Skip Miller has been modifying Chevrolets since he was a teenager. At 85 years old, he’s still doing it, and his latest creation suggests retirement isn’t particularly high on his list of priorities.
The car is a 1950 Chevrolet Fleetline transformed into a traditional-style custom with an LS engine, a modern chassis, and a collection of carefully selected pieces from other classic American cars. Miller handled the mechanical work and final assembly himself, while specialists took care of the body and interior.
Finishing it required considerably more patience than expected. Miller originally anticipated the project taking around a year and a half, but the Fleetline ultimately took nearly five years to complete.
The result earned a spot among the finalists for the Goodguys 2026 Custom of the Year award. Miller, meanwhile, told the Goodguys Rod and Custom YouTube channel that he has another 16 completed cars waiting for him at home.
A Fleetline With A Personal Connection
Miller’s attachment to 1950 Chevrolets stretches back nearly seven decades. His first car was a 1950 Chevy two-door sedan, which he customized between the ages of 16 and 19.
He eventually tried to locate that original car but couldn’t find it. Years later, after seeing a photograph of a customized Fleetline, he decided he needed to build another 1950 Chevy.
JS Custom in Estherville, Iowa, handled the bodywork, including chopping the roof approximately four and a half inches. The modification also required reshaping the Fleetline’s distinctive sloping trunk, while getting a windshield to fit proved troublesome enough that Miller says three pieces of glass were broken in the process.
Pieces From Several Classics Came Together
Traditional custom-car influences are everywhere. The front incorporates a 1949 Mercury grille opening, Mercury hood components, and 1955 Chevrolet headlight eyebrows, while the side trim takes inspiration from a 1955 Buick.
At the back are modified 1954 Mercury taillights and a 1955 Chevy bumper installed upside down. Inside, a 1959 Chevrolet dashboard sits alongside a modified Cadillac center console, with the cabin finished in brown and tan leather.
Miller also added electric windows, doors, and trunk operation along with air conditioning and cruise control. He wanted an old-school custom without giving up the conveniences expected from something much newer.
There’s An LS Underneath
Under the hood sits a 5.3-liter LS V8 with Holley hardware and old-school-style valve covers hiding the coil packs. A 4L60 automatic sends power to the rear wheels.
The Fleetline rides on an Art Morrison chassis and Wheelsmith wheels, with Miller responsible for installing the chassis and mechanical components before putting everything back together.
His enthusiasm for Chevrolet hasn’t faded, either. Miller describes himself as “Bow-tie till the day I die” and jokes that he gets a rash when there are too many Fords around. Considering he’s still wrenching at 85, the Fleetline probably won’t be his final project.