Owner: Derek Adams
Ride: 1991 Nissan Hardbody
Hometown: Thibodaux, LA
Club: No Regrets
Southern Louisiana isn't just a breeding ground for hot chicks, New Orleans Saints fans, and gators-it also breeds some of the most hardcore minitruckers around.
Derek Adams, also known as "D," is definitely no exception. As a proud member of No Regrets, D has been involved in the minitruck scene for over 10 years now and he knows a thing or two about building cool trucks. Although, it's hard to imagine, considering his first few builds included a Dodge Ram fullsize and a Ford Super Crew. According to D, he's graduated on to bigger and better things like this Nissan Hardbody, which really got his creative juices flowing. D's heart has always been with the clean and classy minis, and his creativity led to the creation you see here: a clean driver that he can be proud to cruise the streets in but one that's still unstoppable on the show field. But, like all good builds, it didn't start off that easy, and the beginning was a bit rocky.
Derek has owned this 1991 Nissan Hardbody, which was originally built by Chris Dyer and featured in Mini Truckin' in May '05, for a little over three years now. At first D bought the truck to drive it as it was and even took it to a couple of shows. The truck was in really good shape other than badly needing some bodywork and a fresh interior. Derek picked up this truck as his project because it was known to be a solid driver and for having a very reliable suspension perfect for daily abuse. Since Derek was looking for something that could be driven all over the country, this truck really appealed to him. So, a few calls and a few grand later, and the truck was his. Everything was great until one gloomy November day just before Thanksgiving when Derek was rear-ended in the Nissan. For most people, this would mean the end of the truck and time to move on, but for Derek being a hardcore minitrucker it was merely a sign, a sign of things to come for this Hardbody. No little accident can keep a good minitrucker down, especially when there's an insurance check to be had that can go to good use with some new mods.
Derek is a painter by trade, which helps immensely in these situations, as he was immediately able to rip into the truck and began to massage it back into shape. This included sanding and repainting all the interior pieces at the same time. Derek set a timeline and quickly achieved his goal with the total rebuild taking him about five months, just in time to cruise the streets for Mardi Gras 2010. Southern Living definitely has its own pace, relaxing is usual and taking it easy is the norm. But Southern minitruckers like D put a lot of miles on their tires to see all the shows they can and build some killer rides, so taking it easy isn't really in the cards for them or this freshly rebuilt Hardbody. Derek couldn't have finished his ride without his good friends, especially Zack from Nu Era bedliners. They have a motto that they are very proud of: Safety first! But, that's a whole other story for another time.
Look for Derek and his crew at shows across the U.S. as they intend to hit as many shows as they can both near and far. For more info on this not so easy-going Hardbody, peep the Lowdown.
Lowdown
Rolling Attire
Wheels: 20x8.5 Raceline GT with knock-off centers
Tires: 225/30ZR20 Hankook Evo
Chassis Modifications
Suspension (front): Toyota five-lug front hubs, Nissan brake calipers, Air Lift Dominator 2500 'bags
Suspension (rear): 1994 Toyota 2WD rearend and drum brakes, Pete and Jake's four-link setup with 'bags mounted on bars
Shocks: Doetsch Tech
Compressors: Dual Viair 450c compressors
Air Accessories: SMC electric valves
Frame Mods: Rear step-notch
Misc.: 3/8-inch lines, 5-gallon air tank
Performed By: Driveway Werks, Gainesville, GA
Body Modifications
Shaved: Hood squirters, fuel door, hood emblem, 1998 Nissan Frontier tailgate
Bodydrop: Yes sir
Body Mods: Relocated gas door, frenched antenna, trailer inner fenderwells
Bolt-ons: JBM billet inserts, Trenz billet antenna, chrome Pathfinder mirrors, chrome door handles, Sir Michaels steel rollpan, modified euro taillights
Misc.: 1996 4x4 Nissan front fascia, Nu Era bedliner by Zach, color-matched by owner
Paint
Brand & Colors: DuPont Hot Like Fire Red, Cool Silver, Hurricane Gray
Misc.: Complete color change
Performed By: Owner
Interior
Seats: Custom 2-inch pleated vinyl, seat cut down and lowered
Dash: Custom top, smoothed and painted lower half
Misc.: Custom tube armrest and cupholder built by Driveway Werks, custom door panels, billet window cranks, custom shift knob, Billet Specialties billet wheel
Performed By: The Safety Department at Z&D's
Stereo
Head Unit: Sony
Mids & Highs: JL Audio
Misc.: Stinger wiring, cab filled with Stinger Road Killed sound deadening
Engine/Performance
Header/Exhaust: HPC coated manifold and header
Rearend Type: Toyota 2WD
Detail Work: Painted valve cover, custom air breather
Misc.: Custom aluminum fuel tank, custom driveshaft with Toyota yoke
Special Thanks From Owner
"First off, I would like to thank God and my mom. I would also like to give big shout-outs to No Regrets for a lifetime of support. Zach for the long nights of helping get this truck where it is now, along with Randy at Nu Era Bedliners for the fresh bedliner, Bart Koen, Glen Fanguy, John Richter, and the crew at M.C. Paint and Body, Anderson's Paint Supply, Chuck at Raceline Wheels, Chico cause he's da bomb, Ishee just for being Ishee, and finally Ernie cause we all know now 'I got thissssss!"