Soup it up.
Chevrolet trucks can get a fresh, old look.
Kit panels transform pickups into circa 1960 Apache C10s.

In 1960, Chevrolet introduced a new generation of pickup trucks, the half-ton Apache C10.

Gone were the traditional-style fenders, replaced with a body dominated by a hood that stretched across the full width of the truck, giving its face eyebrows above the headlights, which were set into the ends of the grille. Though the eyebrows would be trimmed back over the years, the design continued through 1966

Dan Fairbanks of Germantown, Wis., never owned one of those 1960-66 Chevy trucks, though he grew up with them and loved the design. But he also appreciated the amenities of today's pickup trucks: power windows, antilock brakes, airbags and other features.

What Fairbanks, president of Innovation Mold, which does plastic injection molding of ventilation fans, lawn mower parts, plastic parts for hand tools and other such products, wanted was a way to give his Chevy Silverado an old look.

After several years of development, Innovation Mold launched a subsidiary, Retrokits, to produce fiberglass panels that fit over the factory body panels of 1988-98 Chevy full-size pickups so they look like a 1960 or 1966 model.

"I drive mine to the gas station and it always draws a crowd," says Fairbanks, whose company has 18 employees.

Retrokits panels attach over a truck's sheetmetal with 3M automotive adhesive. Once in place, they're there for good.

A full body kit includes front and rear fenders; roof; hood; grille shell and grille; headlamp rings and brackets, hardware and electrical plugs; fiberglass rear and steel front bumpers with mounting brackets and glue and applicator, and runs $3,995.

A front clip, which includes only those parts used on the front section of the truck, is priced at $2,995.

Retrokits offers full installation service, between $5,000 and $20,000, depending on whether a truck needs extensive bodywork (rust repair) and whether you want Retrokits to paint the truck.

Fairbanks hoped to have a 1955-57 Chevy retro kit in production by now, but instead is working on '60 and '66 kits for people with modern extended cab or Fleetside body styles.

For more information, call (262) 251-4417.

Larry Edsall is a Phoenix-based freelance writer.