Crazy Chevy Thriftmaster Rebuild
Charlie Hall's 1952 Chevy Thriftmaster grabbed the eyes of Speedhunters' Mike Garrett at the Grand National Roadster Show. The result was some really great shots of this custom Chevy.
Original, Only On the Outside
For those unfamiliar, the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS), GNRS spends the year curating the country's top custom builds. After spending time in shops all across the US, they select the top vehicles in the country to compete for their ultimate title of "America's Most Beautiful Roadster." Mixed in with the upper-echelon roadsters was Charlie Hall's 1952 Chevy Thriftmaster. While the paint of Hall's Chevy wears the charm of a well-seasoned, unmolested class, it is far from being untouched. Click along and you'll see there's very little of this Chevy which hasn't been reworked and modified.
A Hard to Ignore Stance
At full drop, Hall's Thriftmaster kisses the asphalt at all four corners. It's enough to make the casual observer walk over and inspect the six-window Chevy. The Thriftmaster's classic body lines combined with subtle styling cues like the ratchet-strapped fuel tank and louvered hood draw you in even closer. If that's not enough, then the American-flag themed wood truck bed should do the trick.
How'd It Get So Low?
A custom chassis was a must for this relic of a Chevy. The modified frame along with an AccuAir e-Level system brings the Thriftmaster forward in the suspension technology department by at least 60 years.
Low and Wide
Hall's Thriftmaster definitely doesn't skip leg day. From the rear, its proportions rival that of any Kardashian or other wide-hipped celebrity. Hall's Chevy does it with the proper amount of taste and refinement. These body lines are true to form and not the work of a talented South Beach surgeon. Up top you get a tiny peek of the Stars and Stripes on the bedliner.
Discreet Details
Tucked inside the fenders are a set of Boyd's five-spoke wheels covering a set of Wilwood vented disc brakes. The metallic gray paint of the wheels offsets the old school nature of the Thriftmaster without detracting from the overall theme.
10 Points for Creativity
Housed underneath the Thriftmaster's hood is a General Motors LS V8 engine. A well-suited modern powerplant for Hall's timeless Chevy. The real jaw-dropper under the hood is the custom set of exhaust headers, the likes of which I've never seen before. The custom piping looks less like a set of headers and more like the deadly limbs of some spider we've never seen before. Somehow it all works functionally. Aesthetically, it's a great conversation starter. Even better is the way the uncoated headers play off the custom valve covers.
Another Look
From this angle you can really see the craftsmanship that went into the Thriftmaster's headers. The welds are a work of art and the way the mandrel-bent tubing comes together is pure poetry. Hiding in the corner is a Wilwood master cylinder feeding the upgraded braking system.
Smooth as (Peanut) Butter
The interior of the Thriftmaster is a simple, yet classy and modern interpretation of the truck's space. The seats wear an inviting and silky shade of brown. Crow lap belts hold the driver and passenger in place in the event the driver misreads the appropriately labeled "Stop" and "Go" pedals. The circular digital gauges get the job done without drawing too much attention from the beautiful simplicity of a 60 year old truck. The fold-down console provides cup holders for the occupants as well as a resting place for the AccuAir system's remote control.
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