29-10-2006
Infused with the trendsetting, custom styling cues popularized by the bike-building Teutul family, the Chevy Orange County Choppers (OCC) Silverado is the ultimate shop hauler. It is designed to transport motorcycle engines and other components necessary to create one-of-a-kind custom choppers – and does so with the same eye-popping design as OCC’s own bikes.
A 7.0-liter LS7 V-8 backs up the OCC Silverado’s Sturgis-ready good looks and the interior carries the contemporary chopper theme, with plenty of black leather, chrome and billet trim. A raft of chromed chopper engines is tied down in the customized cargo bed.
“The OCC Silverado is a tribute to a family that has made an enormous impact on design and the new Silverado is the perfect canvas to illustrate it,” said John Cafaro, chief designer for full-size trucks. “Ironically, the OCC Silverado represents the reverse of OCC’s typical themed creations; rather than designing a bike to fit a particular theme, we’ve built a truck to reflect the Teutuls’ contribution to the chopper, and the focus they’ve brought to the industry.”
The custom, chopper-inspired exterior design elements include a blend of billet aluminum and chrome accents – including CNC-carved flame designs in the grille and tailgate – chrome side pipes and a specially tailored “bigs-and-littles” wheel/tire combination. These elements combine with authentic Chevrolet styling cues, including custom fascias, smoothed bodywork and a raised power dome hood, to create an inspired, totally unique truck.
“The GM design team spent time at Orange County Choppers to understand their philosophy of design,” said Cafaro. “The Teutuls are agile and quick when it comes to implementing their design idea for a chopper and we approached this Silverado project with that same sense of acting upon inspiration.”
Lead designer Jeff Puppos, a muscle car owner and enthusiast, brought a unique approach to the project. Placing himself in the role of an OCC designer, he collaborated closely with OCC design chief Jason Pohl to capture many aspects of OCC’s design capability.
Text and photos courtesy of GM
