Maxwell's 1950 Chevy Stepside
Words: Kevis Mulchan
Photography: Kyle Fletcher (@Kfletchphotography)
Maxwell DeLorm's 1950 Chevy 3100 Stepside: A Passion Project Turned Reality
When we think of classic American trucks, the 1950 Chevy 3100 Stepside is undoubtedly one that comes to mind. The bold and beautiful truck was built to last and is still a favorite among classic car enthusiasts. Maxwell DeLorm, a Boca Raton native originally from Rochester, NY, had always dreamed of restoring his grandfather's 1950 Chevy truck. After his grandfather's health took a turn for the worse, DeLorm made it his mission to fulfill his grandfather's dream of restoring the truck to its former glory and then some.
DeLorm turned to Austin Patterson, aka Dwight of "Dwight's SpeedShop," who single-handedly took on the project from start to finish. The result is a truck that showcases Patterson's exceptional talent, with a frame-off restoration and period-correct yet modern interior. The patina that everyone loves is the icing on the cake. DeLorm expresses his gratitude, stating, "He may be quiet and humble about his work, but I sure as hell won’t be."
DeLorm's passion project didn't stop there. He had a vision of a perfectly tuned and customized truck, and he knew that he had to seek out the best of the best. "Boosted Creations NY" tuned the truck, while "The Auto Specialist" dialed a beautiful audio system that matches the interior of the truck, yet keeping it period-correct. "Arete Auto Salon" went through every bolt and thread of cloth and ceramic coated the patina'd truck, causing an uproar online. "Cloud9ab" delivered DeLorm's Rotiform wheels, and "Salvage 2 Savage" saved him from vintage air and dialed in a perfect custom Restomod air setup for the Miami heat.
The modifications on this truck are nothing short of impressive. The exterior features a custom paint job and patina, along with a hydraulic lifted wooden truck bed. Under the hood lies an LS 5.7L engine with a Holley Terminator X Management, BTR Stage 3 Cam, and a 92mm Holley Hi Ram. The transmission is a T56 manual with an LS7 Clutch, and the rear end is a shortened Ford 8.8 with 373 Gears. The suspension features an Airlift Performance 3p Dual Compressor Air Management System, Mustang II front suspension with tubular control arms, and a custom rear step C Notch with a triangulated 4 Link. The brakes are Wilwood front and rear with drilled and slotted rotors. The truck sits on Rotiform DNO wheels with diamond back classic white wall tires
The interior is just as impressive, with a B62 Upholstery (Arizona) featuring Carrera Buck Leather with white diamond stitch bench seat, door cards, and roof headliner. The Dakota Digital RTX Gauges, Restomod Air-NUK Quantum Pods with aluminum rings (Heat & A/C Controls), Restomod Bantam S Control Unit, and Restomod Air-Diablo Smooth Vortex Aluminum Dash Vents complete the look. A period-correct Classic Car Stereo with Bluetooth and Sirius XM is the cherry on top..
DeLorm draws inspiration from his grandfather and his own childhood, where he spent countless hours pretending to drive in the driver's seat of the truck in his grandfather's barn. He purchased the truck off of his grandfather in 2013 and spent years thinking about how to make the truck perfect. The truck is built with European influences, showcasing DeLorm's love for Euro cars, and was built with an near endless budget in result of the hard work put in as a traveling nurse due to the COVID pandemic
Photography credit goes to Kyle Fletcher of @Kfletchphotography. Be sure to stop by his socials and show some support.