Cars
Tracy Black credits his wife with opting to keep the distinctive, one-year-only '62 Chevy grille and headlight bezels on the panel. `I'm glad she put her foot down on that,' he says.
Mike Berry
The Wichita Eagle
Tracy and Tammy Black intended to fix the old family Chevy panel wagon up as a `lake mobile' to haul grandkids to nearby Cheney Lake. But the project sort of snowballed into this beautiful show mobile, big enough to haul all their friends' car show equipment and even their trusty pooch, Reno.
Mike Berry
The Wichita Eagle
Originally equipped with a trusty Stovebolt 6-cylinder engine, the panel had been upgraded to a 350 Chevy V-8. But today, motive power is supplied by a detailed LS3 crate engine featuring a custom polished air intake system built by Bauer Auto Restoration, which handled the overall project build.
Mike Berry
The Wichita Eagle
The Blacks had planned on installing bench seats in the cargo area, but after Tammy stained the beautiful oak flooring and Downey's Auto Upholstery installed a custom interior, they decided to stay with the original wide-open spaces.
Mike Berry
The Wichita Eagle
The factory dash was upgraded with Dakota Digital electronic gauges and a custom 3-spoke steering wheel; a Ford Edge console houses the shifter for the 4L60 automatic transmission and a digital GPS/sound system.
Mike Berry
The Wichita Eagle
Ridler Wheels are used front and rear, with the rear wheels mounting hefty265/r0R18 Michelin tires. The panel uses a 10-bolt GM rear end and is slowed by 4-wheel disc brakes.
Mike Berry
The Wichita Eagle
Scott Downey shortened the seatbacks on a pair of late model Suburban seats and reshaped them to incorporate a pleated arrowhead theme that reappears throughout the truck.
Mike Berry
The Wichita Eagle
The pleated arrowhead upholstery scheme is used to break up the expanse of headliner, with pleated panels extending down both sides of the cargo area.
Mike Berry
The Wichita Eagle
The panel's body was painted Bright Silver, with a slightly darker color called Marble Head applied to the panel sides and hood. Nadine Ward applied her considerable pinstriping skills to the truck, laying down scrollwork and a thin belt line stripe in a dark burgundy.
Mike Berry
The Wichita Eagle
Front wheels are also Riddler 5-spokes, but are 17-inch models mounting Michelin 235/60R17 blackwalls.
Mike Berry
The Wichita Eagle
The front door panels were enhanced with an arrowhead design and contrasting arm rests.
Mike Berry
The Wichita Eagle
The interior side of the rear doors are trimmed out in subtle matching high-grade vinyl, double-stitched to match the rest of the upholstery.
Mike Berry
The Wichita Eagle
It's hard to believe this beauty was once a hard-working truck that carried aircraft radio repair gear and craft items to shows around the Midwest. The owners still refer to their 1962 Chevrolet Panel Delivery as `Old Betsy.'
Mike Berry
The Wichita Eagle
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