OWNER: Richard Colt Flowers
RIDE: '97 Nissan Hardbody
LOCATION: New Johnsonville, TN
Colt Flowers comes from a family of automotive enthusiasts. His father has been painting cars for years and bought Colt an airbrush when he was in the fifth grade. Colt began to play and before long, began earning money from his talents. Colt's Customs soon formed, with custom graphics one of his specialties. Colt specializes in Harleys, and traveling to other body shops that need his talents.
The process began typically enough with new wheels, but one thing quickly led to another. Once winter set in last year in New Johnsonville, Tennessee, Colt decided to go all out and create his dream truck. The process began by removing the body, cutting the frame in half, and rebuilding the rear section with an 8-inch C-notch and four-link. The front A-arms were angled to allow the truck to get even lower, teamed up with 3-inch Belltech dropped spindles. Slam Specialty airbags and Toxic Shocks were installed on all four corners. Blitzluft 1/2-inch valves, compressor, and 1/2-inch stainless lines, along with switches on the console, completed the air suspension system. Colt started the colorful paint job with the frame, spraying it before it was reinstalled.
Originally, the truck was going to be a simple two-tone paint job with orange and silver. However, when you are as talented as Flowers, projects have a way of getting more intricate. After the initial coat of orange was sprayed, he came back the next day and realized that a simple, conservative paint job was not going to get it done. Colt spent about 80 hours on the elaborate paint, with lots of taping and airbrushing involved. House of Kolor Passion Pearl, Ultra Orange Pearl, and Limetime Pearl accents are just a few of the 26 colors in the paint job. "This is a mini-truck. It has to be crazy," he told us.
His fifth truck (and the best) took about seven months of part-time work to build. Future plans include taking it apart again this winter and doing a stock floor body drop, bringing it down another three inches. Colt may also play a little more with the paint job, coming up with an entirely new scheme.
How is the truck to live with? "It's never boring," Colt told us. "Especially when you stop at a gas station. The crowds get thick." The truck has also been a great asset to the business, with people taking one look at the truck and immediately knowing that they're in capable hands. "I didn't think the truck would create as much attention as it has, but the paint job really has brought in customers." Colt wants to thank Brad Mosley and Dustin Morton for their help and especially his father, who owns the shop and put up with the truck being spread all over the floor in a hundred pieces. Now that it's together, all are very happy.
The Lowdown
Rolling Attire
Wheels: 17x7-inch Boyd Coddington Scorpios Tires, front: Falken 205/40R17
Chassis Modifications
Suspension type: air
Rear suspension: four-link
Airbag type: Slam Specialties
Control arms: modified
Spindles/springs: Belltech 3-inch drop spindles
Shocks: Toxic
Valves: 1/2-inch Blitzluft
Compressor: Blitzluft
Air line: stainless 1/2-inch
Air accessories: custom painted air tank, custom switch panel
Frame mods: rear frame custom built with 8-inch notch
Frame material: 1-1/2-inch tube and 4-inch channel
Gas tank: stock, relocated to the front of the bed
Detail work: painted frame
Performed by: owner
Body Modifications
Shaved: corners, door handles, gas door, antenna, tailgate and third brake light
Front end: Toyota bumper modified using another 'Yota bumper
Back end: molded roll pan, shaved
Taillights: euros
Exterior bolt-ons: phantom grille, billet mirrors, billet inserts on wiper cowl
Performed by: owner
Paint
Brand and colors: House of Kolor utilizing 26 colors; main colors are Ultra Orange Pearl, Passion Pearl, and Limetime Pearl
Style: Carazee
Pinstriping: House of Kolor enamel
Airbrushing: shading and misc. fillers
Performed by: owner
Interior
Seats: '99 Mustang
Material: dark-gray tweed
Dash: molded and painted with billet inserts
Door panels: custom made with raised graphics and dark-gray tweed
Center console: universal console modified for truck
Flooring: dark-gray carpet
Headliner: dark-gray tweed with graphics
Gauges: billet trim
Performed by: seats upholstered by Pine Needle Upholstery Shop; all other by owner
Stereo
Head unit: Pioneer
Mids & highs: MA Audio
Amplifier for mids & highs: 800-watt MA Audio
Wiring/accessories: MA Audio
Video: 7-inch and 5-1/2-inch Icon LCD screens
Custom fabrication: CD player relocated to center console
Misc: PlayStation 2
Performed by: owner
Engine/Performance
Transmission: high-performance clutch
Intake: billet from FBI with K&N filter
Header/exhaust: Pacemaker header
Battery: stock, moved up 2 inches
Inner fenders: custom made, hand bent, and rolled
Detail work: tweed panel under the hood; painted valve cover; painted inner fenders; alternator pulleys and brackets painted; misc. billet accessories
Performed by: owner
Special Thanks
To Colt's dad for occupying the shop for seven months; Brad Mosley and Dustin Morton for help throughout the project.