This incredible four-wheel-drive 1939 Chevy rat rod was a multi-year project designed and assembled by Tony Salokas of Sandyston, New Jersey, and his father, Anthony. The result is a fire-breathing, ultra-unique machine that forces your eyes to engage in optical calisthenics as they dart around, taking in all of the rig’s custom features.
Combination Of Parts From Across The U.S.
The story behind the truck began in 2016. Tony says, “Back then, there were not many rat rods around. The project kind of fell into our lap. The frame and cab were sitting in the weeds at a friend’s house. I picked them up and told my dad we were going to build something out of them. After kicking around a few ideas and mockups, we ended up with what you see.”
Although this was their first rat rod, the father-son team was already well versed in building wild custom vehicles. One of their previous creations was a four-door truck with suicide doors, a compound-turbo 12-valve Cummins, and air ride suspension.
For the Chevy, the pair gathered components from a variety of donor vehicles sourced from across the United States.
700 Horsepower, 1,200 Pound-Feet Of Torque
Under the vintage hood sits a 12-valve Cummins sourced from a Facebook Marketplace seller in Connecticut. The engine ultimately needed a complete rebuild, so it was sent to Miller’s Machine Shop in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania. The freshened diesel packs a side-draft intake, Forced Inductions 472 turbo, Steed Speed intake manifold, Haley Speed Innovations 5x.016 injectors, Farrell Diesel Service 160-horsepower injection pump, 188/220 Industrial camshaft, Power Driven Diesel mechanical pump, and an air-to-water intercooler. Exhaust exits through 4-inch-diameter flex-joint tubing and a vertical stack, while a Wizard Cooling radiator with dual 16-inch-diameter brushless fans keeps engine and transmission temperatures under control.
The result is a tire-shredding 700 horsepower and 1,200 pound-feet of torque.
Super Duty Transmission And T-Case
Backing the Cummins is a Ford Super Duty-sourced 4R100 four-speed automatic transmission built to Stage 4 specifications by Sam Wyse. It rides on a custom crossmember fabricated from a Toyota hitch receiver. From there, power flows through a Super Duty-sourced NP273 transfer case.
Both axles came from a 2006 Ford Super Duty. A Dana 60 resides up front, while a 10.25-inch axle puts the power to the ground in the back. Both are equipped with 3.73:1 gears, and the rear differential houses an Eaton Detroit Truetrac. The Chevy also borrows several other Super Duty components, including the sway bar, track bar, and steering box.
1949 Ford F6 Chassis, Link Suspension With Coilovers
The truck’s frame started life under a 1949 Ford F6, but little of it remains untouched. It now features extensive Z- and C-notch modifications, along with a three-link front suspension and four-link rear suspension. Phil Buonforte fabricated the front control arms from 2-inch-diameter, 0.250-inch-wall DOM tubing, which bolt to custom mounts built by Tony. Fox 2.5 remote-reservoir coilover shocks handle suspension duties up front.
The rear suspension includes a Panhard bar and QA1 coilovers. Every link is built from the same heavy-duty DOM tubing as the front control arms, and all pivot on stout 1.250-inch Heim joints.
The aggressive stance comes from 12-inch-wide Cali Off-Road Summit wheels wrapped in 305/45R22 Nitto Recon Grappler tires.
1939 Cab, 1940 Bed
The truck’s body is a blend of parts from multiple vehicles, anchored by a 1939 cab. Tony says, “We located this cab on a complete chassis in North Dakota. We spoke to the owner, and he had a 1940 bed sitting around.” He adds, “All of the cracks, old brazing, and bubble gum welds stayed with the truck as part of its history of farmer repairs back in the day. That’s the cool stuff we like to see and keep as much as possible.”
The bed was shortened 16 inches. Although Tony and his dad tried numerous rear fender styles, they did not like the look of any of them, so they left it as it is.
Unique Mods Galore
The truck is packed with clever details, including a rototiller trench-depth handle repurposed as a cup holder, road signs used as floor coverings, and removable brass knuckles that double as the handle for the modified Super Duty-sourced parking brake system.
The creativity continues with Super Duty King Ranch saddle bags converted into door panels, power-heated seats, a bottle opener mounted to the spare tire carrier, a combination of Auto Meter and Omega gauges, and an ididit tilt steering column. John Kessler crafted the wood bed floor, while LMC Truck supplied the metal bed strips. Then there are the subtle details, like the passenger-side saw blade mounted to the inside bed wall, creating the illusion that it is slicing through the wood floor.
Not A Trailer Queen
Here’s a fun fact: This truck is not a trailered-everywhere showpiece. In fact, when we met Tony and his rig at the 2026 Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals, he told us that he has driven it more than 15,000 miles since its completion. That’s about as rad as the truck itself.
Photos by Ken Brubaker and Tony Salokas
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