It was back in 2011, I believe, that my cranky old buddy John Jackson first (photographically) introduced me to Jason Graham Hot Rods with not one but three of Graham’s uniquely styled early Ford hot rods—which ultimately landed themselves on the cover of Rod & Custom magazine (RIP). Not long after (2017), I had the pleasure of editorializing the stunning “Sexy Blonde” 1940 Merc custom in Street Rodder (RIP), but following those initial builds, I watched as Graham’s style began to progress—especially as he started messing with classic trucks during that same time period.
I believe it was Todd Williams’ 1961 Ford Unibody (now owned by Kent Matranga and also another of Graham’s cover-quality achievements) that really caught my attention and showed what real versatility Graham possessed. More classic commercial customs would follow—handful of Chevys and Fords—but it wouldn’t be until this past year that our magazine paths would cross once again … and of course, thanks to Mr. Jackson!
It was actually back in 2018 that Mark Fuqua (a previous customer of Graham’s) had begun his specific search for a 1957 Chevy pickup. Why a ’57? Well, according to Mark himself: “… I was born in 1957, and I wanted something special from that year!” Apparently, the “special” factor turned out to be a deluxe Cameo model, unfortunately, the Pro Street example Mark ended up acquiring wasn’t quite up to any special standards of his.
This, obviously, is where Jason Graham’s skills and visions factor into the story, and by 2020 he’d taken on Mark’s special project. First order of business was to de-sweet-meat the truck (i.e., convert from Pro Street to street cruiser) with a Roadster Shop Fast Track 1955-59 chassis (Baer brakes, RS SV Fox coilovers, 9-inch, and so on), ultimately hot rod stanced (not to mention fitted with a belly pan) with 19- and 22-inch Schott Split Windows and powered by an LT5 (custom shrouded in one of the cleanest Task Force engine bays I’ve ever seen) with a Bowler 4L80E.
Outside is where the Graham influence really starts to take shape … literally. From front (flipped, snug-fitted, smoothed bumper, and handmade floating grille insert) to back (reshaped gate, exhaust ports frenched into bumper), Graham massaged the entire Cameo, blending factory lines—and even creating some new ones (such as the pillar alignment with the roof chop)—to create a truly one-of-a-kind custom Chevy. With all said and done, Graham’s better half, Tasha, coated the Cameo flawlessly in a Pearl White Glasurit finish.
Finally, before Mark could once and for all take possession of his birth-year makeover, Jason Graham Hot Rods wrapped up the Cameo’s interior, which included satin metallic gray on the hard surfaces while John Miller handled the complementing leather soft surfaces—including a custom dash cover. Amenity wise, Dakota Digital gauges were added along with a Vintage Air climate-control system, Flaming River tilt column with reduced-diameter Bel Air wheel, and a Lokar shifter.
In 2024, Mark’s 1957 Cameo hit the show circuit, earning its due recognition along the way before my good old cranky pal was able to sneak the Cameo behind the hallowed walls of Advanced Plating for these accompanying pics!
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
