1953 Chevrolet 1500 Pickup

I was there

Media

I was there...

Personal story and photograph submitted by owner Darrell Walter
for participation in the the 2008 GM Century Cruise

My name is Darrel Walter. I've been a GM employee at GMPT Advance Engineering Group in Pontiac for the past 24 years. My passion is for my custom made 1953 Chevy 1500 Pickup Truck.

Since I was a small child, my dad showed me how to build cars and custom street vehicles. We would spend countless hours in the garage welding frames together, prepping the vehicle body's for paint and finally assembling them. My dad had a passion to build unique custom street rods, he was the Best around.

This 1953 Chevy Pickup was his pride and joy! It took us 14 months to build. It is equipped with a 358 Cubic Inch Supercharged Small Block Chevy, with A/C, custom exterior body and interior and custom exhaust system.

Find out what makes classics in the GM Century Cruise Parade tick

Video Courtesy of General Motors Corporation

In 2000, the truck took 1st place in the Custom Mild Truck Class at Cobo Hall - AutoRama. In 2001 it was in the Power Tour from California to Detroit. In 2002, it was photographed and appeared in Street Truck Magazine. This Chevy has been in countless car shows and events around the country, taking regional and national awards. In 2007, the Chevy Pickup was apart of the Woodward Dream Cruise showcased within the GM Display on Woodward Avenue.

Although my dad had passed away nearly 4 years ago from cancer, his legacy lives on through this magnificent vehicle!

GM’s Century Cruise pays tribute to GM’s past and the passion owners have for their vehicles. On Saturday, August 16, 2008 this vehicle and more than 100 other classic GM vehicles will cruise from the GM Global Headquarters at the Renaissance Center up Woodward Avenue to the heart of the Woodward Dream Cruise in Royal Oak and the surrounding suburbs. One of these vehicles will be crowned “top cruiser” based on a text voting campaign.

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