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All photos from www.hooniverse.com
The term “RestoMod” means a lot of things to the industry and the enthusiasts that support the automotive industry. Typically used to describe a project car build in which any part of the car is updated keeping the exterior appearance stock-looking while fitting late model chassis, drivetrain and other conveniences in the vehicle. This can be said of the ’55 pickup that we found while surfing the net.
A Chevy with the heart of a Mercedes.
Hooniverse’s Truck Thursday feature showcased a pickup that answered the question, “Have you ever wanted a truck that drives like a Mercedes?”
Metal Works Classics has built such a vehicle, and they certainly didn’t skimp on any details. This one-of-a-kind build became an instant classic the moment that it rolled out of the garage. For the uniqueness factor, this one tops the list. We’ve seen Chevrolet powerplants dropped into everything imaginable, from Volkswagen Bugs to Smart cars. Rarely do we see European engines dropped into classic American vehicles.
Looking fairly stock on the outside but the pickup has a modern interior and drivetrain.
Owner M. Nichols explained how this project vehicle actually saw the light of day:
It’s all German on the inside.
“I had a 55 Chevy pickup and a 2001 Mercedes SUV parts car. I was trying to figure out how to use the Mercedes parts in my Chevy pickup. My wife suggested that I cut the sheetmetal off of the Mercedes and just set the pickup on it. I reminded her that building trucks is kind of a guy thing. She went back to the house and I got to thinking about what she had said. Damn, that is a good idea. Now I have a ’55 Chevy pickup with a Mecerdes Benz 3.2-liter engine, four-wheel drive, power steering, power brakes, power windows, air conditioning, cruise control, air bags, heated seats, Bose sound system, and navigation”
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Mercedes-Benz SUV full platform ML320
- Aluminum SOHC 3.2L engine
- 5-speed automatic transmission
- All wheel drive
- Anti-lock 4-wheel disc brakes
- Full Mercedes-Benz interior
- Wrap around rear window
- Stepside bed
- Complete custom painted Carbon fiber and smoke graphics
Translation: “Like a Rock.”
From now on when we hear restomod, we are going to think of this ultimate hybrid. The categorical combination of different eras and technology. Considering the summer’s biggest hit, “blurred lines” from Alan Thicke, this blurred marriage of foreign and domestic captured the essence perfectly. Complete with a hand-lettered sign on the tailgate that reads, “Wie Ein Stein,” which translates in English to “Like a Stone (Rock).”
From any aspect, this is a one-of-a-kind build, the likes of which have never been seen before. Congratulations to the build crew for capturing the spirit of “restomod”.
