The year was 1993, and 9-year-old Brady Beard of Lake Charles, Louisiana, wasn't into cars or trucks-he was more focused on being a kid. One day, his father came home with a white Stepside Chevy truck. For the next few years, the truck saw only sporadic use-accumulating just 44K on the odometer-but it remained in the family, awaiting its future as a captivating custom.
In 1999, Brady bought himself a Mustang and decided to build it to the hilt. Paint and suspension work were at the top of the list, which meant that he needed something to drive while his car was in the shop. It was then that his father handed over the keys to the Stepside so he could have some reliable transportation. A few years later, Brady got rid of the Mustang and decided to start a new project with the family Stepside.
First up was adding set of 22x8.5-inch Intro Speedstars as well as making a trip to Chaotic Rods and Customs for 'bags and a body drop. Now, on any other Chevy truck that might not be such a big deal, but this truck was a Stepside and those 22s weren't going to fit under the stock fiberglass bedsides. Chaotic cut the bedsides and raised them 3.75 inches to clear the tires and then molded everything together for a seamless look.
With the truck lying on the rockers and looking tight, it was time for paint. Brady took the truck to Steve's Paint & Body for a full shave and paintjob. A roll pan was molded into the fiberglass bedsides, then the antenna, third brake light, and tailgate handle were shaved clean. The rig was sprayed with Hot Hues Sinful Cinnamon, and a few tasteful emblems from a '57 Chevy were set into the doors.
While the Chevy was at the body shop, the crew went ahead and sprayed some of the interior parts too, including the custom-built fiberglass dashboard that now holds Auto Meter Old Tyme gauges. What wasn't sprayed with paint was sent over to Settam's Glass & Upholstery for the wrapping treatment. Each piece was wrapped in either black suede or black leather, including the factory bench, which received a nice two-tone treatment to match. Once everything was assembled, a billet steering wheel and various other billet accessories were installed in the cab to clean it all up.
The whole build took a relatively short time to complete, and now Brady has one of the hottest trucks in the Southeast. With lots of subtle mods and a ground-hugging stance, this truck has the makings of a trophy-taker. Now the question is: Will Brady keep the truck in the family or sell it to fund the next one?