The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1954 Chevy Inspired?

This is supposed to be a newly 1954 Chevy Inspired Truck, But when you read all the Information, It sounds like a wolf in sheeps clothing, Powered by F**d. Tell me what you think. There website is http://www.southernmotorcompany.com

Please guys do not take this as a advertisment, I am just as suprised at what I am seeing as you will be to. A friend of mine found this in Classic Truck Magazine, December 2006 issue, on the cover and has a article in it about it. I just wanted to see other peoples take on it.

i saw that.id like to know more.

From What I read on there page these are going to be built in Liberty, SC, although I can't tell you where that is.

Just went nosing around in their site. The specs say that the production models will have the 4.6 mustang engine, though they originally said 5.4 engine, but the prototype has an LS series Corvette engine! What's up with that?!? I'd think that the GM sourced engine would be a better selling point than using a low end mustang engine, especially considering what they're asking for them. You can get an SSR with the 'Vette engine for that price, with a GM factory warrantee.

I think this is pretty amazing. I am not a lottery ticket buyer but after looking at this, I might change!

I wish 'em the best of luck. It's not what I'd buy or build, but then I'm not a hot rodder. I like working trucks, and I'm still thinking about diesel power for mine.

i posted about this last week and i was impressed with what they are trying to do. if i had unlimited funds i would buy one. i also think they should have a gm motor like the atlas straight six. if i would put 55.000 in my 54 i would have a more orginal truck. ron

I agree with you WE b OLD, on your concept but was curious when I saw this in the article, and think they are asking according to their website to much for it since the magizine said it was going to be about the same price as a fully loaded Silverado or a F-150. I have yet to see them around here for a $55,000.00 pricetag. Hopefully I never see thosetype prices either. But since Chevrolet decided to charge the same type pricetag they have only been 60% of there anticipated sales where to be.

When the car companies come to reality and realize that there are enough of these originals still sitting out here and WE can do a lot of work for there prices they may have to become competitive.

Well I guess I better get off this soap box I am on and let someone else have their time.

Thanks guys for reding, Mike

Regardless of your take on the "concept" of an all-new old truck, be it steel or fiberglass, I thought the original idea of the Southern pickup was cool for people who don't have the time or desire to build a gennie...but do have the money. Initially, they had a complete GM drivetrain, as indicated in the magazine. Since then, however, with GM deciding they didn't want anything to do with it, Ford stepped up and offered to supply engine/trans packages--ones that can be serviced at any dealership in the country. Believe me, I'm no fan "blue ties", but from a business standpoint, I guess you can't blame them for going that route.

Regardless of the faults I'm glad someone is putting this idea into production. Costs will be high while the production numbers are low and if you take into account that they are offering a hand built truck then the price isn't unreasonable (although I would never pay it). Hopefully this is a step to bring back the Art as well as the function of motor vehicles in general.

Something I just thought of--if you register the truck in California under the 500 Spec Construction umbrella, you'll be driving a Ford truck.

It has a altered grille, and a lot of other things, they had to adhere to what General Motors said they could have and couldn't have.

By the way, it isn't a Chevrolet or Ford, its a "Southern". Beings they are building the truck, it's their preference as to what running gear they want to use. They are going to make 100 of these trucks and I am sure they will sell all of them and others will be asking them to build more. If they weren't sure they would sell, they wouldn't build them.

thats what Preston Tucker said to.......

You have to admire the guts of those investing in this venture. Producing vehicles to make money is a serious challenge. It's like the wine or beer business - you have to invest a fortune to make a little. If I were a gambling man, I would bet that the investors backing this company are going to lose some money.
Also... A lot of guys who put so much time, effort and money building their A.D trucks will downtalk this thing, but they need to remember that not everyone who loves old (or old looking) trucks have the time, skills, space or contacts to do the job themselves. All that said, it is still a bit disappointing to me that it has a Ford motor. But that's just my opinion. The Ford guys will probably be disappointed that it looks like a G.M.

I would never buy one with a F**d engine. For a few bucks more they could have bought crate engines over the counter and had a full G.M. truck. They do look good, and the '47 passenger car grille looks right at home.

It wasn't just about "bucks". They wanted a dealer-serviceable and, more importantly, smoggable engine...basically a plug-and-play deal. You're not going to get that out of any crate engine, Chevy or Ford. Remember, the trucks need to meet current emissions standards.

robin58, I agree that Chevrolet may have missed the boat by not suppling the drive train for this vehicle and being willing to do the service on this vehicle. Not sure what they where thinking other than, they may be having remorse that they did not build this type of a truck instead of they SSR. Either way this only helps to bolster the value of our older original stuff.

Question is how close the body parts maybe, and if someone is using the molds, stamps, and dies to produce body parts that will fit our old trucks?

I just wonder, who the heck wants a chevy clone with a ford motor. I just spent 2 years and a fair aomount of money to make darn sure that my 56 F-100 runs RIGHT!! I put a Chevy 350 in it even if the blue oval guys rib for it regularly. I get cr*p all the time and have tired, so I just tell them that I just wanted my ride to run right. They walk away. I even got hassled from the ford website for having a Chevy engine and stating so in a post. I would not mind if the new truck had a choice of powerplants, I might even consider one. Jon PS: I hope I don't tick off anyone here for owning a ford bodied truck, but I own mostly Chevs and other GM prods.

Finally; a good looking Ford car for the filthy rich!

i agree with you guys on the choice of engine but i would put in the atlas I6 from the bravada. BTW the new custom classic truck magazine has and ad from southern. ron

Why would Chevy want to supply the powertrain? If they did that, then you could buy a retro-truck with Chevy power.

...but then again, I thought Chevy already came out with that in the SSR (sorta.) If they supplied the powertrain, they'd be competing against their own vehicle.

When it comes to cars, some of us think with our hearts, some with our heads. Corporations think with their accountants.

I'm all for the retro-look. There were some darn good-looking cars over the years, and a cryin' shame they get snatched up by collectors who put them in climate-controlled warehouses. Personally, I LOVE the new Dodge Charger, the new Mustang, even the new Beetle. The car companies were true to the lines. (The PT Cruiser was a bold step for Chrysler, but Chevy's HHR looks like a PT wannabe.) If Chevy had a lick of sense they'd come out with a "new" '55. Love it or hate it, Ford's new/old T-bird caused quite a stir. A new/old '55 BelAir could do that for Chevy.

If the Southern truck has fiberglass panels (which are fairly inexpensive to produce for low production runs) then it has zero chance benefitting Stovebolts, except from the wow factor. Metal dies are far beefier than composite tools due to pressures required to form.

Regardless of the powertrain, any new/old truck is good for us Stovebolt owners. It only serves to increase interest in our trucks, and that protects their value. Who knows? We might see some interesting interior design that could be applied to a custom.

Bill

TaLaTx - If I recall right their site says that the panels are to be made in (I think) Grand Rapids, MI from STEEL.

Wow! I didn't catch that. These guys are serious if they are spending the bucks to tool up like that.

What a gorgeous truck.

My wife always wanted me to go for newer vehicles due to their safety equipment. The Southern truck is just what she's want for me.

Now if only they'd knock one of the zeroes off of the price...

If I read the article correctly in the magazine, it said it was to be sold for about the price of a fully loaded Chevrolet Silverado, or a fully loaded F**d F-15*.

I have yet to see either that fully loaded cost the $55,000.00 price tag they are saying this costs, at least around here generally they run about $16,000.00 to $20,000.00.

Little new tooling will be involved given the low production numbers. Most of the tooling is now producing stamped parts for us from various suppliers such as EMS,Mar-K, Chevs of the 40s,and others. It takes real big number to amortize the cost of a large male-female and progressive die. There is also the drop hammer or large press to set up and run. These guys are going to contract for parts from the current die owners/suppliers who are more than content to further cost-out the dies. All new tooling with those low productions would equal a 400 grand per unit at least. Can we say compound curve?? The costs are big. Example: 1 jet nozzle nacelle from die: 27,000 bux, or 100 ea at 280.00 ea. I just wonder if they will let a guy order with no drive train. Jon

i got that issue of classic trucks also and i seen it and thought it was pretty cool, now i don't mean to be captian obvious but when you go on the web site and click on the specs part that is for the southern 358 correct? well if you go back and look in the classic trucks mag. the article that covered the Southern truck with the chevy motor was not the 358 model it was the 409 model so the 358 might be F*#% powered and the 409 be chevy powered!?!?!? who knows but regardless its still a cool truck
Nate

I'll bet that it wasn't the fact that GM wouldn't provide engines, it's that furd would provide them cheaper. Their notorious for that. that's how the sell so many f 150s, they undercut the price on fleet sales, that's why you see so many f/e 150/250s used in fleets. The medical supply company that my brother-in-law works for had some e 250s, because they were cheaper. Turned out that they cost more in maintanance than the Chevy (ball joints wear fast on them). They now have G 3500s and have no maintanance issues.

Why can't the big 3 do something like this? They come out with vheicles that have styling cues from the past, why not just build trucks that are completely retro looking but with power disc brakes, power steering, modern engines, etc. If you could choose between a new Chevy truck and a new Chevy truck that looked like an old one with the only difference being a 10% loss in fuel efficiency (let's face it, the old trucks have worse aerodynamics than the new ones), wouldn't you choose the retro styled truck? Maybe I'm preaching to the choir here, but I think the over priced, under powered, and completely impractical SSR shows that there is a market for retro styled vehicles. That same styling with a reasonable ride height and a truck bed on the back would be practicle and stylish. Why wouldn't it sell? I don't see why it would cost more to produce a truck with retro styling than one with modern styling given same or similar volumes.

I have heard for a while now that we will soon be able to buy the entire cab in steel. Now we are getting close to being able to put a complete truck together, ourselves. You can buy new high tech frames complete with the suspension, and crate motors and trannies. That is an interesting thought!

I still say that if i were a person of great means, I would be signing up. However, my place is buying the magazine and reading about it!

now they are saying it is a 408, who knows what it will be in the end. i still say it should have an I6 atlas from gm. also i am not interested in high horsepower but good reliable transportation and good gas mileage. anything above 20mpg would be nice to tool around in. ron

Lumbergh, 1 answer to your qustion is "fuel economy average" set for the manfrs by the govmt. Even a 10 percent decrease in the average number could a manufacture in a place that they don't want to be in. This is why the still put 4 cyl/5 spd in the econoboxes. It is also the method to sell trucks ( see fleet comment above)with V6/std trany. 5 econo bax cars allow for the sale of 1 excursion/sub/sequoia/and the low mpg cars. Plus that is but part of the reasoning. Jon

So what would be so bad if they put an I-6, every one forgets the torque that can come from the inline block, (except some of us whom still keep trying to resurect them), and then put a five speed or even a corvette 6 speed, I think they they have engineers up there that can figure out how to get the ground speed, mpg's, and gearing, with todays tires. to make a workable configuration to do the job. If not then that maybe why detrroit is struggling to hang on to the market.

Now before I hear it this is not meant to bash detroit. I just think sometimes the engineers are just out of touch with the consumers real wants and needs. Then GM could posibly cut out many of the layoffs and take back some of their lost ground.

Originally posted by robin58:
[/QUOTE]If the chassis is brand new, the engine is out of a crate, the suspension comes from various suppliers and the entire sheetmetal comes out of a catalog, then what do you register it as? A 2006 kitcar? [/QB][/QUOTE]

If you have the original vin plate from your old A/D could you not put it on there and have it titled as such?

Do a search in Stovebolt for people complaining about fit and applicability of repops. To think that the suppliers could have enough similarity (interchangable/replaceable) to match each other AND the old style is just this side of impossible. I was reading just a day or so ago about all of the different windshield wiper arms that are supposedly for a given year model. It is enough to make your head swim.

I can't see there being an "AD in a box" that goes together and is accurate without significant crafting by the guy putting it together.

...which is good news for us folks who own the real thing.

(Old Chevy Truck Guy: don't think it is the engineering team solely responsible for what gets to the showroom. Just look at concept vehicles and their production counterparts. Financial guys are involved too.)

They will be bought by people who have the money to play with.The SSR is basically a takeoff on the AD pickups.A friend of mine bought one and he thinks he really has something.Its a nice vehicle,but it aint no pickup.I really dont like them,but thats just personal taste.Point is there are a lot of people in this country with money to play with and some of them will buy anything thats different.

I just can't get over Southern putting a Ford engine in this truck. In my opinion, this will decrease the demand for the trucks, but not enough to affect sales.

How could anybody smart enough to produce this truck, be so stupid as to not know the importance of putting a Chevy engine in it. It reminds me of the stupidity of Chevy making the SSR looking like it's jacked up with a little engine. Not at all what hot rodders want. They both started with great ideas, but blew it.

I think they would sell more of whatever you call this new contraption if the body looked like the brand of drivetrain in it. I have never really liked or understood the mismatched things people put together.
Why don't they make it look like an old Ford if Ford supplies the engine?
Then perhaps Chevy will catch on and offer there engines if they go back to the Chevy looking body. Or better yet, build something like it themselves to compete.

I'm holding out for a Pinto with a 396.