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Crafting the Flatbed Oldsmobile Bravada Work Truck Required 500 Hours of Labor. Atestimony to the Extensive Work Involved.

Meticulous craftsmanship exceeds factory standards at GM, as this project exhibits an unprecedented level of cleanliness.

Stunningly intricate craftsmanship has gone into this passionate project. I doubt even General...
Stunningly intricate craftsmanship has gone into this passionate project. I doubt even General Motors, with its factory-built products, could have produced something as spotless as this.

Crafting the Flatbed Oldsmobile Bravada Work Truck Required 500 Hours of Labor. Atestimony to the Extensive Work Involved.

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The redesigned Oldsmobile Bravada was based on the Chevy S10 platform, but it was never a pickup. Instead, it was a rebranded Blazer with a swankier interior. But if you take a look at this sturdy build by First Choice Fabrication in Colorado, you'd think it came directly from the factory. Every detail is meticulously crafted, from the single cab redesign to the perfectly flat steel bed and reinforced front bumper.

Of course, all that work doesn't come cheap. Owner Loren Byers shares that it was a personal project with no budget, and the custom skirting for the flatbed alone costs $10,000. There are so many thoughtful details it's hard to estimate the total cost, but the Oldsmobile emblem on the headache rack and the branded mud flaps are definite standouts.

You might wonder why Byers didn't start with a standard S10 pickup instead. "I hadn't planned on building it when I bought it," Byers revealed during a phone call. "I bought it as a paperweight to park outside my garage door at night for safety. I drove it all the way home at 80 mph, and it had 105,000 miles on it. The only problem was a smashed-in back end."

To fix the broken back end, Byers decided to seal up the gap and use the SUV as a door blocker. However, that project soon turned into a single cab conversion, then a truck, and eventually an elaborate rebuild that spiraled out of control.

The truck's functionality has been enhanced in several ways, from smart storage solutions to extra tie-downs on the bed. The auxiliary LEDs make night repairs easier, and the tow hooks would surely prove useful for pulling out stuck equipment.

The truck still runs on a 4.3L V6, but it's on its last leg, as Byers revealed it recently broke down after 800 miles of driving post-build. The plan is to replace it with a 5.3L V8 next month. That should give those new BFGoodrich all-terrain tires a serious workout.

This truck primarily gets used for runs to the steel yard and powder-coat shop. Given its drop-in metal rack running from the front bumper to the back of the bed, Byers can carry long materials without a trailer. Overall, everything on this Bravada pickup was designed and built with a purpose.

If only all trucks were built with such intentionality.

Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@our website

Note: While there is no official record of an Oldsmobile Bravada pickup built by First Choice Fabrication, custom Bravada pickups are known to exist in enthusiast circles as rebuilt and modified projects.

In the realm of custom auto builds, the Oldsmobile Bravada by First Choice Fabrication showcases a blend of industry and finance, with a hefty investment required to create such a masterpiece. On the sports front, this bespoke SUV-turned-pickup is now equipped with BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, promising an exhilarating ride on the off-road terrain.

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