Restomod Chevy Truck is 20 Feet of First-rate Fabrication

RTech Fabrications turns early generation Chevy trucks into Cummins-powered giants. 

Who can resist a classic Chevy truck? They are eternally cool, and represent some of the finest automotive designs ever. But, owning a vintage ride comes with many disadvantages. Hard to find replacement parts, maintenance, and they do lack the modern creature comforts we do so desire. A restomod often fills that space nicely. But there’s restomods, and then there’s “The Ponderosa” by RTech Fabrications. This is a restomod turned up many, many notches. Bigger, badder, and utterly unique.

The Ponderosa is one of a line of trucks that the Idaho-based fabricator has created. RTech describes the Ponderosa as “custom-never-built crew cabs to Chevrolet’s 1964 to 1966 truck.” And it is awesome.

We can only imagine how amazing this would handle off-road. Fitted with Bilstein shocks, 4″ Flowmaster Exhaust, 6″ leaf springs, OffRoad design front high steer, Redhead steering gear gearbox, and Dual Dana 60 font axle and 70 rear axle. It also has a custom built 60-gallon fuel tank. There is very little this bad boy can’t do, tackling obstacles like a warm knife through butter.

Of course, the icing on the cake is the 5.9 liter 12-valve Cummins engine. This torquey powerhouse makes 550 horsepower. A big step up from the early-gen Chevy trucks!

The interior is loaded with old-school details. There are chrome vents, custom tilt steering wheel, 66″ GMC seats, and heating and A/C by Old Air products. The bed interior is Bedwood, and includes a gooseneck winch. Outside, the LED lights are an especially sharp detail. And we love the AMP running board. Which you’ll need to get up in this lifted wonder.

How exactly did RTech make that Crew Cab? It is custom-made in house using 16-gauge sheetmetal, and the roof has extra bracing to support the super Crew Cab.

Other models from RTech include “The Duke,” a custom built from a 1972 Chevy K50 crew cab; as well as the K50″Drill Sergeant.” The Ponderosa comes with a number of options, and can be built on a 1966-1972 Chevy. However, with all the big improvements comes a big price tag, $150,000. Is it worth it? Absolutely, if you’ve got the dough, this is a truck like no other. It is tough, off-road capable, powerful, gorgeous, and will last forever.

Photos: RTech Fabrications

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S.J. Bryan

Longtime automotive journalist S.J. Bryan has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is an editor with Ford Truck Enthusiasts and regular contributor to F-150 Online, Harley-Davidson Forums, and The Mustang Source, among other popular auto sites.

Bryan first discovered her passion for all things automotive while riding in her parent's 1968 Ford Mustang. The automotive expert cut her teeth growing up riding on Harleys, and her first car was a Chevy Nova. Despite her lead foot, Bryan has yet to receive a speeding ticket.

The award-winning former playwright was first published at age 18. She has worked extensively as a writer and editor for a number of lifestyle and pop culture publications. The diehard gearhead is a big fan of American muscle cars, sixth-gen Ford trucks, and Oxford commas.

S.J. can be reached at sherryjbry@gmail.com.