No Regrets II
Ernie Macias, the owner of the Feb. '03 Mini Truckin' cover truck ("No Regrets") is back at it again. The new ride is a '95 Mitsubishi Mighty Max standard cab. The buildup is slated to begin in early September at Bio Kustumz (www.biokustumz.com) in San Jacinto, California. KAIK Products will supply all the billet accessories and the truck's steering wheel. Wheels for the truck will be 20-inch Profilers by Detata Wheel Corporation, with tires supplied by Nitto. Auto Accessory Warehouse in San Bernardino, California, will take care of the stereo needs, using SonicFXaudio.com speakers and amplifiers. Firestone is providing the truck's airbags and compressors, while Extreme air valves will direct airflow to the 'bags. Max Fish will use Xotic Colours to perform the paint duties on the Mitsubishi at Bio Kustumz. The paint scheme consists of a Mango Candy lower body and Black upper half, with a Silver tribal leaf separating the two main colors. Other planned modifications for the Mitsubishi include a stock-floor body drop to the rockers with a custom-built chassis; in-board brakes; an Eclipse rear end; suicide doors; a '60s-style Lincoln suicide hood; a molded tilt-forward front end; a tilt bed or tilt bed floor; a custom roll-down back window; an all-metal dash; right-hand drive; and a full-sheeted bed floor. Expect Ernie's second coming in November 2005.
Bigger Tacos in '05
Well, Toyota went and did it. The Tacoma is most definitely larger for '05. Not only is it larger, but the new Tacoma loses much of the detailing that distinguished it from Toyota's fullsize Tundra. While we here at MT will still treat the newly enlarged truck just like any Toyota mini-truck, it definitely shows where automakers believe the market to be heading. Let's hope it doesn't get any larger. The new twin-cam 4.0L V-6 engine, with 240 hp, 275 lb-ft of torque, and six-speed manual transmission, ought to prove interesting, though.
More Mitsu' Woes
Just when everyone thought that things at Mitsubishi couldn't get worse, the word from Japan is that the automaker has too many dealers in North America and must close some of them. Officials in Tokyo now realize that Mitsubishi tried to grow too fast in the U.S., using extravagant incentives and too-easy credit in the same way that impatient athletes use steroids to accelerate their performance and development.
Fast 411
* California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is considering doing away with the California Air Resources Board. More to come as the situation develops.
* The national average for regular unleaded gasoline as of Friday, August 13 was $1.86 a gallon, up 29 cents from the national average the same day a year ago.
* Dodge's new Dakota will have a high-output V-8 engine, but not a Hemi like the Ram.
* Mitsubishi's worldwide sales are down for 2004.
* Toyota outsold Chrysler for July 2004.
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Shop Shout-Outs
Bio Kustumz1355 S. State St.San Jacinto, CA 92583(909) 654-3195www.biokustumz.com
Ekstensive Metalwerks1804 Sunny Dr.Houston, TX 77093(281) 442-1050www.ekstensive.com
HardKore Kustoms1914 W. Mission Rd., Ste. HEscondido, CA 92029(760) 745-6645www.hardkorekustoms.com
KB Designs(619) 739-0760www.members.cox.net/kbdesigns/
SilverStar Customs6841 Center St.Horn Lake, MS 38637(662) 342-6763www.silverstarcustoms.com