| 
Jon
Moss Signature Series RST
By: Mike Magda,
Editor
 Posted: 01-02-06
23:01 PT
© 2006 PickupTruck.com
Page: [1]
[2]
Few people
outside the performance automotive industry have heard of Jon A. Moss.
So it’s a bit of a curiosity why a leading conversion company would
launch a special pickup named for him. Those in the know, however, not
only believe it’s a well-deserved honor but will have confidence
that the vehicle is worthy of a truck enthusiast’s attention.
The Jon Moss
Signature Series RST will make its formal debut at the Barrett-Jackson
classic car auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, in January. Regency Conversions
has already delivered a few trucks to Chevy dealers eager to start offering
a classically themed, affordable performance pickup. Company officials
hope to have 100 trucks built by mid-February.
The Moss
signature truck is an extension of the Regency RST series of pickups that
are available through Chevrolet and GMC dealers.
Two years
ago, Regency worked with designer Chip Foose and Moss to develop a performance
package for GM pickups. Foose’s main contributions were the front
and rear spoilers and the wheels while Moss focused on the performance
enhancements.
Goals for
the RST included low cost, improved handling and retro styling cues. As
a way to continue the sales momentum and salute Moss, the 2006 RST evolved
into the Jon Moss Signature Series with a single classic Chevy musclecar
as the sole inspiration.
“It’s
dedicated to the ’69 Camaro Indy Pace Car,” Moss quickly sums
up.
The orange
racing stripes on a white body are the first clues to the classic Camaro
connection. The exterior is also enhanced with Foose-designed chromed
alloy 20-inch wheels and P265/50-20 Goodyear Eagle RS-A performance tires.
Other features include chromed door handles, billet aluminum grille and
spoiler insert, color-keyed mirrors, tailgate spoiler and rear roll pan
with molded exhaust opening.
All Moss
signature trucks start out as basic Silverado regular cab with 4.8-liter
V8 engine and a 5-speed manual transmission.
The trucks
are shipped to Regency’s 250,000-square-foot facility in Fort Worth,
Texas. Regency can option power windows/lock, tilt steering, cruise control
and an AM/FM/CD radio. Regency prefers the manual to emphasize the musclecar
theme and keep the price low, however it’s offered only with the
4.8-liter engine. A 5.3-liter V8 with an automatic is available but adds
almost $2,000 to the price tag. Once Regency finishes the conversion,
the truck is shipped to the dealer.
Base-level
work trucks come from GM with a 40/20/40 vinyl bench seat that has inboard
seat belts, preventing Regency from swapping in bucket seats. So the Regency
craftsmen reform the bench seat, add armrests and skin it in leather and
‘69 Camaro SS houndstooth-fabric. The steering wheel, passenger
grab bar and door panels also get the leather treatment with baseball
stitching.
Other interior
features include black carpet, tinted windows, carbon-fiber-style dash
trim, Camaro-like foot-pedal pads and a custom Hurst-style chromed shifter
anchored with a leather boot.
The instrument panel faceplate is made from stainless steel and sets
off the red illuminated gauges and needles. Moss personally signs each
faceplate before installation.
So who is
Jon Moss?
An imposing figure at 6-foot-7, Moss has had a hand in just about every
cool vehicle to come out of General Motors in the past 20 years. His official
title revolved around the special vehicle department, first at Chevy then
for all of GM. But most enthusiasts know him as the celebrity boss of
the “Toy Box” or just “Dr. Frankenstein.”
Page: [1]
[2]
|
