1983 Chevrolet C10

“Rags to Riches”

Owned by: Eric Czap

Photos by: Chris Gosda

Some trucks are built to turn heads with wild paint, chrome, and flashy interiors. But Eric Czap’s 1983 Chevy C10, fittingly named Rags to Riches, takes a completely different route. This ride is all about the foundation—the frame, the stance, and the craftsmanship underneath it all.

Eric’s journey started with a $1,500 junkyard cab. No history, no title story—just a solid base for what would become a full frame-off build. Now finished after 2.5 years of hands-on work, Rags to Riches is one of the cleanest and most custom C10s on the scene.

From Junkyard Scrap to Custom Showstopper

Eric had a clear vision: skip the flashy distractions and build something that showcases the frame. That’s where Justin Haas of Haas Designs came in, crafting a fully custom chassis that would set the tone for the rest of the truck.

The goal wasn’t to dazzle with paint or polish but to make people look twice at the foundation. And that’s exactly what this truck does. It lays all the way down on air ride, tucked perfectly under a killer set of wheels, and every piece underneath is coated and clean.

Power Comes from a Built LS 5.3

Under the hood sits a 1998 5.3L LS engine that’s been fully built and color-matched to the rest of the truck. It’s got a cam, headers, and has been decked to 5.7L with all the right supporting mods.

No chrome here—Eric kept it clean and functional, focused more on performance than show. The engine runs a FiTech fuel system, breathes through a Borla exhaust, and was brought together by the team at Haas Designs.

The Chassis is the Real Star

What really makes Rags to Riches stand out is what’s underneath. The custom frame, built and notched by Haas Designs, is powder coated in Shocker Yellow. It’s sitting on QA1 shocks all around, and the full air ride setup is controlled by Level Ride Air Suspension with Viair compressors.

The truck is designed to lay flat—no faking it, no halfway drop. When parked, it’s on the pavement.

Wheels, Tires, and That Stance

Eric went big with a set of Amani Forged Luxen wheels—24×9 up front and massive 24×16 in the rear. Wrapped in low-profile rubber, the wheels give the truck that serious hot rod-meets-show-truck attitude.

Clean Paint, No Flash

The body is coated in satin black by Classic Auto Body. There’s no wild graphics or multi-tone fades—just a smooth, subtle finish that lets the body lines and stance speak for themselves. The bed’s been finished with custom bed wood from Smokey Rod and Custom, giving it a touch of class without getting too fancy.

Inside the Cab

The interior stays clean and functional. TMI black seating, a custom floor console, Dakota Digital gauges, and billet touches throughout. Audio comes from a full DS18 setup, with 12-inch subs and a Kenwood head unit, all installed by Haas Designs.

There’s no video system, no over-the-top features—just a solid setup made for cruising and enjoying the ride.

Built to Drive, Not Just Sit

Even though this truck has been making its rounds at shows, Eric has no plans to baby it.

“I built it to drive. I plan to drag it down Soco Rd every chance I get.”

With a custom chassis, full air ride, and a solid LS swap under the hood, this truck was made to hit the pavement hard and make a statement doing it.

Thanks and Shoutouts

Eric gives credit to a long list of companies and friends who made this build possible:
Haas Designs, Classic Auto Body, Maxxed Diesel, Amani Forged, 1320 Synthetics, Auto Metal Direct, Level Ride Air Suspension, Viair Corp, FiTech, Borla Performance, LS Fabrication, Rollin Recklezz, XS Power, Slosh Tubz, Extreme Soundz, Infinite Offroad, Wildwood Disc Brakes, Prismatic Powders, QA1 Shocks, Tarheel Paint Supply, and more.

Just Getting Started

Rags to Riches might be finished, but the story is far from over. Eric plans to hit the streets, shows, and maybe even a few drag strips in the future. As a hang-around with Freaks of Nature, he’s already deep in the custom truck scene—and with this build, he’s made a name for himself.