1993 Chevrolet C1500 – Michael (Mikey) lll.

Some vehicles are bought. Others are built. And a rare few are passed down—shaped over time by family, effort and a shared sense of purpose. For the Perniciaro family, “The Beast” is all three.

The story begins with inspiration. In October of 2023, after attending Cruisin’ the Coast in Mississippi, Michael “Mikey” Perniciaro, III came home with more than just an appreciation for classic cars—he had a clear vision. At not quite 15 years old, he decided his first vehicle wouldn’t come from a dealership. He wanted to rebuild an “old” truck with those close to him.

That vision was rooted in family history. Mikey’s grandfather owned and operated Mike Perniciaro Auto & Wrecker Service for years, a business started by Mikey’s great-grandfather, Nuncy Perniciaro. Mikey’s dad, Michael Jr., grew up working in that shop every summer and during school breaks, starting even younger than Mikey is now. Though Mike Sr. has since retired, the shop remains a place where knowledge, work ethic and tradition live on—a gathering place where friends stop by, lend a hand, share stories (and beer), and help one another whenever needed. It’s more than a garage; it’s part workshop, part meeting place, part sanctuary—and it’s where this project came together.

Mikey’s first attempt was an ’89 GMC 4×4 stepside. It looked promising at first, but reality told a different story. The truck had been completely submerged during Hurricane Katrina and the damage went far beyond what made sense to repair. Still, it wasn’t a loss. In addition to patience and how to pivot when plans hit a snag, Mikey learned a dying art that most true drivers will appreciate—how to drive a manual transmission.

Next came the real beginning.

The focus shifted to a 1993 Chevy Cheyenne. This time, the foundation was solid and the work began in earnest. This was a truck already deeply tied to the Perniciaro family. It had been driven by Michael Jr., his father Mike Sr., and his uncle Martin Perniciaro. When it first came into the possession of the Perniciaros, a Milwaukee’s Best sticker sat proudly on the back windshield (in addition to a “Perniciaro Racing” sticker). Somewhere along the way, the nickname stuck: “The Beast.”

What followed was more than a rebuild—it was a true multi-generational effort. Mikey worked side by side with his dad, his grandfather, his Uncle Martin and family friend Tompy “Pork Chop” Lawler to bring The Beast back to life.

They started with the essentials—replacing the steering column, gas tank, transmission filter, brakes and brake lines and installing new belts, spark plugs, distributor, and ignition wires to make the truck safe and roadworthy. As part of the refresh, new door and window seals, trim, door panels and hardware (inside and out) were installed, along with new seatbelts and a new front windshield.

From there, the project took on personality. The brake calipers were painted red for a subtle accent, the frame was painted and the air cleaner was modified to give it a more aggressive, hot-rod feel. The interior was completely stripped down and the floor pan was coated with POR-15 for long-term protection. A custom seat cover was installed and the flooring was redone with new heat and sound-deadening insulation and vinyl.

The cab was fully updated with a new headliner, a new dash and dash accessories—primarily sourced from LMC, with the remainder scavenged from trucks at the shop—along with a new heater core, a new A/C compressor and a new blower to modernize comfort. A RetroSound radio paired with Pioneer speakers brought updated sound into the cab without losing the truck’s original character.

When it came to bodywork, Pork-Chop stepped in with experience and precision. The original hood required more work than it was worth, so they replaced it using one of several C-1500s Mike Sr. had at the shop. They opted against reinstalling all the original trim and decals, instead keeping it clean with only the Cheyenne badges behind the doors. A new bowtie badge, new front and rear bumpers, a new grill, new lamps all around, new sport package door mirrors and a bed cover completed the exterior transformation.

Once everything was sanded, primed and lined up just right, Pork-Chop sprayed the truck in a clean, hot rod black—simple, bold, and exactly fitting for The Beast. The stance was dialed in with a 2-inch drop in the rear, and 20″ staggered American Racing rims, paired with new tires, gave it the finishing touch.

While a copy of the original Milwaukee’s Best sticker could not be located, to honor its history, Uncle Martin had a new “Perniciaro Racing” sticker made and placed in the same spot it had once occupied—a small but meaningful detail that tied the truck’s past to its present.

Less than five months after Mikey’s 16th birthday, in May of 2025, The Beast was complete.

But like any true project vehicle, it’s never really finished.

True to form, the future is already in motion. Waiting for its turn is a Chevy 396 engine that Mikey plans to rebuild himself—taking the next step in a journey that began with a spark of inspiration at a car show in South Mississippi.

The Beast is more than just a truck. It’s a rolling story of three generations—Mike Sr., Michael Jr., and Mikey—each leaving their imprint. It represents long days and nights in the shop, lessons passed down without words, and the kind of pride that only comes from building something together.

For Mikey, it’s not just his first vehicle.

It’s a legacy—one he helped bring back to life.