The 800hp 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 Mallet Super10

Rapid Retro

When the world of custom vehicles and performance vehicles collide, you get a pretty awesome mix of form and function. Not only do they look good rolling, but they can make the rolling function fun. In this world of custom vehicles that can perform much better than stock, the name Chuck Mallett from Cornelius, North Carolina, is one that stands out. Chuck was raised in the performance world since his father raced for Ford in the ’60s and ’70s, so high-octane fuel was in his blood from an early age. This type of upbringing either makes you hate the automotive world or love it. In Chuck’s case, the love for it is what has kept him building custom vehicles for the past 40 years. He has spent a lot of that time doing some pretty crazy performance work. Being the owner of Mallett Cars, which specializes in GM performance upgrades, this keeps him busy filling everyone’s requests for more power. He even offers a Hammer Package on the new C7 Corvettes that you can get straight from the dealership. With numerous magazine features and covers under his belt and a handful of past SEMA vehicles, when it came time for the 2014 SEMA Show, Chuck knew it was a perfect time to jump on the huge truck market that was taking over the show and build one with his own flare. He contacted General Motors and ordered a ’14 Silverado 1500 Z71 4WD double cab in factory red. Chuck wanted to build a lowered truck but the only way he could get the larger Silverado motor, the 6.2L V-8, was to get a 4WD version. This was not a problem for him since he can fabricate needed parts in-house at his shop. He knew that he wanted a ’70s-themed truck with this build. One that would have the classic two-toned look combined with today’s luxury and performance.

Now that the truck sat where Chuck was happy and the rolling chassis was ready to go, it was on to the body. The first thing to go was the plastic caps on top of all the bedrails and the top of the tailgate. Jim Callaro at Metal Masters in Mooresville, North Carolina, welded in metal replacements for the plastic panels. This gave the bed a smoother look and allowed the paint to carry over the top of the bed. Chuck and Jim teamed up on the front and rear bumpers as well to completely rebuild them to remove all plastic pieces and make them match the look of a ’70s Chevy. There are over 200 hours in custom fabrication in both of the bumpers. Then, Sun Stoppers Chrome Wrap and Window Tint in Cornelius, North Carolina, wrapped both bumpers in chrome. To continue the theme, Chuck and Jim built custom side trim moldings to resemble the old Chevys. They used 3003 sheer aluminum that was bent on a break, welded and hand-filed to perfectly mimic the ones from 1972. Then, they were masked off and a black center was sprayed to complete the look. For the tailgate, a retro “Chevrolet” center plate was made. Soon, the truck was off to Lake Norman Paint & Body in Cornelius, North Carolina, where Mike Pelusi painted the center of the truck PPG Summit White and painted over the new bodywork on the bed, finalizing that ’70s look. Once back from paint, final touches like the custom egg crate grille insert made from welded aluminum plate and the chrome bezel taillights from Razor Auto were bolted on.