Trixie Sue debuts where trucks are best modified

NEBRASKA CITY – The best of show modified at this year’s AppleJack car is show and the debut of a car hop bombshell are family affairs.

Chad Davis, a painter from Guthrie Center, Iowa, has worked with his dad for most of 30 years on build-up projects that include a ’51 Chevy 3100 half ton pickup. He and dad perfected the custom bed and fender panels, while his mom and wife did the custom interior.

Davis: “It’s fun. It what we do, been doing it for 30 years.”

The truck was named truck of the year at a national show in Nashville and was selected for best interior at the C10 Nationals in Forth Worth, Texas.

The AppleJack show Sunday got a boost from Debbie and Rick Shallenberger who showed Rick’s 1955 Belair and Deb’s ’57.

Shallenberger: “Our kids gave that to Rick and I for Christmas this year.”

So you’ve got a debut of Trixie Sue?

“Trixie Sue, this is her debut. They also gave Rick the food quite a few years ago.”

Shallenberger said don’t be fooled by the cola products in the window of her ’57.

Which one is better?

Shallenberger: “Oh, by far mine. Just look at the color. How can that not be better… I told him that I wanted Pepsi can blue.”

 

 

Davis’ best of show got first in its class at the Hog Wild car show in Denison, Iowa, the day before, but Davis’ other truck, won best of show there. He described the family’s inspiration for modifications, like putting a ’59 Impala dash into the truck.

Davis: “You look at other stuff and see it. You don’t copy it. You kind of do your own thing. This has got stuff that I’ve never seen on a square body.”