We owe a lot to 2000s show truck culture. Even if you’re not about skulls, pinups, and keggers, the style those pickups had remains undeniably influential. One of my favorite trends to sprout from that scene is the Cadillac Escalade front-end swap on Chevy and GMC trucks—that still slaps.
The mod was super popular throughout the ’00s, so much so that it maybe even got played out. It seems like every other truck that got a magazine feature in those days had that look. Fast forward to the 2020s, though, and it feels fresh again.
I’ve seen them pop up more lately, whether they’re on GMT900 half-tons from the turn of last decade or more modern Silverado and Sierra HDs. They’re flashy enough to make you look twice but still cohesive so they don’t look slapped together. In contemporary truck culture where so much is overdone and few builds stand out as special, it’s a relatively clean and simple attention-grabber.
While the 2021+ Escalade front end looks tough, I think the 2015-2020 design is best. I dig the way the top of the headlights follow the hood and fender lines. It’s arguably the best mix of class and cool, at least in terms of Caddy fascia swaps.
I don’t blame anyone for having their favorite, even if it’s different from mine. That speaks to the timelessness of the design if nothing else. You can mix and match model years, putting a newer Escalade front on an older truck or vice versa, and it’ll still look tight.
I’m not saying every GM truck should have this mod but it has stood the test of time and that’s not something you can say for many trends.
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