OWNER: Will Collins RIDE:...
OWNER: Will Collins
RIDE: '86 Nissan 720 standard cab
HOMETOWN: Charlotte, Florida
CLUB: Gulf Breeze Customs
Old-school mini-trucks are coming back to the show scene with a vengeance. The square bodies and limitless ideas custom enthusiasts have for making one-of-a-kind minis are bringing the old rides back to a current scene that is flooded with same-style pickups. Will Collins sold this truck back in 1993 and bought it back in 1999. The truck was worse off than when he first sold it, so he had to work on bringing it back to life, even though it now has more than 200,000 miles on it. The truck looks like it was never beat down and destroyed the way Will says it looked when he bought it back. Check out the lowdown section to learn about the mods performed on this mini.
The Low Down
Chassis/Suspension Replacing the stock torsion bar suspension is a pair of Chassis Tech 2-inch dropped spindles in the front with Firestone airbags. The rear uses a chromed triangulated four-link, a step notch, and another pair of Firestone airbags. Parker Valves and Gabriel shocks make for smooth adjustability. The suspension was installed by Williams Automotion in Englewood, Florida.
Wheels/Tires 16x7-inch Cadillac Escalade wheels with 205/40R16 tires in the front and rear.
Body Mods/Paint The body was treated to a host of mods. Some of them are subtle, but they make a big difference at shows. Will started by shaving the door handles, emblems, antenna, mirrors, squirters, and wipers. He removed the gas door, taillights, and tailgate and smoothed out the bed. The front end uses a custom-molded Toyota bumper below a set of '86 Nissan Maxima headlights covered by a Trenz Phantom grille, and '78 Ford E-150 van taillights were added to a roll pan. Topping the bed is a fiberglass flush-mounted tonneau cover. PPG Super Sonic Blue Pearl was sprayed over the surface along with Pearl tribal graphics at Williams Automotion.
Interior Gold Coast Upholstery in Port Charlotte, Florida, re-wrapped the bucket seats, door, and hand-built center console in dark oatmeal tweed. A Grant steering wheel, dash cover, and carpet kit were also needed to spruce up the more than 15-year-old interior.
Engine A motor with 202,000 miles should not look like this one, but it has been detailed with some paint and chrome to keep it looking shiny and new. Williams Automotion had the driveshaft extended, and Will sent out the gas tank brackets to be chromed.
Special Thanks To my wife and Williams Automotion!