Gold is a color that symbolizes it status above all else: men and women love gold jewelry. Rappers love a golden grill. Olympians love gold medals. The Israelites loved the golden calf. It is a color that has led men to commit great crimes and women to marry. Also fits the ‘Borracho’, an award-winning 1963 GMC 1000 pickup. which is currently being auctioned on AutoHunter.
Over 900 hours were spent on this custom build by Tre5 Customs of Peoria, Arizona. This time roughly translates to more than 54 bars of gold. This is the kind of construction that will gain him fame and glory in print – in fact, Borracho was recognized by none other than Classic truck performance magazine. If you’ve been wondering how you can say “truck” and “performance” in the same breath when big-block El Caminos or Rancheros aren’t the subject of discussion, consider yourself educated in the hot world. old school pickups because this is a muscle machine especially. Skeptic? Need more convincing?
Power comes from a rebuilt 454 with FiTech throttle body fuel injection fed by a 20-gallon aluminum fuel cell between the rear frame rail for nice, reliable fuel delivery. What? Would you rather hear about his secret? OK, the Trick Flow top-of-the-line kit includes aluminum cylinder heads, a camshaft (which is street-friendly and smooth), and roller rockers. And like a mullet, the engine bay is a combination of party and business, as horsepower is boosted by polished All American Billet pulleys operating the AC compressor, as well as power steering and water pumps (the latter the high-flow types). Handcrafted Entropy aluminum radiator with twin electric fans to hydrate the BBC.
And would you believe what happened last year in California? Yes, the Borrach was designed to drive fast and jump through the hoop!
The Mark IV zoom temple needs a harness to power the pavement. In the case of the Borracho, it’s stepped up to the TH400 level with the valve body and torque converter to handle confident three-speed automatic shifts. Out back, the tapered 12-bolt rear 3.73 Auburn Gear is paired with a limited-slip differential.
But enough about what’s under the hood—let’s see what you see when the hood is closed. The paint is called Kurkuma Yellow Metallic, and believe it or not, you may have seen a pedestrian version of the color on late Volkswagens. Catchy, right? Components such as bumpers, trim, wheels (Intro Flow two-piece billet aluminum jobs) also received a contrasting Candy Gold powder-coated finish, and the entire kit and fairing received a House of Kolor clear coat. Suspend your disbelief when you learn that Borracho’s arresting hues have been recognized at numerous exhibitions, including the “Best Paint” award.
You won’t find any kind of unibody underneath! Like the body, the unique chassis is also powder coated. The suspension components get a modern underpinning with Porterbuilt Fabrication components and airbags from Slam Specialties. Your tuchusa will thank you for the Air Lift Performance 3H auto-leveling air control system that connects to dual aluminum tanks and a pair of VIAIR compressors.
Speaking of your derriere, the luxurious cabin was created by Phoenix’s own Elevated Design. The TMI saddle leather split seat, door panels and steering wheel add warmth to the cockpit, while the ididit steering column and rack and pinion steering mean a connection to road direction. Restomod Air air conditioning (with vents) and a 2,600-watt audio system (consisting of a Pioneer double-DIN head unit and four 13.5-inch JL Audio subwoofers) complete the 454’s music.
The dash features Dakota Digital HDX gauges that include 160 mph, 8,000 rpm, and fuel, coolant temperature, oil pressure, and voltage gauges. In the back, the air-operated tonneau cover conceals an upholstered bed.
Auction for 1963 GMC 1000 pickup ends April 3, 2023. at 4:00 PM (PDT). They say all that glitters is not gold, but we have one very glaring exception, as evidenced by the GrinderTV video below, which showcases the gold-plated pickup in all its glory. Kudos to painter extraordinaire Frank Rechlin of IKandy Paintworks in Peoria, Arizona and the seller for giving you the opportunity to show that GMC is your golden ticket to the status that comes with trophies and adoration.
