Ivan Leatherman's '48 Chevy - California - Issue #7
With hour after hour on the road driving a long-haul big rig, you've got lots of time to dream about custom trucks. Ivan did just that and after retiring, set out to build something remarkable. The results speak for themselves. With 2x3-inch rectangular tubing serving as the frame, an Air Ride Technologies four-link pneumatic system allows the Currie rearend housing and massive Mickey Thompson tires to tuck up under the fenders. A TCI IFS front suspension also combines with Air Ride 'bags to lay the running boards on the ground. Power is provided by a 454ci on steroids. A BDS 16:71 blower throws 17 psi of boost into the combustion chambers. The interior is super-sweet thanks to Ron Mangus and a set of Toyota Supra bucket seats. Red leather was the material of choice and it covers just about every square inch. Tuck 'n' roll panels complete the blending of classic and custom.
Bill Carlton's '04 Hummer H2 - Texas - Issue #13
Bill went a whole lot further with this Hummer's second build, and the list of body mods is a mile long. Bill's shop, Ekstensive Metalworks, in Houston, Texas, has established itself as one of the hottest in the country, and this H2 no doubt cemented the public's opinion of the place. Bill built a complete custom chassis using mandrel-bent framerails, incorporating an air-ride setup that has his truck way down low. Then he added 26-inch Gianelle and Giovanna wheels and the gauntlet was thrown down. A supercharged 6.0L makes viewing the numerous monitors difficult, but the ostrich leather makes the ride a comfortable one. By the time the shop was done, the truck was clearly the most custom H2 in the land.
Jeremy Fuhlman's '03 Ford Super Duty - Texas - Issue #12
What's that saying? "The only difference between men and boys is the size and price of their toys." Jeremy is a prime exam-ple of this. His big Ford has a completely boxed and smoothed frame thanks to Killer Ridez, and square-tube crossmembers replace the factory pieces. A parallel four-link holds the front end in place, while a triangulated four-link does like duty for the rear. Firestone airbags get the truck up in the air, and a Dakota Digital ride control unit controls 18 inches of movement. All the suspension clearance made it possible to use 49-inch tires. Inside the cab, Jeremy was no less bold. Red is everywhere. Every plastic piece was sanded smooth and then painted Viper Red. Scores of trick items fill up the truck's interior. We're talking mounds of audio and video equipment, the majority from Kicker. The truck has eight Optima batteries and two 200-amp alternators to run it all.
Seth Wagner's '41 Willys - Illinois - Issue #13
No stranger to building incredible custom vehicles, Seth's plan for this Willys was a combination of futuristic and historic cues. Hooking up with famed builder Steve Legens of Legens Hot Rods in Martin, Tennessee, the pair built something very special that made its debut at the '06 Detroit Auto Show, where it made a run for the Don Ridler Memorial award. Every inch of this truck is custom and handbuilt. Kugel stainless steel dropped spindles are attached to chrome A-arms and also serve as a mounting point for the Wilwood brakes. A Winters quick-change rearend and Kugel independent rear suspension are the highlights at the back of the truck. An '05 DaimlerChrysler 5.7L modular Hemi engine is squeezed under the hood and puts out more than 600 hp.
Honorable Mention: Michael McKeska's '99 Chevy Dualie - Ohio - Issue #1
Building multiple custom vehicles has a way of upping the ante. Michael's building talents really came to the forefront with this slammed mass of sheetmetal. He scrapped the frame from the firewall back and fabricated a fully boxed frame, then Z'd the front. The rig lays out flat, but becomes drivable thanks to Slam Specialties ES-82 airbags. These semi-truck 'bags are supported by a monster bridge. The body was dropped 4 inches, so now not only does the frame slam into the ground, but the rocker panels do too. The flawless House of Kolor Pewter body color is distinctive and the black flames are menacing. Under the paint, a host of body mods attract attention, including shaved door handles, tailgate handle, fuel door, taillights, and radio antenna. The interior is unique, with football-style stitching on the bright red leather. Trent's Trick Upholstery used street-rod bucket seats and lots of other tricks to jazz up the inside. Crazy details include pinstriping on the steering wheel. The only thing keeping Mike's one-ton out of the top 10 was the absence of a front valance.
Honorable Mention: Dennis Graham's '67 Ford Bronco - Georgia - Issue #5
There's something about 1,000 hp in a two-door, lowered Bronco that just screams "insane." With 33 inches of Mickey Thompson slicks out back and lots of tire smoke, you can't help but look. To get the truck low enough (and handle the power) Dennis started with a full Art Morrison chassis and then added goodies as he went along. Up front is a Mustang II style suspension with rack-and-pinion steering and massive Baer brakes. In the rear, a Ford 9-inch rearend is attached to a four-link suspension system. With all this ballsy racecar-like focus it might seem unusual to see a fully customized interior, but that's exactly what's going on with this truck. M&M Interior wrapped the custom dash and new door panels in tan leather and alligator skin. As nice as it is, a large portion of guys can't look any further than the blown 502ci engine. (That's understandable.) Maybe next time Dennis will put a Ford in a Ford and make the top 10.