Sport Class HardbodyJason Robinson started a business in his hometown of Tucson, Arizona, called Sport Class Customs. The company specializes in custom car audio, but as you can see, it's not just limited to that. After Jason bought this Nissan Hardbody from a friend, he and his crew immediately began to tear into it. Jason started by bolting on a set of Nissan 4x4 fenders and a Pathfinder hood. The guys then smoothed the body by shaving the door handles, factory mirrors, gas door, antenna, and hood squirters, and molding in a steel roll pan. After that, they decided to set the truck super low with the installation of an adjustable air suspension using 3/8-inch valves and VIAIR 450C compressors. To grab people's attention at the local shows, they wired up the Nissan's windows, sunroof, starter, and suspension to be fully operational via a Viper 550 alarm with the help of a DEI channel expander. The interior was completely wrapped with gray- and black-tweed flames, including the buckets seats. A custom fiberglass flame center console doubles as a cooler for a nice, cold six pack. The dash was also fiberglassed with flames flowing from the defrost vents. Custom-flamed speaker pods hold a pair of 6-3/4-inch Infinity separates powered by a Pioneer Premier CD head unit. The two MTX Blue Thunder 10-inch subwoofers behind the seats are powered by an MTX 502 amplifier. Jason's future plans for his Hardbody are to stop driving it every day so he can body drop it on 18s.
Big PlansChris Krchnavi Jr. from Palm, Pennsylvania, is only 16 years old, but has already become a dedicated mini-trucker. He bought this '91 S-10 Blazer in June 2003, immediately dropping it 4 inches in front and 5 inches in the back. Chris and his dad used a DJM suspension drop kit with drop spindles, drop coils, dropped leaf springs, and Toxic shocks for a superb ride. They also installed an Alpine head unit and two 10-inch Boston subs to rattle the super-low bass notes. At the moment, the truck rolls on 17-inch Eagle Alloy Boss rims with 265/45R17-series tires. The truck came stock with a factory 4.3L, but Chris has huge plans for his Blazer. He wants to weld in a steel roll pan, a license plate box frenched in the tailgate, and some Caddy taillights. Being the dedicated mini-trucker that he is, Chris also plans on notching the frame and airbagging the Blazer to lay flat on the pavement. A billet grille and a smooth front bumper are on order. In the end, Chris also wants to swap in a 350ci small-block with a Flowmaster exhaust and a 2-inch cowl-induction hood. We can't wait to see how this project turns out.
Taco' Supreme-OYou can catch Matt Neal rollin' hard in Mesquite, Texas, cruising this '95 Toyota Tacoma. Like most do, Matt got the ball rolling by lowering his truck with the usual suspension drop. After scrapping the undercarriage for a while, and wanting to drop the truck even lower, Matt decided it was time to go all the way and began purchasing the necessary parts to 'bag his ride. With 3/4-inch Parker valves, Slam Specialties airbags, two VIAIR 450C compressors, and two 7-gallon air tanks, he went to work. Once he was finished, the truck's frame laid flat, and he began the conquest of Texas road reflectors. Matt wanted to upgrade his wheel and tire combo, so a set of Rozzi 18-inch chrome Detention wheels enveloped in 35-series Nitto rubber was bolted on. Next, some exterior upgrades were made by adding a billet grille, a Sir Michaels roll pan, a SnugTop tonneau cover, a set of front clear corners, and euro taillights. Wanting to spice things up in the performance department, Matt added a full Gibson exhaust system, a Summit throttle body spacer, Bosch Platinum +4 spark plugs, and an Optima Yellow Top battery.
Editor's Note: Getting your truck into Ridin' Around is a snap - of the camera, that is. All it takes is a couple of good-quality photos of your ride that are in focus and well lit. Due to the volume of mail we receive, we regret that we cannot return photographs. Please shoot and send photos of your truck only (no people, pets, Polaroids, or printouts) to: Mini Truckin' Magazine, Ridin' Around, 774 S. Placentia Ave., Placentia, CA 92648. It is important that you include a detailed description of the modifications you have made to your truck, including any interesting stories behind it. This can include information about the buildup or any special history the truck has.