Top show vehicles these days of any kind are rarely built entirely by the owners.
To have the dream of building your dream truck and being able to do it yourself are unfortunately not within the means of most of us, myself included.
Even when you farm out all the fabricating, engine work and paint it can take years to finish, that is unless you are paying top dollar and are willing to put out 100K or more.

Larry Hill started off with a good solid project panel just wanting to build a nice one. Somewhere along the way the project took a turn to show truck. This is one of the better documented restoration projects I have seen. There are an absolute ton of pictures here but to take any away takes away from the story.

If you do get a chance to FLOORED at a show be sure to search out Larry and Pam, you will not meet a nicer couple and that's not only me who says this. I got that from a Truckin' Magazine writer out of California too who shoots hundreds of features a year.

Here's Larry's story on FLOORED:

The project was brought home in 1999. I decided to build a panel truck so there would be room for my family to go to cruises and car shows. I'm not exactly sure how it got out of hand but I do not regret it when I look back at how much fun we have had since it has been done.
The one main criteria I had for this project was to make it a street sweeper. After boxing the frame front to back I c-notched the rear, welded in the Mustang II using 2" drop spindles and with the help of Ron Chaisson hand built the rear triangulated four bar and all the air bag mounts. The panel had little floor in it when it came home so raising the body mounts 2" to get the channel was a no brainer. After getting the stance I wanted I proceeded with motor and tranny mounts, air compressor and tank mounts, hand made exhaust, and hand made fuel tank. While the chassis was being prepped for paint by my good friend Rick Elder, I was busy with door modifications, bumper and the search was also on for donor seats. The front seats where from a Dodge Caravan and staying with the mini van theme the removable rear seat was from a Ford Aerostar. The body went to Gravenhurst, after Ken Crawford finished the floor construction and some other metal work, it was Jack Hof's turn to prep the body old school, using lead, to ready it for paint. We brought it home for one more trial fit, this usually took about ten good friends to lift the body onto the chassis. After fitting body to frame, front clip and all sheet metal, Rick Elder proceeded to final prep the huge tank like shell for paint. Rod Barkey had already recovered the seats and was patiently waiting to complete the interior. We had at this point decided to enter the truck in Performance World in March so that left us about a month to get the truck built. Rick sprayed the body and on February 14, 2004 we delivered a painted body to Barkey Upholstery that night at 9:00 pm. Still no front sheet metal. Rod let me use his shop for final assembly while he worked on the interior. Rick would deliver us painted parts every day and I'd bolt them on right away. After about 2 1/2 weeks the truck was bolted together. I took the truck to my shop and did final set up for the show including making the display needer at the show. We made it to the show and bolted on the last piece there. We went to the awards on the Sunday afternoon and where completely shocked to receive 9 awards. We could not have been happier to receive such recognition for all the hard work that was put into the truck by us and our friends. We owe a lot to our friends old and new because without out a lot of help this dream would not have happened as it did. Friends like Ron Chaisson, Rick Elder, Al Carnes, Rod Barkey Ken Crawford, Tim the Taper, Rob Bromley, Ryan Hill (son), Ted Hill, and especially my wife and daughter(Kendyl) for putting up with the long hours away from home for five years. But we need to mention our good friend and co-worker John Cunningham who by working the business by himself at times to allow me the time for the build.
This is a list of some of the modifications: 302 Ford Racing Crate Engine
Ford AOD Tranny
8.8 Lincoln Rear End With Disc Brakes
Mustang II Front Crossmember
MSD Ignition
Shaved Everything
2" Body Drop
Power One Piece Side Glass
Gull Wing Rear Door
Boxed Frame
304 Stainless Mandrel Bent Exhaust
Magna Flow Mufflers
Custom Cut Front Bumper
Hyundai Bell Flower Paint
Air-Ride Suspension
Smoothed Firewall
Modified Stock Inner Fenders
2" Extension On Dash With Dakota Digitals

The shows we attended this past year include Performance World (9 Custom Awards), F100 Supernational ( Final Four), Good Guys Columbus ( Coolest 50's), Goodguys Rhinebeck (Preacher's Pick), London Truck Nationals (Best of Show), Ford and Mercury Nationals ( Best Ford), Gravenhurst Antique and Classic Car Show (Best of Show). We went to many great shows this past year and met allot of new friends and people with the same interests as us.
This year we plan to return to a few of these shows and we are attending a few new ones to us. Hopefully, if you see us this summer you will stop and say HI.