Summary

Powered by a Garrett turbocharged 5.3-liter LS V8 engine with dart heads mated to a Hughes Racing 4L80E automatic transmission with a 9-inch Ford rear end. Highly customized; rides on E-Level AccuAir. Everything is new and custom-done. Air conditioning.

Details

This custom 1959 Chevrolet Apache pickup nicknamed 'X-Rated' was built in partnership with Driven Speed Shop and Phoenix Hotrod Company. Using Japanese building architecture, a guide to metalwork for the dash, firewall and bed, Phoenix Hotrods started patchwork copper designs. These designs lay atop precision-engineered IFS and 4-link from TCI and AccuAir E-level riding on Ambassador wheels from Detroit Speed. The engine was built and programmed by Driven Speed Shop with Holley EFI, a 70mm Garret turbo, TurboSmart's blow-off valve, eBoost2 digital controller and wastegate, and DART Machinery aluminum heads. Paired with the engine is a Hughes Racing 4L80E automatic transmission and Hughes converter. The dashboard is adorned with hand-laid copper, hidden flip-down air-conditioning controls, custom vent surrounds to complement the Resto-Mod Air vents, and 100-year-old Indian-head pennies were added not only for decoration but also to function as buttons to operate the ignition and fan. A 1958 Edsel Teletouch steering wheel was sourced so the buttons could be repurposed to activate headlights, dome lights, hazards, etc. To overcome the sound of the direct exhaust stemming from the electric butterfly cutout, JL Audio 6x9-inc speakers were concealed under the dash and a JL Audio Thin-Line 10-inch subwoofer (10TW1) was secured behind the seat married to a Bluetooth-compatible JL Audio amplifier. The Jalopy Shop shaped and designed the Tiffany Blue front seat.