OWNER: Mike "Pimpsky" Linsky
RIDE: '88 S-15 Jimmy
LOCATION: Sterling Heights, Michigan
Where do most minitruckers get their inspiration for a buildup? My inspiration came from growing up in the '80s in the suburbs of Los Angeles. Some guys will tell you they saw a neighbor with a mini and caught the bug. Well, Mike Linsky didn't just catch the bug, he got infected. So, when a friend was selling an already started project, Mike jumped all over it. In 1998, "Pimpsky"-as he's called by his friends-pulled the '88 S-15 Jimmy that he bought into the garage and started his project. What he didn't realize was that building an awesome truck was going to take a little longer than he thought, and it would require a little more work than he imagined.
Mike's inspirations came heavy from his dad. "Ol' man, Dan the Man, he's into all things custom," Mike said. "So, it's in my blood, too." Growing up among a bunch of different characters, Mike wasn't going to build just the usual. "I wanted something off center," Mike said. "I wanted it to be unique, different." The path he decided to go led him to Ron Finch, a man in his 60s.
"This guy's a custom bike builder," Mike said. "He's nearly 70, and he's still grinding and constantly active." After Mike did all the bodywork and prep, he had Ron paint the Jimmy in his unique style. "I pretty much gave him an idea of what I wanted, then from there he was on his own," Mike said. "He freehanded all the graphics-no stencils, nothing." Mike used tons of House of Kolor products on his ride, including some very exclusive and hard-to-get clearcoat.
There's so much custom on this hot rod-inspired mini it's ridiculous. Tons of work went into this Jimmy, including the hand-formed roof rack, suicide doors, and one-off cowl. Work was put in by friends and family members alike. "No detail was left out," Mike said. "We used all stainless hardware throughout." Mike pushed himself to the limits, and it's evident in the characteristics of his Jimmy. It wasn't until 2006 that the Jimmy saw the light of day. Along the way, Mike had help from tons of people.
"We were trying to get to a show and, at the last minute, we had tons of people come by and help," Mike said. "Even the inner fenders didn't go in till the last minute." This is the kind of build that reminds us of what family and friends are all about. Mike learned a lot from his build, and it was a bonding experience with his father. So, next time you're at a show in the Michigan area and you see this Blazer, make sure you stop by and appreciate a truly distinct build.