1996 Chevy S10 - Tito's Comeback

If you've been reading Mini Truckin' for a while, then the name Courtney Halowell should sound very familiar. He's not only one of the founders of Negative Camber, he was also an editor at Mini Truckin' for a few years. After building several old cars, bikes, and whatever he could get his hands on, Courtney fi- nally decided to build another minitruck. He decided to build this '96 Chevy S-10 to take to SEMA 2007. This wasn't an ordinary build, however. This was a build for a good cause.

When we asked Courtney why he decided to build this truck, he said: "Dianne Collins told me what happened to Geoff Stott and that there was this unfinished project he and his father were working on, and it made me cry. I mean, it really broke my heart. I remember what it was like building my first VW with my dad and how it gave us something to talk about-common ground, you know.

I was a teenager and at the age when most fathers and sons couldn't be further apart; me and my dad were actually working together on something! It was something special that not a lot of fathers and sons get to experience. And I couldn't imagine what it must have been like to walk past this half- finished truck every day and be reminded of the son I had lost.

Dianne doesn't know this, but I had tears running down my cheeks after we talked about Geoff, his father John, and his truck for the first time."

Once the truck was in the hands of Courtney, it only took him roughly two months to finish the truck. It was the kind of project that almost built itself, according to Courtney. Every time he put a tool down, somebody picked it up and left off where the last person did. Courtney had friends travel in from all over Southern California, and even the Southern U.S. to help with the truck.

"Once people knew the story behind the truck, they all wanted to lend a hand," exclaimed Courtney. He also told us that this truck couldn't have been built without the help of the entire crew at Devious Customs.

The truck was built in time for the Sema show, where it took home the GM Design Award. Courtney would like to thank everybody who was involved with this truck, because without them, it wouldn't have been possible. And he would like to dedicate the truck to the memory of Geoff Stott.

The Lowdown

Rolling Attire
Wheels (Front/Rear): 22x9.5-inches Akuza Spur
Backspace (Front/Rear): 6-inch backspace
Tires (Front/Rear): Yokohama Advan Sport 265/30 R22

Chassis Modifications
Suspension type: Unequal length control arms front, six-link rear
Front suspension: Devious Customs tubular control arms and heim-joint steering
Rear suspension: KP Komponents six-link
Airbag/cylinder type and size: (Front): Firestone 224 (Rear):Firestone 255
Control arms: Devious Customs tubular upper and lower
Spindles/springs: McGaughy's drop spindles
Shocks: Bilstein
Valves: Devious Customs 1/2 inch
Compressors: Two Viair 480C
Air line: 1/2 inch
Air accessories: Power window switches in custom center console
Frame mods: Step notch, notched fuel tank crossmember for driveshaft, Devious tranny crossmember, notched frame for control arm, and airbag clearance.
Gas tank: Devious Customs aluminum
Misc.: Hydro boost unit, and notched everything to get 22-inch wheels to fit up front.
Performed by: Courtney Halowell, Rusty Mixer, Jeff Davy, Moses, and Cody atDevious Customs
City/state: Riverside, California

Body Modifications
Shaved: Doors, gutters, third brake light, cowl, and tailgate and roll pan combo
Chopped: Um, no.
Sectioned: We are all too fat for that.
Front end: All LMC truck, updated to later-model S-10
Back end: CanDo one-piece skin and pan installed by Alex Anderson
Taillights: LMC Truck
Suicide doors: No, but new hinges from LMC Truck
Exterior bolt-ons: Smooth wiper cowl, cowl induction hood, projector headlights, chrome grille and front bumper, Euro taillightsBy LMC Truck
Misc.: Smooth sheetmetal inside of bed by Killer and Vance, PL8Mate air actuated license plate, and lots of help from LMC Truck
Performed by: Everybody who had an extra hour to devote to the project atDevious Customs. Rusty, Jeff, Moses, James O'Neal,Cody, and others.
City/state: Riverside, California

Paint
Brand and colors: PPG Cool Vanilla and Tank Green from Smitty'sAuto Paints in Hemet, California
Style: Chroma basecoat
Pinstriping: Tom McWeenie (TMac)
Airbrushing: Eric Jackson from Kolor Factor in Hemet, California
Misc.: Eric and Smitty's really went the extra mile for us to get this truck done for SEMA. We couldn't have done it without them.
Performed by: Eric Jackson of Kolor Factor
City/state: Hemet, California

Interior
Seats: '94 GMC Sonoma with headrests cut off
Material: Green leather and cream suede
Dash: Wrapped in cream suede
Door panels: Speaker build outs by James O'Neal
Center console: Custom built by James O'Neal
Flooring: Custom green carpet
Headliner: Cream suede
Gauges: LMC Truck
Misc.: Mike Sutton from LB Threads said: "Trust me," and the interior came out amazing.
Performed by: LB Threads
City/state: Long Beach, California

Stereo
Head unit: Alpine flip-out DVD
Mids and highs: Rockford Fosgate
Amplifier for mids and highs: Rockford Fosgate
Subwoofers: Rockford Fosgate 12-inch in bed
Amplifier for subwoofers: Rockford Fosgate
Wiring/accessories: Rockford Fosgate
Video: Alpine
Custom fabrication: Plexiglas speaker box in bed blows through back wall of cab, false wall on back of cab for amps, and custom center console.
Misc.: Kinetik batteries
Performed by: James O'Neal of Devious Customs
City/state: Riverside, California

Special Thanks By Owner:
Jeff and Danielle Davy, James O'Neal, Rusty Mixer, Cody, Moses, Chris Call, and everybody else from Devious Customs. Juan, Gil and Alfonso from Relaxed Atmosphere for their time. Everybody from NC back East (Squishy, Jamey, Duck, Angry Stewart, Pasqually, Rick, and Eric Easterby) who came out on their ownM dime to help resurrect this truck. Lance from Viair and the guys from Line-X. Rick from Street Beat for the hookup with Inalfa Sunroofs. Mike and Jennifer Sutton from LB Threads. Scotty Musser from Panther/Akuza Wheel. Ron, Troy and the crew at California Minitruck Dismantlers. The whole crew at LMC Truck. Smitty's Auto Paint of Hemet, CA. Eric Jackson at Kolor Factor for the badass paintjob. Zack & Captain from Rockford Fosgate and Gary Bell from Alpine Electornics. Brandt from Graphic Disorder for the last-minute rendering, and everybody who donated their time and parts to this project for a great kid, and the family and friends whom loved him so much.