The Grinch – Warren Walcher’s Mean, Green ’67 Chevy C10
Christmas may be over but The Grinch is here to stay. Warren Walcher’s ’67 Chevy C10 pickup earned its name not only from of the bright green House of Kolor “Lime Time” paint that adorns the sheet metal, but also from the ornery 468c.i. big block Chevy power that rumbles under the hood.
The Grinch was built by Willie Davis and his crew at WW Speed & Customs in Grand Junction, Colorado, who were tasked with the tall order of crafting a head-turning C10 that won’t get lost in a sea of custom trucks. The mission was accomplished by working metal and finding the right places to add subtle custom touches.
The truck was originally purchased in 2018 at a Barrett-Jackson auction as a mild restomod build. Wanting something more eye-catching, The Grinch now lays frame courtesy of a complete Porterbuilt air ride frame equipped with CPP steering, Wilwood 14-inch brakes front and rear, and 22×8.5- and 22×12-inch US Mags Bastille wheels wrapped with 255/30 and 285/35 Ironman tires.
A long list of subtle-yet-significant modifications are what really sets The Grinch apart from the crowd. Without getting too carried away, the WW Speed & Customs crew fabricated a front splitter, a rear diffuser in the bumper, a small spoiler to the top of the tailgate (as well as raising the bed floor), built custom rear wheel wells, and added custom sheet metal engine compartment panels. Credit for the flawless bodywork, straight and even gaps, and laying down the slick House of Kolor “Lime Time” paint goes to WW Speed & Custom’s in-house painter, Joe Nieman.
Another head-turning aspect of Warren’s truck is the lack of the all-too-common LS engine. Instead, rumbling under the hood is a 468c.i. big block Chevrolet topped with a Holley Sniper EFI unit, ignited by an MSD ignition system, and featuring custom valve covers by WW Speed & Customs with “The Grinch” lettering creatively added to the tops. The combination is good for 500 horsepower and breathes through Patriot stainless headers and a dual MagnaFlow exhaust system that exits the bedsides in front of the rear wheels. A Champion radiator and a CVF Racing serpentine kit keep the engine running at peak performance.
Inside, the stock bench seat was wrapped with gray vinyl with gray square-weave carpet covering the floor. Intellitronix digital gauges are fitted in the dash, as well as A/C controls and a Kenwood stereo. A Budnik steering wheel tops the CPP column while a Lokar shifter controls the 700R4 transmission. Tying everything together is an American Autowire harness.
There’s little wonder why the ’67-’72 C10 trucks are extremely popular. They were great-looking trucks from the factory and make even better-looking trucks with a few modifications. It can be easy to get carried away when trying to step out of the box, but the WW Speed & Customs crew did a fantastic job with Warren’s truck to find subtle ways to make big changes without altering the overall look and style of the vehicle. The result is a custom truck so cool it could make even the grinchiest enthusiast smile.
Photos by Steven Bunker
