The 2008 magazine year marked Mini Truckin's 20-year Anniversary, and we celebrated in a big way! With amazing cover shoots commemorating some of the best trucks ever built, and a 3-part 20-year poster, 2008 was definitely one of our best years yet. This year we added a new voter and will continue this tradition from here on. The previous Truck of the Year winner will get to cast their vote for the following year. Joel Sadenwasser won the crown last year, so his vote is cast for the 2008 winner below. Check out what our dedicated staff thought of all that we delivered in 2008, and who we think was the 2008 Truck, Show, and Club of the Year.
2008 Minituck of the Year
Mike Alexander - MT Editor
Tracy "Chico" Shaw's '98 Nissan Frontier
March 2008 Cover Truck: Wanna Trade?
Simple, clean, and badass, all at the same time! That's how I describe Chico's Frontier. He did an amazing job in keeping with subtle hot rod styling, while really modifying every square inch of the truck to stand out above the rest. The rumble of the motor, the clean solid color paint, the gorgeous billet wheels, and the badass interior, all tie together to create yet another homerun from Chico! Congrats buddy, job well done.
Galen Armenta - MT Associate Editor
Christopher "Eli" Griffin's '92 Mazda B2200
January 2008 Cover Truck: Reincarnation II
This truck is clean and everything about it flows together as one overall package. The exterior sets the classic style tone with the red and platinum paint job, to the deep-lipped Coy's C-5 wheels. Then to move inside and find a '51 Ford dash and the classic-style stitched seats really compliment the exterior. Yes, the truck is technically an import, but still has the essence of Ford Motor Company, so it's all the same to me.
Chris Pasley - MT Art Director
Toshihide Kazama's '94 Toyota Pickup
September 2008 Cover Truck: World's Cleanest 'Yota
A whole year has passed by with "D-Lowest" holding the title for Truck of the Year 2007. But, once again it's time to pass the bragging rights on to another cover truck nominee. So many trucks came out this year like the "Chico-fied" Nissan, the "Bertschwood" Yota, and many more, but nothing in my mind could come close to the sheer perfection of the Japanese built "Worlds Cleanest Yota". Even though I've never seen this truck in person with my own eyes, it's name says it all, and the pictures show the time, craftsmanship, and attention to detail this far east truck brought to the table this year.
Ernie Macias - MT Freelancer
Kyle Bertsch's '93 Toyota Pickup
August 2008 Cover Truck: Bertschwood.
I have much respect for the people out there that build badass rides in obscure states where the nearest shop might be 500 miles away. Kyle did just that. He brought together a handful of minitruckers from a little town in North Dakota, and five years later he brought out this amazing 'Yota! He did a hell of a job if you ask me.
Joel Sadenwasser - 2007 Truck of the Year Winner
Toshihide Kazama's '94 Toyota Pickup
September 2008 Cover Truck: World's Cleanest 'Yota
I'm a huge Toyota fan, and I even have the logo tattooed on my arm. So, when I saw this truck come out in the mag, I almost had a heart attack! It's by far, one of the cleanest Toyota's ever built, and the quality and detail put into this truck is unmatched. So I would gladly hand over my crown to another insanely built 'Yota.
Brandon Burrell - MT Freelancer
Christopher "Eli" Griffin's '92 Mazda B2200
January 2008 Cover Truck: Reincarnation II
This is one of the most detailed trucks I've seen in person. Bringing some old school looks with modern technique makes this truck stand out. Every little thing on this truck was touched, which pushes it over the top for me.