Trucks have come a long way in the past 100 years. Initially they were pure work horses with no amenities to speak of. In the mid-1960s some creature comforts found there way into the cabin. But it would take another 25 years, until 1990, when Chevrolet introduced the SS-454, to realize that this was a totally new animal: the personal Sport Truck!
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Fast forward to 2004 and the Sport Truck has reached an entirely new level when renown conversion specialist Regency entered an agreement with the General to convert new trucks to super trucks that would combine the utility of a hauler with the handling and performance of a sports car.
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The 2004 Chevrolet Regency RST presented here, VIN *1GCEC14V54Z311790*, is one of these rare birds. It was purchased new on January 7, 2005, straight out of the showroom of Todey Chevrolet right here in Oxnard, California. To this day this is a one owner truck that has been babied like a favorite child. It was never driven in the rain and lived most of its life under a car cover in the garage. It has rarely been washed; most of the time we just used quick detailer and a microfiber towel to keep it dust free and as close to showroom new as possible.
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The options list reads like a book, so many goodies have found their way into this truck! From leather and suede-cladded sport seats to carbon fiber accents everywhere, to a high-end audio system to chromed FOOSE 20-inch aluminum wheels to oversized, red 15" BAER brake calipers . . . the list is just mindboggling. Whereas the original window sticker (included) of the base truck reads $23,000.00, the out-the-door price of this baby was exactly $38,995.00, plus tax and license, of course, bringing the total damage over $42,000, and that's documented as well. Click on the image to the left for an XXL-sized view |
Let's now check out this amazing truck in more detail, beginning with the engine compartment.
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Up front everything is super clean. Not "just pressure-washed, soaked-in Armor All" clean, but naturally clean, as in never been dirty. If you look closely you'll find the slightest hint of dust here, proving that this motor has never been washed. Yep, that's right, not even once!
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Motorvation comes from Chevrolet's 4.8-Liter V8, pumping out a healthy 295 horses in stock form. This one features a color-keyed fuel injection cover, special spark plug wires, a K&N free flow open air induction system, ceramic coated headers, and a free flow exhaust system with dual sport catalysts and a Flowmaster sport muffler, all of which helped bring the horses up from 295 stock to 315.
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The black paint is factory original and so are the red rally stripes. Expensive custom touches included LED lighting front and back, as well as carbon fiber accents in various places, the fuel filler door included.
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Shoes make the dress and wheels make the truck, and it doesn't get much better than chromed Chip Foose-designed alloys, no less than 20 x 9.5-inches in size, shod with 275/45-20 tires up front and 295/50-20 in the back.
Check out those red BEAR brake calipers and slotted and drilled 15-inch brake rotors!
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The cabin is cladded with some of the finest materials money can buy. Carbon fiber, lots of it, genuine leather hides and suede wherever you look! Notice the chromed shifter with the HURST-style white shift knob.
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Red on silver gauges make for one sexy command center, even more so when surrounded by carbon fiber!
Note odometer reading!
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Dual sport seats are super comfortable. Surrounded by aromatic bovine hides, their inserts are perforated charcoal suede which show a red base material shining through, thus keeping up with the theme of this truck.
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As you would expect from a low mileage vehicle, the hides are barely broken in. The red heel pad is stock and undamaged.
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The tailgate is the only panel on this truck that has been repainted after the tailgate handle was relocated to the inside to create a cleaner appearance.
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A Southern California truck since new, the undercarriage is clean and free of road rash and corrosion. If you wanted a show truck, this one would actually be a perfect candidate for it. Click on the image to the left for an XXL-sized view |
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So how does it drive, you may wonder.
Well, like a babied, low mileage sport truck, of course!
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Everything is tight, the clutch is like new, and there are no untoward noises or shimmies. The truck tracks (say that very fast!) like it's running on rails.
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Throttle response is instantaneous, acceleration remarkable. Yet when cruising on the freeway at or near legal speeds, it returns a very pleasing gas mileage in the low 20s. Not bad for a truck with sports car performance, is it?
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The Chevrolet SS-454 and the Ford Lightnings that followed in its footsteps have already achieved some sort of cult status and gained a dedicated group of followers. The Regency RST takes it a to a higher level in being a real tuner truck, designed with the help of the famous Chip Foose and the legendary Jon Moss--the Godfather of the Impala SS--and by giving it additional accreditation as it was offered through the General's immense dealer network, with full factory warranty, of course.
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Shortly after the RST first came out, Regency sold a black RST at Barrett-Jackson for $59,500, even though it carried a $35,995 sticker. Since then only a few hundred of these super trucks have been manufactured before Regency had to succumb to the poor economy and close its doors for good. Make no mistake, when every other truck has just become a used vehicle, an authentic Regency RST will still be something special.
You are most welcome to inspect this fine automobile at our location in Ventura, by appointment, or have someone inspect it for you.
Please, direct all inquiries to bill@californiaclassix.com or call us at 805-653-5551.
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