For the naive truck owner, purchasing a truck like the S-10 Xtreme is as wild and custom as they know a custom truck to be - lowered, 16-inch wheels, body kit, and best of all, monochromatic paint with decals. Slap on a set of clear corners, tint the windows, and enter it in a truck show - it's just that easy for some truck owners. However, there is obviously a huge dilemma with this mindset. Whereas the Xtreme does provide a better handling package, that is where the performance advantages stop. The interior has issues, and with one around every corner, it quickly loses its custom feel. There are those truck owners, and then there are truck owners, such as Brandon McCullough of Acworth, Georgia, who think an Xtreme is the perfect platform for actual modifications. In Brandon's case, one thing led to another, and after 3-1/2 years, one sizzlin' S-10 became the end result.
It didn't take Brandon and his dad very long to begin the search-and-modify mission on the Victory Red Bow Tie. The truck was delivered to D&J Customs of Canton, Georgia, where Brandon wanted a smooth exterior with custom touches throughout. Starting with the body, the team at D&J shaved the door handles, tailgate handle, rear steps, molded the tailgate to the body, and created a one-off all-steel roll pan for the rear of the Stepside. Wanting more than the typical shave job, Brandon ordered a set of suicide hinges for his custom S-10, and while at D&J, the hinges were welded on and operating flawlessly. Frenched into the freshly molded tailgate is a diagonally mounted license plate, and where the once-boring taillights resided, flame covers molded into the rear bodywork now take center stage. Up front, a Street Scene Gen II valance cleans up the front bumper, a Keystone dual-scoop hood adds muscle, and billet inserts add class to the grille.
Rounding out the body mods, an electric sunroof was installed, a wiper cowl was added, a Leer lid was set in place, and plenty of body filler was applied in preparation for paint. Tribal flames were the cure for mundane Xtreme syndrome, and while at D&J, purple flames were sprayed all over the front and sides of the S-10. Separating his truck from the rest of the pack, a beautiful stars and stripes mural with a kneeling, praying patriot following 9/11/2001 was applied to the rear of the customized Chevrolet, giving his truck instant recognition.