Who says you can’t have it all?

For Jeremy Rice and his shop Tre5 Customs, this wicked 1969 Chevy C10 brings plenty to the table.

To begin with, it’s got a delightfully vintage body that’s oozing patina, yet the whole thing rests on an all-new chassis. And while it’s sitting mere centimeters from the ground now, the truck’s airbags can quickly lift the chassis and allow the full-tilt turbocharged LS a chance to light up those massive 404/25R24 tires.

So yeah, there’s a lot to like here.

customized 1969 chevy C10 restomod lowrider, rear
Tre5 Customs created a special tailgate latch kit that’s used on this truck. You can see all the parts Tre5 Customs makes in its online shop. (Image/OnAllCylinders)

To get the scoop behind the build, we talked to the man himself.

“I’ve never really been a big fan of patina trucks,” Jeremy says. “But after building this one for myself and having a bit of fun with it, I’m really enjoying the build.”

And there’s a big reason why Jeremy’s so fond of this particular project.

“I live on a dirt road, so I think I’ll be behind the wheel of this one more than the past builds,” he laughs. “It’s just easier to keep clean and I don’t have to worry about damaging paint.” 

customized 1969 chevy C10 restomod lowrider, rear air system
Jeremy says the rear suspension uses the same air bags as the front and they’re on a trailing arm instead of the axle, so the rear suspension allows for almost a foot of lift. (Image/OnAllCylinders)

Speaking of that delightfully weathered exterior, Jeremy encourages us to look closer for a key detail. “The outside has been left mostly stock, but it has been converted from a long bed to a short bed.”

And as we mentioned, under that patina hides some serious hardware.

“This is a prototype chassis from RevB Chassis Company,” Jeremy explains. “There’s a lot of really cool stuff built into this chassis. For instance, it comes with provisions for air management mounting and flush fitting covers to allow you to run wires and plumbing inside the frame rails.”

Jeremy makes sure to show off that tech too.

“In the bed, we built a new sheet metal structure that opens to show off the RevB chassis,” he tells us. “We also used a set of wider tubs to cover the tires.”

Turbocharged 5.3L LS Engine in a 1969 Chevy C10 Restomod
The Tre5 team had plenty of parts Cerakoted and powder coated by Pac Coast Powder. (Image/OnAllCylinders)

Under the hood—or at least under most of it—sits a turbocharged 5.3L LS engine. The turbo manifold is on the passenger side, and the turbo exhaust exits right up out of the hood.

Behind that 5.3L rests a Tremec T-56 Magnum six-speed manual transmission from American Powertrain.

Jeremy says the engine bay was plenty of work too. “We fabricated a custom firewall and installed Hart Fab inner fenders.”

customized 1969 chevy C10 restomod lowrider, front driver side
(Image/OnAllCylinders)

And lest you think that patina was an easy way to bypass a full paint job, Jeremy makes it clear that wasn’t the case.

“In order to bring out what was left of the original color, we cleaned and Scotch Brited the entire exterior of the truck using Sweet Patina and its patina sauce to give it a bit of shine.”

Then, look even closer and you’ll notice that the Tre5 team had Ikandy Paintworks paint the engine bay, the inside of the bed, and the interior the truck in its original factory color—a nice, subtle touch.

customized 1969 chevy C10 restomod lowrider, dash
The C10 was displayed in the Restomod Air booth, so Jeremy removed the truck’s carpet to showcase the company’s membrane sound deadener used on the cab floor. (Image/OnAllCylinders)

The “Old-Meets-New” theme continues inside, where you’ll find Dakota Digital RTX Gauges that mix modern reliability with a throwback look. There’s also a custom stereo that integrates with the dash to maintain the cab’s vintage vibe.

The rest of the interior was provided by TMI Products, and included bucket seats, a buddy console, dash pad, door panels, and sun visors. 

customized 1969 chevy C10 restomod lowrider, wheel
Tucked behind each wheel is a six-piston caliper from Baer Brakes. (Image/OnAllCylinders)

Honestly, it’s tough to describe this Chevy C10 in just a few sentences. Walking around the truck at the 2023 SEMA Show, we tried (albeit, unsuccessfully) to put it in a single category. It’s not vintage, but not modern, it’s not a hot rod, nor is it workhorse hauler.

But we’re professional writers around here, so we’ll just use the word “awesome” and be on our way.

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Tre5 Customs 1969 Chevy C10 Truck Parts List

Engine & Driveline

Chassis, Brakes & Suspension

Exterior & Interior

Keywords
C10, Chevy, SEMA, SEMA Show, Tre5 Customs
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Author: Paul Sakalas

Paul is the editor of OnAllCylinders. When he's not writing, you'll probably find him fixing oil leaks in a Jeep CJ-5 or roof leaks in an old Corvette ragtop. Thanks to a penchant for vintage Honda motorcycles, he spends the rest of his time fiddling with carburetors and cleaning chain lube off his left pant leg.