Rutterz Rodz Built this 1957 Chevy 3100 with Classic Style and Smooth Performance
Scotty Hooper and his wife Karen are fortunate to have a number of incredible cars to their name, but surprisingly, they were missing a 1957 Chevy pickup to round out their tri-five 3100 series collection. A couple years ago, Scotty finally found a suitable pickup to start with and handed the truck over to Mike Rutter and his crew at Rutterz Rodz.
The agreed-upon goal was to transform the Chevy from ancient work truck into a sleeker, smooth-cruising custom pickup. Scotty wanted to keep the classic Task Force style and feel, so any modifications to the big-window cab and sheet metal were kept to a minimum. Steel was massaged, gaps minimized, and a rear roll pan was crafted then highlighted with a modified ’69 Camaro rear bumper. A custom aluminum bed floor was made and finished with a one-off tailgate with stamped Chevrolet lettering on both sides before the crew laid down a relaxing Sonic Gray Pearl/Iceberg white BASF finish.
Having built custom rides for Scotty and Karen before, the Rutterz team knew the ol’ pickup was going to need to ride and handle better than any modern truck, so a Retro 8 Chassis from No Limit Engineering was brought in as a foundation. The chassis features the company’s proven Wide Ride independent front suspension with rack-and-pinion steering and a Fatbar four-link rear setup with single-adjustable Ridetech coil-overs at each corner. Wilwood brakes slow the Schott Cobra wheels and Continental tires to a smooth stop, which is needed when there is more than 650 horsepower on tap.
That power comes from the smooth-running supercharged LT4 under the hood, one of Scotty’s favorite engines, backed by a Tremec TKX five-speed. Rutterz surrounded the engine with hand-formed inner fenders, a custom firewall and radiator support, and an accessory drive system from Drive Junky. The custom billet aluminum supercharger cover completely changes the look of the engine and is complemented with custom valve covers by MPI.
Inside, Scott and Karen cruise in quiet comfort surrounded by a custom leather interior stitched by Kristina Crawford. The instruments have been updated with Dakota Digital pieces, which are monitored through a Billet Specialties steering wheel atop a Flaming River steering column. Behind the scenes is a carefully routed American Autowire harness directing the flow of electricity throughout the pickup.
In the end, Rutterz delivered exactly the truck the Hoopers envisioned. Vintage styling blended with modern craftsmanship, amazing power with smooth drivability, and of course, a comfortable ride with smooth control and handling. All of these elements added up to the Chevy becoming a finalist for the LMC Truck of the Year Early!
Congratulations to Scotty and Karen Hooper for being named a Finalist for Goodguys 2026 LMC Truck of the Year (Early) with their 1957 Chevy 3100 built by Rutterz Rodz!
Photos: Todd Ryden
