Pickup Truck Conversions Lift Regency's Business
By Peter Hubbard
If you plan on using your income tax refund to buy a new full-size pickup truck, you'll probably discover what many buyers already have — there isn't that much variety. The manufacturers typically offer some variation on the three standard models: "good, better and best."
But if you want a truck that comes standard with a lift kit, a custom grill guard, fender flares, a tuned exhaust, sport suspension, side steps and off-road wheels and tires, you'll have to take your new pickup to a truck accessory retailer to have the various components installed individually. And unless you have an excellent installer, some of the new gear may not fit well.
But Regency Conversions, based in Fort Worth, Texas, now offers six distinct full-size pickups with all the goodies. If the name Regency sounds familiar, it should. The named graced the flanks and backsides of one of the most popular conversion vans of the 1980s and '90s, but after selling the company in the mid-2000s to retire, Regency President Wayne Davis realized that pickup truck conversions and modifications could be the next big thing.
"Since the Regency name had been sold at that point, we secured a license to build special-edition Chevrolet and GMC trucks in 2009 using the Tuscany name," Davis said. "So we operate that side of the business as Tuscany Automotive. We reacquired the Regency brand in 2014." That side of the business is set up to do Ford and Ram trucks.
"We find that everyone who buys a new vehicle wants something just a little bit different than the standard models and equipment packages that come from the factory. So that's where we come in. We provide distinctive suspension and appearance packages that take trucks to the next level in terms of both looks and presentation — inside and out," Davis said. Some of the company's most popular models bear names like Black Ops, Baja, Recon, Badlander and Moab, a newly released model.
The Baja is the entry-level model, the Badlander is the midlevel offering, and the Recon is the highest trim model; the remaining models are designed for specific types of buyers — the Moab and Black Ops trucks are true off-roaders, with the latter exhibiting a slight "military" bent. The Concept One is crafted for luxury buyers.
Not surprisingly, the Black Ops model is the most popular option package the company offers. The company starts the conversion process underneath, and typically replaces factory suspension parts with the following:
- A Pro Comp 4- or 6-inch lift kit
- BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires
- Heavy-duty shocks
- 20-inch Black Ops wheels
- Custom brake caliper covers
- Powder-coated black step bars
- Stainless-steel exhaust tips
- Various exterior upgrades
Once these installations are complete, the company performs a front-end alignment and installs a Hypertech speedometer chip to recalibrate the odometer to compensate for the larger tires.
Additional changes to the exterior include color-keyed fender flares, billet grille inserts, powder-coated front and rear bumpers, a black "active" hood scoop and factory logos, a rear-bumper trim kit and tinted windows.
Changes to the interior include the removal of factory chrome and trim, which is replaced with carbon-fiber pieces plus custom seats with "Black Ops" patches embroidered into the headrests.
Similar types of upgrades are included on the five other models as well. All models are available with a choice of suspension lifts, depending on state laws governing the ride height of street legal trucks, said sales manager Nick Carter.
Prices for the four models at the retail level are set by individual dealerships and range from roughly $50,000 to $75,000 depending on the number of options included in the package. Packages typically add anywhere from $15,000 to $35,000 to the base price of the truck.
Carter explained that the company currently works with dealerships in 30 states. Given Regency's Texas base, Carter noted that about 75 percent of the models produced each month are sold in a five-state region that includes Texas and the bordering states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
For more information about the content of various packages or the names of Tuscany/Regency-affiliated dealers in your area, call Carter at 800-839-7551. Those interested may also visit the company's two websites, tuscanyautomotive.com and regencyconversions.com, for more information.
Manufacturer images
Comments
I see a lot of trucks with lift kits and 38" tires and they NEVER take them off-road and they slow down to a stop going over mild speed bumps or a high curb in parking lots.
Then its these same guys running monster tires that could never figure out why they get poor gas mileage.
Plus!
Half of the pickup drivers out there can't drive a pickup the way they have to go into the other lane to make wide turns and take 3 tries to get into a parking spot that you can park a semi truck into.
Also!
Many state laws have bumper laws.
Ugly,ugly,and ugly!
Most guys with lifts never even take them off road around here, so they spend money to make their trucks less on road capable. I equate to the same stupidity of putting black covers over your lights so they don't function as well.
I do think the inches of lift given would be for a live axle setup on both ends.
On half tons they must replace the control arms to get 4", similar to a Raptor.
If you give too much lift with IFS you'll not make a better off roader.
Other than that its good to see a business out there creating employment.
I wonder what their warranty is like or how it affects the manufacturers warranty?
Nothing new here. Rocky Ridge has been doing this same thing for years and will modify the engine to your specs also. All with factory warranty.
I call those compensater packages.
Pro Crap lifts, it's much cheaper to buy a stock truck and do all the modifications yourself. I can't believe people pay $50k+ for these "ugly" trucks, the styling is lackluster at best.
I've never had any issues at the dealership, my truck with a 7" lift with 37s and it is still "LEGAL" in accordance with my states lift laws (bumper height, headlight height, tail light height, etc) based on GVWR.
Now that's what I am talking about. All those trucks above look awesome. Big,rough,and tough. Ready to take on anything. Wonder if the Warranty is effected since they work with the dealers. Also wonder if the sensors in those custom bumpers still work for the air bags?
too many fugly generic motors trucks in these photos
My 2 cracked windshields were rejected under warranty cause I take my truck off-road and my truck has the appearance of being off -road with the mud and tree branches stuck in the frame.
So let me get this straight?
You can modify your truck to make it look like an off-road truck but you can't take it off-road to keep the warranty.
right?
These trucks are just for show
Tom#3 Like a delaer told me when we were walking by a lifted truck with dual carbs that had a blown head gasket, "The warranty is only as good as the dealership" as he was fixing it under warranty. We were walking to his car at the time as he was loaning me his car while my truck was getting a new tranny under warranty.
My 2 cracked windshields were rejected under warranty cause I take my truck off-road and my truck has the appearance of being off -road with the mud and tree branches stuck in the frame. Tom#3
Once again you show that you actually do not own a truck and make stuff up.
Cracked windshields are almost always related to debris strikes. Those aren't warranty. Just like paint or chrome damage from flying rocks/stones.
@Lou_BC,
So Lou, say if I bottom out my pickup on a rock and bend the tailshaft it's my fault!
Boy, life is getting tough;)
Big Al from Oz - if you cause damage to the vehicle beyond what is considered normal wear then yes.
I bent the drive shaft on my F250 once. I backed over a stump that I missed in the darkness and pouring rain. I had extended warranty but had to pay it out of pocket. No different than catching a stump with a bumper and bending the bumper. Trail damage isn't warranty. A bent frame due to normal use would be covered but not in the instance of those modified Raptor's hitting a tall square edged lip at 80-90 mph.
QUESTION. WONDERING IS IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE A 4 DOOR CREW CAB PICKUP AND EXTEND THE REAR SEAT AREA FOR MORE LEG ROOM AND MAYBE INSTALLING RECLINING SEATS FOR LIKE A SLEEP AREA FOR PASSENGERS. WHERE WOULD I GO TO SEE SUCH THINGS AND WHO CAN DO THIS. IT'S LIKE JUST STRETCHING THE CAB A COUPLE OR 3 FEET TO GET THIS DONE. ANY IDEAS. MANY THANKS.
Sounds to me like there's a lot of comments on this platform from people concerned about the cost of the truck and how idiotic it is to pay the price for this vehicle. Maybe the price is out of your reach so all you can do is insult the people who can afford the truck.
Got my Ford F-150 RECON last week. it is a great truck and they did a fantastic job converting it. 120,000 bumper to bumper warranty.
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