There’s nothing quite like a car that's completely unique. Customizing a truck or car can be a rewarding process, but the end result is what ultimately makes it all worth the blood, sweat, and tears. Of course, not everyone puts in the work themselves, but we can’t help but recognize good craftsmanship – whether hired or not – that goes into some of these one-of-a-kind chariots. The endless man hours behind these wicked designs get many of the cars hard-earned awards.
When it comes to the realm of U.S.-made cars, especially antiques, enthusiasts are more than willing to put unceasing commitment into getting these customs just right. The antiques are particularly sentimental for some mechanics and enthusiasts, which can make the project that much cooler. But we can’t forget about our modern-day beaux that sometimes take an uncanny approach to customizations – even drawing inspiration from movies and famous racers. We’re not even going to get into the Chevy versus Ford debate; these Chevrolet vehicles have been selected purely for their own distinct style and excelsior performance. Plus, many just have a good story behind them. Who can argue with that?
On the other hand, if you’ve got a few loose-lipped Ford friends who don’t seem to think that a Chevy could ever be better, then you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised. These trucks, cars, and everything in between are no joke. They’re high-quality, typically high-dollar, and rare. We recommend saving the trash talk until the end. Chevy fans, look no further because you’re about to witness an entire list of remarkable customs.
21 1954 Chevrolet Pickup
What truly gives an antique its character is the amount of history behind it. In this case, the history dates back a couple of generations. The man who owns this Chevrolet was gifted it by his grandfather; in Mexico, he had fixed the ragged truck part by part. Decades later, his own grandson spent nine years piecing the truck together into the masterpiece that it is today. George San Martin (with help of his father and grandfather) completely remodeled the truck; chopping the top and dropping the bed were just the start of the transformations. San Martin had a vision to combine old with new; he installed beautiful white-wall tires on the Chevy but with a cut-down ’60 Chrysler steering wheel that gives it a futuristic style and a beautifully refinished dash with gauges from a Chevy Impala. The paint job was also superb and gave the truck the ultimate twist between old and new.
20 'The Bear' 2016 Silverado 1500 HD
There may not be a truck that can live up to its name as well as The Bear does. This 1500 Silverado HD has a completely modern take on a great truck. The Fusion bumpers were powder-coated a glossy black, the halo headlights were custom-painted purple to match the truck, and even the 12-inch bulletproof lift was powder-coated purple. These minuscule details really give The Bear some edge, but these flashy features don’t have anything on the 40-inch mud-grappler tires or the ZEX nitrous kit. The Bear is truly a beast that can go almost anywhere the driver wants while having the pleasure of riding in a fine-looking truck.
19 1957 Chevrolet 150
The Chevy 150 is a pretty iconic style in the classic Chevy realm due to the 150’s widespread popularity in its heyday.
This 150 has been chopped and the fenders replaced, giving the car improved aerodynamics and a sleeker look.
The chocolate-brown interior gives off an elegant yet unique vibe. As if the pizzazz in this car’s style isn’t enough, looking under the hood will possibly evoke a mini-heart attack at first; this classic beast has a 515-cubic-inch, twin-turbocharged Nelson racing engine. The 150 won the 2018 Ridler Award for being the best custom, and it’s clear to see that it was definitely earned.
18 1967 Camaro Super Stock
The first-generation Camaro holds a special place in the hearts of many muscle-car fanatics. This car has remained an icon since its debut. This particular ‘67 Camaro was meant to be reminiscent of Bill Jenkins, the famed drag racer that belongs to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
The owner of this beautiful ’67 wanted to pay homage to Jenkins and his memory by creating a fast car with a color scheme that mirrored Jenkins’ 1967 Super Stock Camaro.
It has a mean Jenkins Competition 572ci engine with 850 horsepower. It’s not all looks, but the car definitely pays tribute to Bill ‘Grumpy’ Jenkins.
17 1959 Pickup
There’s nothing quite like a good-old Chevy truck, especially a '50s models. And this head-turner is no exception there; it’s got the looks to grab anyone’s attention. The Chevy is in such great condition that even the wooden bed is original. While green is not everyone’s color of choice, the pickup has a way of making it look good. Inside, there's a beautiful brown, two-tone bench seat with a high-quality speaker built into it. The steering wheel and dash are finished with the glorious green that matches the exterior identically. It may not have the fastest engine under the hood, but this truck is definitely one of a kind.
16 2017 Supercharged Silverado
Imagine if your everyday Silverado (5.3-liter V-8) had a 100 hp boost? The Silverado Performance Concept – featured at the 2017 SEMA – featured a supercharged Silverado with Brembo brakes and performance tires. In other words, this truck can move quickly but also in style. Chevy’s concept has Z71 carbon-fiber gauges as well as a body-colored grille and a suede-wrapped steering wheel. It’s safe to assume that this truck could cost a pretty penny, but an upgraded look and refreshing features are what attracts us to this truck. Plus, the supercharger puts this Chevy in a sweet spot as one of the most desirable trucks of the ’17 SEMA Show.
15 1965 C10 Rat Rod
While the rat-rod scene hasn’t been fully endorsed by every car fanatic – especially in the classic realm – they can still be creative masterpieces in their own right. Some critics would claim that creating a rat rod could be considered straight-up lazy, but this C10 will have you thinking otherwise. With a dropped body and chic white-wall tires, this truck has a smooth look to it in those aspects alone. The slight rusting on the body gives the C10 undeniable character, drawing crowds and causing many onlookers to pay no mind to the flawless, freshly-painted bodies. The owner of this distinct truck works at a customs shop, and we can’t disagree that he knew what he was doing with this rat rod.
14 Camaro (5th Gen) Inspired By Tron
The fifth-generation Camaro was one of the most award-winning of Chevy’s models, but this owner took this car to the next level. The vehicle featured in the movie Tron is unmistakably awesome, and we think it’s one of the coolest things to see someone actually pursue this project to recreate their own version.
This Camaro has drawn quite a bit of attention to itself, with piles of onlookers capturing candid pictures of the distinctive car.
It seems like it unintentionally created a small group of fans. Though the looks aren’t everything, the Tron Camaro has an SS twin-turbo kit and – obviously – a sick wrap. Some criticize that the rims should've been painted blue, and we think custom lights incorporated into the body could've taken this car to the next level. But overall, it’s hard to deny that the design was executed well.
13 1973 C-10
There’s something special about a '70s Chevy C10. We’ll admit that they’re a bit run-of-the-mill in the world of antiques, but the amount of creativity some C10 owners are willing to put into these trucks really makes them worthwhile and even outright astonishing. This ’73 C10, in particular, belonged to the current owner’s great-grandfather. He drove it throughout high school and completely remodeled it when he got a little older. A great truck always has an even better story (or two), but what sets this C10 apart – aside from its heart-wrenching history – is its uncanny modern façade beneath a decades-old body. The owner did a fantastic job selecting paint and rims and lowering the truck. It even has a hand-sculpted bench seat and custom door panels and interior colors. It looks fresh, to say the least; nothing was forgotten.
12 1960 El Camino
An El Camino is one of those cars that seem like they've lost their identity. It’s a sedan pickup built on an Impala’s body; it’s a car that believes it’s a truck. This funky design actually turned out to be trendy in the U.S. Whether it was the tough style of the El Camino or the simple practicality of having the best of both worlds, people were taken aback. Today, we can’t help but admire its quirky appeal. This exceptional antique pictured above is an absolute example of how amazing an El Camino can look. The metallic teal and desert paint colors complement each other sweetly, and the red pinstripe gives it that extra character to die for. The owner even took this car to the next level and installed Mercedes-Benz bucket seats; we know this is a luxurious antique.
11 1957 C6 Pickup
This Chevy C6 has flocked quite a bit of attention to itself. In 2009, the C6 received the GM Design Award at SEMA, and at SEMA 2010, it received the Mother’s Choice Award. And how can we expect much else? This truck is absolutely beautiful, bringing us the definition of clean. This C6 has a 402cid LS3 motor and Air Ride Corvette suspension. It’s also been crowned as one of the most expensive Chevys ever sold. For an astounding $150k at auction, this truck took over 7,000 hours to rebuild – so, we’re thinking it may be worth the price. Not only is this truck an icon of fine craftsmanship; it also blows modern trucks out of the water with its excellent body.
10 Luke Bryan Suburban
It may seem a little unorthodox to have a mainstream country singer design an SUV, but this Suburban received some special touches from Luke Bryan. This unique Suburban was meant to have more of an outdoors aesthetic centered around hunting and fishing, and who better to ask an opinion on a rustic design other than a country star?
Basing it off of the time that Luke spends with his kids, he customized the Suburban with a trusty roof rack, 35-inch tires, a light bar, carbon black trim, a camouflage wrap, as well as a great sound system (among many other features).
The rural take on the Suburban may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it really left its impression at the 2017 SEMA Show.
9 Bumblebee Stretch Camaro
As we all know, the Camaro, starring as Bumblebee, made its comeback in a big way with the Transformers movie. Instantly, the yellow-striped black muscle car caught fire across the U.S. Taking a step away from the conventional Camaro, someone decided that Bumblebee needed a bit of an upgrade – as in a stretched Camaro Transformers Special Edition with the SS getup. Perfect for a prom or even a guys’ night out, the limo is fast but functional. Bumblebee’s stretch edition still has 426 horsepower from that V-8. Its custom Transformers interior is what really sends people over the moon, though. Even a cynical car enthusiast could agree that this was tastefully executed.
8 1967 C10 Centennial Celebration Edition
More often than not, when someone wants to buy U.S.-made vehicles, they’re automatically attracted to the trucks. 2018 was Chevy’s 100-year anniversary for their most important merchandise. In honor of the Centennial Celebration of Chevy trucks, the manufacturer rolled out with a custom ’67 C10.
This long-bed C10 has a shortened body, 20-inch rims, and best of all, a ZZ6 small-block engine, which has a generous 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque.
Chevrolet’s performance engine is matched well with the beautifully smoothed fenders and custom blue-and-white Centennial custom paint. What makes this C10 so much more enthralling is the fact that it’s a one-of-a-kind truck that was made by the manufacturer. Few Chevys will have the opportunity to become this epic.
7 1932 Rat Rod Sedan C5
This motley sedan leaves an unforgettable first impression (in the best way). While it has some signs of age – a staple of the rat-rod style – it’s also an uncanny beauty. The burley frame of the sedan is a great shape, to begin with, but the rusty mint paint job is as tasteful as it is run-down. The real splendor lies beneath the hood; a highly-coveted C5 Corvette engine was (barely) squeezed into the car. In order to graft the chopped body to the C5 underpinnings, a custom chassis had to be built. Since the car is now a lowrider, the interior reveals an exposed torque tube with the Hurst shifter above it. The rat-rod scene catches a lot of flak, but this build truly makes you think twice about that.
6 2014 Silverado Race Support Vehicle
This truck started out as your average Silverado 1500 with a 5.3L V-8, but it’s been beefed up to become a race support vehicle. It’s had an upgrade of at least 110 hp, thanks to the flashy upgrades like the Magnuson TVS1900 Supercharger, the cold air intake, and the ECU tuning. Of course, you can’t give the truck all of that speed without swapping out the tires and brakes, and they didn’t cheap out in that area either. The RSV has Pirelli tires; the rear set is dually-size, while the brakes are substantial 15-inch Wilwood brakes. Clearly, the entire body underwent major improvements as well; the custom fenders and bumpers are so precise, they really finish off this muscle truck.
5 1957 C6 All Girls Garage
It’s not very common to meet a female mechanic, and women only comprise about 2% of the industry. The host of All Girls Garage, Bogi Lateiner, knew that she could use her platform to get more women involved.
This 1957 C6 was almost completely remodeled by women and appeared at the 2017 SEMA.
That’s a pretty big deal for any custom, but this one was particularly special because it shed a lot of light on the female presence in auto body rebuilds. The C6 came out beautifully, especially the pristine paint job. Lateiner stated that the tuning was the only aspect of the project that she sought outside help for primarily because none of the women specialized in this. The entire project was done in an impressive 10 months, and the truck came out perfect. But what really made this project so cool were the unique circumstances.
4 2015 Colorado Prerunner Build
The Roadster Shop has taken on many big re-build projects, but we don’t think anyone has come close to altering a Colorado quite like this. It took extreme skill and precision to transform this truck into an off-road monster.
The engine was replaced altogether with a dry-sump 7.0-liter V-8 (LS7), which has 730 horsepower.
In order to truly push this truck to its limits in a variety of harsh terrains, there had to be a completely custom suspension built, which has 22-inch front and 27-inch rear travel. On top of the highly custom alterations, the Colorado also had high-quality Wilwood six-piston brakes installed, as well as Fox Racing 2.5-inch-diameter coils and 3.5-inch series bypass. The massive BF Goodrich tires complete this ride. A nice chunk of change was put into this truck, but it resulted in one of the most astounding custom trucks ever.
3 1972 Napalm Nova
Decades before Chevy unleashed the shoddy '90s iteration of the Nova, the U.S. had a great muscle car on its hands. The Creative Director behind many well-known car projects and Brand Director for the famed [HOONIGAN], Brian Scotto, decided to embark on his own journey with the Nova. Wanting something a bit more savage in a world full of compact eco-cars, Scotto was committed to doing the Nova justice. Brian isn't an unfamiliar face in the car-mod scene, and this is highly evident when you see the result of his ’72 Nova project. The Nova’s suspension was improved with AME’s GT Sport front sub-frame assembly. The engine is Chevy’s big-block 454, which has 450 horsepower and matches well with the roughness that continues in the interior. Racing seats, no radio, and a cracked dash keeps this Nova somewhat humble, but it’s still an epic muscle car.
2 1982 C10
Creating a show truck can take months at a time and a fat stack of cash, too. José Peña is the proud owner of Drops R’ Us and is a full-time truck fanatic. His C10 was originally used for work until it was promoted to a show truck, but keeping up with modern-day trends is important in José’s industry, which led him to dismember the C10 and start all over. And he didn’t go skimpy either; José has only put the best of the best into the truck; he swapped out the big-block engine for a brand-new Silverado Vortec Max with an added 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger. He also fabricated his own A-arms to lay out the square body then installed Firestone airbags, Wilwood big brakes (as well as a billet Wilwood master cylinder), and QA1 shocks. José spared no coinage for the C10, but it seems it was well worth the investment.