The Story of MiniTruck Design and Innovation
Video Review: Tony T-Bone Colombini, Photos supplied by Weekend Celebrity Productions MiniTruckFilm.com
There were several moments in time that solidified my passion for all things automotive. One of those moments was riding along with my brother in his Datsun 620. We went everywhere in the truck. I would watch, listen and learn how to drive a stick in that rattlebox. He was a member of Deluxe Trucks in the mid 70’s before joining the Sea Bees in the late ’70’s. The modifications then were very simple. One trick I remember, was to turn the stock air cleaner lid upside down to allow more air and gives a bit of a throaty sound under the hood. Next was the prism tape on the dash. Man that thing glowed in the Orange County “70’s Smog Alert” tinted sunlight. Mom made some Budweiser curtains for the rear window. When he went into the service, mom would use his truck to run errands. I remember her tearing the “I FOUND IT – now my finger stinks” bumper sticker off the window. I credit my crazy sense of humor from hanging out with him and his buddies.
In those days the club wasn’t so much about showing than it was about riding. They would take weekend trips to camp out at El Mirage, or park them in the lot like a show when they played softball at Hart Park, or rolling low and slow at local cruise spots. The trucks were all home built and customized. There were no magazines or aftermarket for the mini-trucker. So they looked at Hot Rod or other pubs. One guy had a small block Ford in his 520. It was so low to the ground the oil pan would scrape.
This film takes off, where they left. Funny how in the film they mention the Mini-Truckers were born from the Vanners. My brother’s buddies all got vans AFTER they were done with the mini-trucks in the late 1970’s.
The beauty of this film, is that it ties together the innovation that young guys were able to do with a bit of imagination, sweat and competition. Between the lines you hear how a category in the automotive aftermarket is created. A phenomenon of the publishing industry, that is missing in today’s “connected” world. It appears to go on with quick cuts to interviews, vintage pics and video, and plenty of bench-racing. I might suggest some in-film titling for each section, Paint/Body, Wheels/Tires, Fabrication, Media Coverage, etc..
The West Coast Influence focuses on the big boom of mini-trucking of the 80’s and 90’s more than the ’70’s. I dig the interviews with the guys who were pioneers in customizing. For example, the unslung hero’s who saw airbags used in motorhomes and modified them to bring the frame down to the ground. “The sky’s the limit, or should I say the pavement is the limit.” To hear a guy say, “I’m on my lunch break and have an hour to cut the rear cross member so the truck will get one inch lower for next wednesday’s cruise night.” The tight quarters make the simple task futile, till his co-worker tells him to cut a hole in the bed for the rear-end to come through. Now he goes to shows and sees that trick still being done and remembering the moment it started.
The vintage scenes were cool too, like the guys pushing the truck off a hump in the grass. The high-waisted bikini models posing with the trucks, and the all-around tomfoolery by a bunch of guys in their 20’s.
This film is a tribute.
Not only is this film a tribute to the innovation and style of rolling works of art, but also to a seminal figure in the scene. Courtney “Tito” Halowell was a builder, photographer, writer and all around custodian of the history. He passed away a couple of years ago and from all accounts, he touched each of these guys very closely. Always a smile, and always making them laugh. Tito’s mom said it well that when he grew out of working on bicycles, he changed his canvas to motorcycles, cars and trucks.
Get your copy at www.MiniTruckFilm.com