When Kelly Hawthorne of Bowling Green, Kentucky, decided to build a classic pickup from the bowtie persuasion, he picked up a local truck trader rag where he discovered this old hauler and took ownership for $4,000. Shortly thereafter, a 1½-year journey of building began with intentions of creating a cool classic hauler that not only would make the grade at truck shows, but would also look good rolling down the highway on a regular basis.

The original straight-axle leaf-spring front suspension of the truck was severed from the frame with a cutting torch. A TCI Independent front suspension was then grafted to the original frame rails. The frame rails were then boxed to increase the frame's strength and rigidity.

To obtain the lowered static ride height, Kelly installed 2-inch dropped springs and 2-inch dropped spindles. Using 11-inch disc brakes the truck now stops like it should. The rear leaf springs were flipped over the frame rails and a pair of VW Bug 1974 shocks control the 1967 Chevelle rear end's vertical oscillation. Since the truck is a classic, Kelly believed it was only fitting that it spins a classic set of wheels which consist of 15-inch reverse chrome smoothies capped with 3½-inch wide white wall tires.

Kelly decided to keep the engine compartment simple and sweet with very little chrome to distract and confuse the era. Kelly decided to roll with a 1969 Chevy 327 small block which was built and modified by Kelly's friend Ben Thomas. The stock powerplant was bored .030, and received an Edelbrock cam, intake, and carb. An Accel ignition system produces ample spark through the ignition wires carrying charged energy to the eight spark plugs and combustion chambers. A pair of Block Hugger headers flow into a Flowmaster exhaust system. The 1969 Muncie 4-speed transmission was improved by installing a Zoom clutch and a one-off shifter.

The exterior was kept as classic as possible with just a few refinements. Cleaning up the body, Kelly shaved and smoothed the hood emblems, mirrors, and fender emblems. Adding some style to the bed, a Pine Wood bed kit was stained a dark walnut color and installed. The fuel tank was relocated under the bed with a one-off fuel filler neck.

After additional hours of welding, filling, grinding, and sanding, then applying primer followed by more block sanding, Kelly filled his paint gun with PPG 1977 Porsche Royal Blue and began to paint many coats over the well paint prepped body. After multiple coats were applied and sanded, they were enhanced by burying the blue with multiple coats of clear that were wet-sanded between each coat of clear. Following ample time to cure, the flawless paint job was then cut, buffed, and polished to a mirror finish.

The interior was also kept plain and simple for a classic appearance. A bench seat from a 1990 Ford Ranger was chopped 6½-inches and covered in black vinyl, by DJ's Auto Upholstery in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and installed. The flooring was covered in black carpet and a black headliner was also installed. The painted dash received a stock instrument cluster and the dash was modified to accept a Kenwood CD head unit that spins cruising music to the 5¼-inch and 6x9-inch Planet Audio speakers all powered by a Kenwood amp. An Ididit tilt steering column was installed and capped with a three spoke chrome steering wheel. A custom built floor shifter was installed to control the "four in the floor" which finishes off the interior.

Following the completion of Kelly's classic hauler, he can be found many days rolling his truck down Kentucky highways and things couldn't be any better. Amen to that!

Shout Out: "Special thanks goes out to my two little girls Sydney and Jayna, who gave me the motivation to take on such a big project by myself." -Kelly Hawthorne