Kindig-it Design Builds a Drop Top ’67 C10 – “MaxHeadroom”
The relationship between a custom vehicle builder and owner can be delicate. During many builds, the two may disagree here and there, or wonder if each other is crazy for suggesting a particular modification. In successful cases, the finished result will speak for itself, such as Dave Maxwell’s ’67 C10, which earned 2021 finalist positions for both LMC Truck of the Year Late and the Chevrolet GM Iron Builder of the Year during the 2nd RaceDeck Salt Lake Nationals.
Dave Kindig of Kindig-it Design explained one call from Dave Maxwell when the truck was about halfway through the metal department. “Dave called me and wanted my thoughts about making the truck into a convertible, or if I thought he was crazy,” Kindig said. “I was thinking about how that seam on the back corner of the cab would make a natural spot to split the roof and told him that yes, he was crazy – crazy cool – let’s do it!”
Pardon the pun, but they pulled it off. Most people may notice the 2-inch chop to the top, but there is no reason to suspect that with the flip of a switch, the tonneau cover goes up, the rear glass folds back and is followed by the roof. There are plenty of other mods to review, such as the rolled pans, custom headlight trim, one-off taillamps and hand-formed trim, plus the AkzoNobel’s Modern Classikk black and white paint.
Under the stretched hood (it now goes all the way to the windshield) lies a Lingenfelter-built LS7 capable of belting out 680 horsepower. Air is inhaled through a trick carbon fiber dual inlet intake by Performance Design and exhaled through stainless Ultimate Headers. A Holley Dominator EFI system ties the engine and the 6L90E trans together for one serious drivetrain.
To secure all that power, a Roadster Shop chassis was agreed upon by all parties and coated in a show-quality gloss black by Pacific Coast Powder Coating. Braking responsibilities are handled by Wilwood topped with a one-off set of Billet Specialties 20×8- and 21×13-inch wheels wrapped in red lined Pirellis from Diamond Back Classics.
The custom work continues inside with a ’59 Impala dash filled with Dakota Digital RTX gauges. JS Custom Interiors handled the stitching over the Corbeau seats, custom door panels, custom console, and other interior appointments.
The 2021 Salt Lake Nationals event served as the car show debut for the Maxell’s C10 and it shows what a builder and owner can dream up with a little trust and a shared vision in a custom build.
Photos by Damon Lee
