Del Uschenko’s path to Prescott has been an interesting one. The 53-year-old now runs Delmo 4X4, a company that specializes in customizing classic American pickup trucks from the 1950s and ’60s with modern performance gear while maintaining their vintage style. Imagine cruising in a fully restored 1959 Chevy Apache four-wheel drive truck, powered by a 525-horsepower engine that can outpace a roadrunner – one of Uschenko’s latest builds.
Early Days and Influences
Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Uschenko eventually moved his hot rod shop 1,200 miles south to sunny California in 2009 with his wife, Ola. “It snows for seven months of the year, so having a nice car there is a bummer,” he explained, citing the reason for their move. The decision proved fruitful as Ola secured a nursing job at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, while Del went to work at Hollywood Hot Rods in Burbank.
Finding His Niche
Uschenko’s big break came when he rebuilt a 1965 Chevy C-10 pickup, lowering it while keeping its faded-paint patina and adding larger diameter stock wheels with 10-inch ‘dog dish’ hubcaps. “Things blew up from there,” he recalled. “From then on, I was kind of considered a truck guy. It was busy, new, and fresh.” By 2013, Hot Rod Magazine noted that his unique style of customizing trucks was ‘attracting a lot of fans.’
Moving to Prescott
After scouting various locations – finding Austin ‘too humid, too busy,’ Colorado ‘too wintry,’ and Phoenix ‘too hot’ – the Uschenkos settled on Prescott. “We went to Whiskey Row, had some drinks, stayed at the St. Michael’s Hotel, and fell in love with the town in one weekend. It was that easy. In five weeks, we had a house,” Uschenko reminisced about their decision to move.
Current Projects and Philosophy
Now working from home with three employees, Uschenko’s team works on a handful of vintage trucks at a time. Their current projects include two Ford 4WD pickups from 1967 and 1969, a 1967 Chevy C-10 low rider, a shortened 1971 4WD Chevy Suburban, and a 1971 Chevy K5 Blazer. Clients can either choose from Uschenko’s yard full of trucks or bring in their heirloom vehicles for restoration. “We decide on a body style and a paint color, and I take it from there,” he explained, sticking primarily to factory colors.
Modern Upgrades for Vintage Trucks
The restored trucks boast modern upgrades such as a General Motors LS3 engine (with options for 525 horsepower or a super-charged variant with up to 1,200 horsepower), fuel injection, overdrive, adjustable suspension, 13-inch disc brakes, air conditioning, big stereos, backup cameras, and power side steps. “We don’t overload the truck with new technology,” Uschenko emphasized. “It’s in there, it works, but you can’t really spot it.”
The Flagship Truck
One of Uschenko’s prized builds is the 1959 Chevy Apache, dubbed his ‘flagship truck.’ Priced at $480,000, this restoration masterpiece combines vintage charm with modern performance. “It’s so much fun to drive,” Uschenko said. “Unfortunately, it’s almost too nice to take off-road, but it has the capability to do anything you want.” The Apache, while not a daily driver, represents the perfect blend of classic appeal and modern capability.
Market and Future Plans
Prices for Uschenko’s restored trucks start at $385,000, though six-figure prices are not unusual for sought-after classic trucks. Looking ahead, Delmo 4×4 plans to work on a 1968 Bronco and restore some crew cab trucks. Uschenko sums up their approach: “We want to keep our menu simple, just like In-N-Out Burger. You can have this and this and this.”
