The Futura Concepts low cab forward is a modern take on a classic | Most people are familiar with the Chevy trucks of the late 1940s and 1950s. These post-WWII trucks were all the rage with soldiers coming home from the war and Chevy was pumping them out as fast as they could. From the 1947-1953 Advanced Design Chevys to the Bel Air-styled Chevy Task Force, the half-ton Chevy pickups have made their mark in history. However, the commercial Chevrolet trucks of the 1940s and 1950s are not as well known. For the most part, commercial series trucks looked like their light duty counterparts. This was until trucks like the cab over engine (COE) design, or cab-overs, came out.These strange looking trucks became popular with shipping companies, farmers, the military, and basically anybody looking for a truck that could haul heavy loads. The cab-over-engine name basically explains itself. The cab sat higher than the standard trucks and the engine was moved under the cab. This made for a shorter wheelbase and greater forward visibility. With the redesign of their trucks in 1955, Chevy unveiled the redesigned COE, called the low cab forward (LCF). These trucks still positioned the driver higher than standard pickups, but the engine was moved forward. This design was so popular that they are still available today. Most box trucks and a lot of semis come in the LCF configuration. 
With the custom bed and skirt they made, you would never know the truck didn't originally have it | Some builders have taken early examples of the Chevy LCF and added their own twist to them. Jorge Cubillas and Sambo Flores of Futura Concepts in Riverside, California, did just that. After buying a 1955 Series 2 Chevy LCF from their friend Del Uschenko of Delmo’s Speed, and with some design help from automotive artist Max Grundy, they had an idea in mind and got to work.The idea was to bring the truck a lot closer to the ground and give it the custom look that it deserved. They started by pulling the cab and bed off the truck. The stock frame and suspension went to the scrap pile. For a replacement frame, they sourced a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 utility truck from the junk yard. Again, they scrapped the pieces they didn’t need. They ended up using the entire frame, Duramax engine, Allison transmission, brakes, fuel tank, and other miscellaneous pieces that they made work with the new setup. To help give the truck the power it would need to move the behemoth that would be, Jorge and Sambo upgraded the turbos to Precision 78mm versions, they swapped the fuel injectors, and for added flair they painted the engine to match what the body would be. Finally, they added a custom intake with K&N filters to help the diesel take deep breaths of air. 
This is how the truck came to Jorge and Sambo. They put a lot of work into it to make it shine! | For suspension, they used a set of Devious Customs control arms up front paired with Contitech 2600 airbags for ride height control. Out back, a Jimenez Brothers’ custom heavy-duty two link locates the rear end, while providing a mounting location for the Contitech 2900 ‘bags. Wrapping up the rolling chassis is a set of black steelie wheels shod in Coker white wall tires. With the suspension and frame taken care of, it was time to focus on the body.The truck originally had a stake bed, but the team at Futura wanted to make it into a flatbed tow truck. To bring their idea to fruition, they welded up a flat bed and mounted it behind the cab on the frame. Then they built a skirt around the front and sides of the bed. The deck of the bed received a slick wood covering with stainless runners and a custom E-lock fastening system. To give the cab a retro cool look, they gave it a 3-inch gentleman’s chop and stretched the fenders and steps 5 inches for a proper stance. Next, the truck then went into the paint booth and received a two-tone combo of House of Kolor Light Battleship Gray and Ivory that was then accented with Dark Battleship Gray. To fill the window voids after the chop, Eddie Kotto of Kotto Auto Glass came in and made custom glass for the front and back. Eddie is well known in the industry, having worked with the likes of Boyd Coddington, Chip Foose, Shaq, and Xzibit to name a few. 
Jorge and Sambo made a custom intake with K&N filters to feed the big Duramax plenty of air | With the glass installed and the paint dry, it was time for the interior. Futura Concepts handled most of the build themselves, but for the interior, they called in the experts at Kiwi Kustom Upholstery. The bench was covered in a burnt orange leather with the headliner covered in a matching suede. To tie in the gray and ivory of the exterior, the dash, doors, and pillars were sprayed with House of Kolor Burnt Orange paint and some more Light and Dark Battleship Gray. With less than a day to spare, they jumped in the truck and headed for Las Vegas. The plan was to unveil the truck at the 2015 SEMA show. Thanks to a lot of sleepless nights, good friends, and a bit of luck, they made it and the truck was an absolute head turner. Jorge and Sambo said they couldn’t get this truck built without the help of their friends and family. They wanted to thank Max Grundy, Del Uschenko, Ben Ingry, Pops, Monty, and everyone else who helped bring the build together. |
