Off-road driving enthusiasts can reap the benefits of a cooperative vehicle-development effort between two long-time automotive aftermarket companies. The companies are Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, based in Decatur, Indiana, but with strong ties to the Detroit area, and Alabama-based Southern Comfort Automotive.
The benefit of their efforts — actually, of a reunion of sorts — is the Reaper, a specially modified 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup now available at select Chevrolet dealerships.
"We were working on a truck at Lingenfelter. We were out to build an off-road inspired truck, something to compete with the Ford Raptor," said Mike Copeland, vice president of operations at Lingenfelter, which is owned by Detroit-area resident Ken Lingenfelter. "We had the engine packages and suspension and were in the process of cutting tooling to make fender flares and other components."