp Chevrolet Performance LT4 V8 and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The LT4 is a work-of-art right out-of-the-crate and Moen only had to add some cosmetic flourishes like ignition wire covers and a Drive Junky accessory drive to make it shine.
With coaching from body man and friend Jody Campbell, Moen performed all the bodywork and paint in his garage in what he calls his “poor man’s paint booth.” A simple custom is a timeless custom and Moen didn’t stray far from GM’s iconic ’60s styling, but added massaged inner fenders, a custom firewall, a raised wood-lined bed, and a custom tailgate. The blue hue was achieved using single-stage DuPont paint.
Inside the cab further showcases Moen’s impeccable taste and attention to detail. Miracle Upholstery of Black Creek, British Columbia covered the bench seat, door cards, and speaker grilles in leather and black ’52 Chevy Cloud fabric, adding a nice textural counterpoint. Moen then added Vintage Air, Dakota Digital gauges, an Ididit steering column, and a reworked factory radio head controlling a modern 1000-watt stereo system.
Moen is an easygoing, affable guy, and towering talent in the custom car world, no publicity apparatuses or reality shows needed. We loved Moen’s ’66 Chevy C10 “CGT” truck and look forward to what we’ll see in the future from our talented Canadian brother.
Photos by John Jackson
