Imagine yourself walking through a parking lot with a beautiful woman you've just met and spotting a stylish mini laying hard on the asphalt. You stop to check it out, admiring the craftsmanship and the way the paint gleams in the sun. You drool over its custom wheels, slammed stance, and trick interior. You walk all the way around it so that you can absorb it all. When you finally come to your senses and remember to acknowledge that you are with a woman, you are hit with the most amazing fact of all: She owns that awesome mini. Not only that, but she also played a major part in its buildup.
By now, your head is spinning because you can hardly believe that she worked on the body, helped weld up the suspension, and crafted the interior. You instantly fall in love with the girl of your dreams; someone you can talk shop with, go to runs with, and build trucks together. Just as quickly as you fell in love, you awaken to the harsh realization that this is in fact a dream and that there aren't too many women like this one.
Sheila Bratton of Chesterfield, Virginia, is one of the rare few women in our sport who truly lives the mini-trucker's lifestyle. She builds, drives, and shows minis just like the rest of the guys. Her '93 Ford Ranger Splash is a prime example of the effort and style that women can contribute to any project vehicle. For the lowdown on Sheila's ride, check out the spec box below.
The Lowdown
Suspension
Sheila 'bagged her Ranger front and rear with help from Slam-N-Kustoms of Chesterfield, Virginia. The front suspension was made adjustable using Belltech I-beams and Firestone 26C airbags, while the rear was treated to another pair of bags. Belltech Nitro drop shocks are used on all four corners to smooth out the ride. Filling the bags with air are two compressors, a pair of 5-gallon air tanks, electric solenoid valves with 3/8-inch air line, and Noshok gauges.
Wheels/tires
17x8-inch Niche Runners are stuffed inside of 235/45ZR17 Kelly tires. Interior Barbara Dushvanack, with help from Sheila, customized the interior and the bed using violet tweed. She also added purple-colored racing seatbelts. The steering wheel came from Customs Unlimited. The cab, the bed, the engine compartment, and the undercarriage were all dressed up with purple neon tubes for nighttime cruising.
Audio/video
Slam-N-Kustoms continued the interior upgrades by scrapping the stock audio system in favor of a system worthy of the Ranger's new status. A Kenwood KDC-8009 monitor/CD player provides visually entertaining musical reproduction; a Clarion CD changer adds longevity to party inside the cab of Sheila's Splash.
Paint/graphics
J.R. Bratton sprayed the beautiful Sikkens Violet paint that adorns this Splash. Body mods Slam-N-Kustoms also provided the know-how and skills it took to extensively shave Sheila's mini. Missing items include the door handles and locks, the antenna, the third brake light, the stepside bed plates, the gas filler door, the body lines, and the stock emblems. The shop also smoothed the front bumper, frenched in a license plate box, and added a roll pan with Toyota Supra taillights. While the truck was in the shop, the back window was replaced with a Lexan unit, complete with a recessed license plate box.
Engine
Dress-up items include purple wire loom and yellow pearl-painted accents. Owner's quote "I built this truck to show everyone that guys aren't the only ones building cool rides. I also want to thank everyone at Slam-N-Kustoms. Without them, this truck would not exist."