If you decide to head down an unknown path, determined to chart a new course, you can be sure that there will be difficulties and challenges along the way. It’s no different custom truck owners and builders, who are constantly striving to do something amazing and different with their builds. This is exactly what happened to me when I decided to seek out a truck that no one had ever ’bagged or body dropped before and give it the “clean sheet” approach, meaning start from scratch and build it one-off from the ground up.
As most of you know, these types of builds aren’t for the faint of heart and they often end up rotting away in the garage. The story of Low Lux started back in 2007 when I picked up a completely stock ’72 Hilux that was ready for a complete overhaul. At first, Mike, Bobby, Jamey and a few close friends tore the truck down and a crazy thrash commenced to get it ’bagged and bodied for the 2008 Forbidden Fantasy show. Needless to say, a few sleepless nights went into “hell week” to get it to the show in one piece. But it got done, and it was officially the first and only bodied Hilux of that generation. (Granted, there have been several bad-ass versions completed since.)
Soon Mike Martins and Bobby Martins, owner of Sadistic Iron Werks and Mike’s partner in crime, hatched a plan to completely scratch-build the truck from the ground up starting with an insane custom-built frame. With other amazing friends like Bob Grant to help along the way, this build seemed like it was a no-brainer, but it quickly got out of hand. They got the majority of the crazy Sadistic Iron Werks custom suspension and scratch-built frame completed, countless insane body mods courtesy of Bob Grant from Grant Kustoms, including the killer one-off bed and tailgate skin, and a super bad-ass DOA Racing Engine planted between the frame rails; but the years slid away and funds soon dried up as attention turned to other projects.
Project Low Lux sat lonely and neglected, but every now and then it sparked new interest from a possible would-be owner who wanted to finish up the project. But it wasn’t until I met Scott Christian from Sinners & Saints Photography that things actually started to head in the right direction. Scott is a creative guy and a true man of his word (which seems to be ever more rare these days). He means what he says and says what he means, so we struck a bargain and lo and behold, Low Lux headed to its new home in West Virginia.
Sometimes it takes a fresh set of eyes and hands to get things moving again. Things are definitely back on track for Low Lux, and Scott is breathing new life into the build to make it his own. He’s already got the custom interior underway from Ryan’s Sheetmetal Designs and upholstery by Cato Custom Upholstery, and he’s well on his way to completing the custom seats and door panels. The home stretch is nearly here as Roger Martin at Rogers Custom Paint and Body and Adam Cutlip from Sure Shot Custom Airbrush took care of all of the frame’s paint needs, while all the exterior body and paint work is left with the always dependable Casey Hall at the Chop Factory. With a few showings on the East Coast at Lay’d Out at the Park and others, excitement is building to see this thing come to life in a completed form.
Scott shared that he’s got quite a few friends helping out to see this one all the way through, including: Adam Cutlip, Aaron Ross, Chad Antzes, Matt Cooper, Brett Hurst, Shawn Petrie, Michael Price, Casey Hall and Aaron Hart. Stay tuned for more on this extremely custom one-off build right here in the pages of your favorite custom truck mag!
Owner
Scott Christian
1972 Toyota Hilux
Huntington, West Virginia
Petitioning Severed Ties
Engine/Trans:
20/22r Hybid
DOA Racing engine
Dual side-drafts
Custom header/exhaust
Summit Racing custom aluminum radiator
Summit Racing fittings/gauges
Suspension:
Shop: Sadistic Iron Werks/Mindless Metal Fab
Full mandrel-bent frame front to back
One-off suspension front and rear
Custom hand-built upper and lower arms, wishbone, complete scratch-built frame and suspension from front to back
Slam Specialties airbags
AccuAir air management
Lowrider Depot lines/fittings/misc. air parts
Kinetik batteries custom mounted in rear and under dash
Wilwood brake system
Rolling Attire:
Wheels: 18-inch Intros Del Rio 5
Tires: 215/35 ZR18 Federal Motor Sports 595
Body/Paint:
Shop: Grant Kustoms/Sadistic Iron Werks/Jamey Jordan/Chop Factory
Completely custom Grant Kustoms bedsides
One-off tailgate skin reads “LOW LUX” in the Toyota font
Custom sheet metal bed floor
One-off sheet metal firewall and cab floor
Custom sheet metal tubs and cowl
Completely shaved, there isn’t a panel that hasn’t been touched
Body work and paint will be completed by Casey Hall at the Chop Factory
Paint Custom Mixed by RMS Pro Finishes
Interior:
Shop: Ryan’s Sheetmetal Designs/Cato Custom Upholstery
Interior features all custom aluminum, sheet metal and copper designs
One-off bucket seats and door panels
Upholstery by Phillip Kato at Cato Custom Upholstery
Dash swapped in from a 1950 Merc by owner Scott Christian
Gauges by Dakota Digital
JB Associates for all the Audio
Special Thanks From Owner:
I would like to first thank my patient family (Kandra, Hailey and Haven) for dealing with and supporting my dreams. Also a very special thanks to everyone who has had a part in this build before me. The build wouldn’t be possible without all of the greatness of all the people listed above. All of the awesome guys and gals in Severed Ties who continue to motivate and support me. Ryan Alford and Phillip Cato for designing and making my custom seats and door panels a reality. Ezra Henderson from RMS Pro Finishes for always mixing me the raddest custom paint colors. Metal Worx Fab for making the perfect custom fuel cell. Car Stuff Unlimited for helping sponsor the Intro wheels. Jason Billups at JB Associates for all the Audio. Michael Price and Aaron Ross two most knowledgeable Toyota enthusiasts I know. Chad Wheeler at Wheelers Customs for supplying me with some AccuAir parts. T for letting me have the perfect dash for the swap. Tom at All Things Chrome Everything. Hose Candy for making such a great product. Down South Customs (DSK) and Monzter Motorsports for the custom billet accessories. Dakota Digital for a perfect product. Richarotchie for giving me some very much needed hard-to-find parts, KP Concepts for the great renderings and being patient with me through all of the changes. I’m sure there are so many more people and companies I’m forgetting, but I’m sure to make up for it in the truck’s completed feature. Thank you EVERYONE who has or is playing a part in the build of LOW LUX!
Text by Mike Alexander and Photos by Sinners & Saints Photography