Mossie Mostert had one dream — a 1948 Studebaker Pickup. He found one still running, rough around the edges but full of promise. This was going to be his baby.
Unfortunately, his first two attempts at refurbishment turned into horror stories. Poor workmanship, shortcuts, and shady bodywork nearly crushed the dream. That’s when he found Willie and the team at SteelRoad Rods & Customs — and everything changed.
When it Rolled In…
The Studebaker arrived at SteelRoad in Nardo Grey and Orange, but the issues were far deeper than the paint. Cracks in the finish revealed a nightmare of filler — up to 45mm thick in places. Underneath? Rot. Rags. Chicken wire. Newspaper. What should’ve been metal was a mix of fiberglass patches and filler-over-filler jobs.
Eight guys couldn’t even lift the load box. When they finally got it off, it collapsed in a pile of rust. Unusable. Unrestorable. And totally unacceptable.
Time to Strip It Bare
SteelRoad took the Studebaker right back to metal. Sandblasting. Grinding. Two men, two weeks — just to uncover the truth under the filler. Even the fenders turned out to be buried treasure — the real steel ones hidden under fiberglass skins.
The original chassis? Rusted beyond salvation. So Willie did what he does best: built a brand-new frame from scratch and fitted it with a fully refurbed Jaguar XJ6 suspension setup.
Custom All the Way
Every panel of the new load box was hand-built — from the framework to the bead-rolled inner panels. The rear fenders were reshaped and widened by 3 inches. A late-night inspiration led to a custom tailgate latch that hides behind the number plate. Then came a steel rear diffuser, custom tail lights, and frenched headlights.
The roofline also got a subtle pie cut. Just one inch off the front gave the whole truck a sleeker silhouette — less “lift-off,” more “laid-back.”
Even the grill couldn’t be saved, so the team fabricated a new one from scratch. The result? Chrome perfection that set the tone for everything else up front.
Painted to Perfection
Mossie went with a bold choice: Candy Apple Red, with a twist. Willie laid down ten layers of clear coat to make that colour pop. The chassis was painted Candy Red too, while the suspension parts were finished in black. The contrast is killer.
Powertrain Done Right
The original 327 small block and TH350 auto were rebuilt and dressed to impress — painted in tan to match the interior. RS Performance handled the stainless valves and seats, while SteelRoad added a torque starter, custom fan shroud, and new cooling systems.
Dress-up includes Edelbrock valve covers, air cleaner, and intake, plus a BMW brake booster and polished aluminium radiator. A 63mm TIG-welded stainless exhaust system from CustomFab gives it that unmistakable V8 growl.
Interior: Classic, Clean, Custom
Originally planned in black, the interior was switched to rich tan leather to match the motor and contrast the Candy paint. AAW Upholsterers handled the seats, carpets, and headliner with OEM precision.
A tilt column, custom boss, XJ6 shifter, and hand-fabricated aluminium dash vents complete the cockpit. Even the underdash aircon unit was custom-integrated. This isn’t just a restored interior — it’s a tailored space built for real driving.
Rolling Strong
SteelRoad fitted a set of 22-inch black A-Line wheels, wrapped in 245s up front and 265s at the rear. With the custom arches and aggressive stance, this truck owns the road.
The Little Things Matter
SteelRoad’s signature details are everywhere:
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Flush-fit glued-in windscreens
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Laminated rubberwood deck with aluminium inserts
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Custom LED tail lights
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Matching door cards and dash finishes
This isn’t a build — it’s a statement.
Thanks to the Dream Team
Big shoutout to everyone who made this dream a reality:
AAW Upholsterers, CustomFab, Waynes World, Mountings for Africa, Jag Daimler, Jacksons Distribution, Greg’s Chroming, RS Performance, The V8 Shoppe, SIB, Edelbrock — and the friends and suppliers who brought it all together.
Final Verdict
From forgotten farm truck to full-blown custom showpiece, this ’48 Studebaker is now a jaw-dropper — built with precision, passion, and pure petrolhead madness.
Want your dream build done right?
SteelRoad Rods & Customs. No shortcuts. No filler. Just the real deal.
