The "mini truck" or "minitruck" started as a fad in the mid to late '80s that still exists today. They are so popular becuase they are cheap to build becuase most of the work you do yourself, and there aren't many store bought parts involved. Originally the mini truck was a stock Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi, or the famed Mazda B2200 with cut spings and lowering blocks to lower the truck and most had a set of hammer style (or similar) wheels with low profile tires. Wire wheels were also popular, but were more of a lowrider thing. Huge stereo systems with tons of bass were also added to these trucks. In the early '90s people started putting air-ride or hydrolics into their trucks to lower them even more. The modern day mini truck can be anything from a 1970 Datsun to a 2004 S-10. Most have 17" or larger wheels on them, but some people still like the smaller wheels. Body modifications include shaving doorhandles, corner turn signals, gas doors, tailights, mirrors, and just about anything else you can think of. Many people mold in later model Cadillac tail lights or other lights that look better than the stock ones. Minitrucks are not tuners and they are not lowriders. They are in a class all by themselves.
"Like to cruise, when I know I'm poor
I'm a regular at the liquor store
Max out my stereo, pump up the bass
I buy good shit, wanna drive in a race"
-AFI (Yes, it's really by them)
I'm a regular at the liquor store
Max out my stereo, pump up the bass
I buy good shit, wanna drive in a race"
-AFI (Yes, it's really by them)
by Leadsleds of the future. February 21, 2005
Mini trucks was a fad that started around the early to mid 80s. Its original truck was an 84-85 Nissan P/U. The younger generation started to put a wide rim and low profile tires that stuck out past the fender for that 80s look. The trucks became popular for very loud thunderous stereo systems that usually came from the shell or bed. These stereo systems had a "Bassy" sound that could be heard blocks away. The trucks where also famous for having convertables installed on a pu truck. It was the first of its kind but did not stick for very long. They had clubs that had a varitey of small pu trucks that ranged from Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Chevy and even VW pickups that where lowered. These trucks could be altered in a variety of ways from really extreme paint with pictures and heavy customizing such as "suicide doors" which where doors that where opened the opposite way a normal door opens. These trucks where known to have a typical rim know as the "Dayton" wire rim which is a rim that pretty much kept its look. The rims on these beasts where a typical size of 15x7-10 inch rim that had wires laced up inside the rim with a knock-off in the center. It came from Chrome, anodized colors and even pure gold plated on some. Some had a soft material that covered the camper shell and cab for that soft top "Caddie"look. They even had Rag tops in the cab and shell as well which was a popular style in the 80s. These trucks where also notorious for bed dancing hydrolics. The "Bed" of the cab would do tricks that was supported by a custom frame with hydrolic pumps. Some spinned around completly in circles, some dumped back like a dump truck and others went straight up with a "sissor" like frame to make the bed higher than the cab. These trucks would show off the purpose of these where all for show and to gain easy access to the chrome undercarrage as well. All in all the fad died in the early 90s but can still be seen in some parts of the US and maybe France today. The ones that are seen today though cought on with the Fast and furious crowd and where made for a more sporty truck look.
by Toby Fresh July 27, 2004