Custom 1999 Toyota Tacoma

OWNER: Robert McIntosh
RIDE: '99 Toyota Tacoma
LOCATION: Wilmington, North Carolina
CLUB: Negative Camber

Robert McIntosh bought his truck in December 1998 with some very basic intentions. The truck cost about $18,000, which isn't pocket change, so he wasn't planning on going all out this time around. He just wanted to lower the truck a bit and slap on a little bling-bling. Some very interesting facts about Bobby: He's already built an '86 'Yota and has been in the scene for a few years; he's in Negative Camber. So, how long do you think he was able to roll a barely lowered truck on rims? We're pretty sure you guessed correctly by saying not long at all.

After Robert got past his initial "I'm just going to lower it and put some rims on" phase, he decided that he wanted to build a more complete truck than the previous one. He enlisted the help of Sherdan Barrett of Fayetteville, North Carolina, to begin cutting up the suspension. Sherdan dumped the front to the ground using Firestone 2,500-pound 'bags, matched with SMC electric valves to regulate airflow. Moving on back, Sherdan incorporated a Pete & Jake's reverse triangulated four-link along with the same combo of Firestone 'bags and valves. The air supply to raise the truck up once it's laid out is stored in two painted NOS bottles. That took care of laying the frame to the floor, but there was still some light shining through under the body. To remedy this, Robert dragged his truck on over to Drop 'Em in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The crew fixed the gap between the body and the ground very quickly, thanks to a 3-1/2-inch body drop.

Next, Scott Bowman in Wilmington, North Carolina, installed the stereo system. He built a fiberglass enclosure in the extended cab that houses three Rockford Fosgate Punch 200 subwoofers powered by an Alpine V12 amplifier. An Alpine CDA-7940 is the brain of this operation and feeds the 6-1/2-inch Rockford Fosgate door speakers. Scott built a fiberglass console as well. Both the console and the subwoofer enclosure received a host of paint by Izzy. The next stop was Interiors by Stitch in Lynchburg, Virginia. Anyone named Stitch should definitely be trusted to handle custom interior work. He enveloped the dash in tweed, stitched the seats up with tan tweed and suede, and then laid down more tweed for the floor. To finish off the interior quite nicely, a Colorado Custom billet steering wheel was bolted to the steering column.

All was going well, so it was time for some bodywork. After replacing the stock 4x2 fenders with their 4x4 OEM counterparts, Cannon's Auto Body began smoothing over the rest of the body. The crew ditched the door handles and gas door and shaved the wiper cowl. Then Cannon's smoothed out the rear cab wall, installed a Sir Michaels roll pan, and welded the whole tailgate shut. A Street Beat sliding ragtop was cut into the roof, and the entire bed interior was smoothed. After all of these finishing touches, the truck received a heavy coat of Ford Electric Metallic Green paint. This is where the story gets strange. Robert tells us that one week after the paintjob, two wires in the wiring harness crossed and started the truck (which had been left in Reverse while stored inside the garage), and the truck backed itself right out of the garage door. Now you can see why Robert considers his truck possessed, hence the Christine reference. You be the judge on whether his girlfriend was too chicken to tell him she backed into the garage or whether his truck is really possessed. Either way, after it was fixed and finished up, Robert's truck is one sick "TUCKOMA." Check out the lowdown for all the final specs.

The Lowdown

Wheels/Tires 17x7-inch Giovanna Bristol wheels with 215/45R17 rubber

Chassis/Suspension SMC Valves / Firestone 2,500-pound airbags stashed at all four corners / painted NOS bottles used as air tanks / Pete & Jake's reverse triangulated four-link / rear frame bridge notch

Body Modifications 3-1/2-inch body drop / billet grille / 4x4 front fenders / euro taillights / Showdown Productions fiberglass hood / Sir Michaels roll pan / shaved door handles / shaved gas door / shaved rear cab wall / shaved wiper assembly / Mustang billet gas door relocated to bed / Street Beat 35x35-inch ragtop / rear end molded shut

Custom Paint
Ford Electric Metallic Green sprayed over entire truck

Interior Dash upholstered in tan tweed / seats wrapped in tan tweed and suede / tan-tweed carpet / fiberglass center console / Colorado Customs Hancock billet steering wheel

Stereo Alpine CDA-7940 head unit / fiberglass subwoofer enclosure / three Rockford Fosgate Punch 200 subwoofers / Alpine V12 amplifier to power the 'woofers / 6-1/2-inch Rockford Fosgate door speakers

Engine/Performance Chrome intake / Optima battery relocated to opposite side of engine

Special Thanks Carl and Lynda / Sherdan / Scott / Stitch / Cannon's Auto Body / Negative Camber Family / Lil' Dummy / parents / very loving and understanding girlfriend