There are some trucks that seem to say, “How much can you handle?” And when you encounter a hauler like Brian Schapiro’s ’95 Crew Cab Dualie, you can’t help but imagine the haunting figure of Large Marge lurking behind the wheel, more than willing to give you the ride of your life. Such a sizeable truck can make you feel about as significant as dirt under its six wheels, and you can’t ignore the fact that you’re in the presence of some sort of greatness. But there’s also the general sensation that, no matter how much you envy its massive construction, it’s there for you to enjoy, like a gentle giant.
That’s how Brian, a resident of Tarzana, California, views his Chevy—it’s something to enjoy. Brian is the owner of B&D Racing high-performance shop, so he is well-acquainted with modifying automotive machines, especially their engines. And when he modified his ’89 Saleen Mustang to the point of no return (it’s now a full-on racer), Brian needed another daily driver. His new vehicle had to be one that could tow his Saleen to the races, and it had to be comfortable enough for long hauls. So he naturally chose one of the largest, most deluxe trucks, the Crew Cab Dualie.
He ordered it brand new in 1994, and when it arrived on the lot, it was the very first ’95 four-door in the state. Within a week, it had a 5/7-drop, a smooth bumper, and a painted grille with an insert. But within a year, Brian decided to change the whole program with his truck. So he quickly called up all his friends at Master Image Customs, Formula One Autobody, Street Sounds Plus, Exquisite Motors, and Empire Motorsports for help in the re-creation of his monster.
Soon Brian and his ever-helpful crew of pals had performed a variety of tricks on his truck. The dualie’s skin was colored with a custom mix of DuPont blues. A step notch was cut in the frame, and a full set of airbags was installed to tuck the new Alcoa Classic 16s. A steel roll pan was welded in, the taillights were shaved off the rear fenders and moved into the tailgate, a ’98 Ford Explorer brake light was installed in the cab’s back wall, and a subtle body line was added just behind the rear doors. The roof lights, door handles, antenna, and gas door were shaved. While doing the bodywork, the technicians made a cut-through from the bed to the cab in order to accommodate Brian’s massive stereo system. Under the hood, Brian’s B&D Racing team bolted several performance pieces onto the stock 454, which brought the truck’s quarter-mile times down dramatically.
After all was said and done, Brian had a masterpiece of a daily driver. And if anyone ever questions the concept of tricking out a giant, four-door dualie like his, Brian just smiles and says, “Hey, it’s just more to love.”