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Mini truckin’ lives!

I’d like to announce…mini truckin’ is alive and well and no better way to find this out than attending EVIL’s Haulin Toys this year. A lot of great examples came out this year but none caught my eye better than Steve Greathouse’s 96’ Nissan Hardbody. The low stance, wild graphics and one off wheels brought me back to the high school and college days when you couldn’t find a meet or show that didn’t have one of these iconic trucks. From a guy who came from this mini truckin’ era, I couldn’t be more excited the style is coming back. The wild paint, slammed, big sound system, single bed short cab look of these trucks harks back to an era that was much simpler.

Everyone had their own style back then, whether you liked the wild paint or the crazy interiors no two trucks looked the same. The crossover between the Japanese import scene and the mini-truckin’ scene is one of the more interesting chapters in American custom-car culture. Both scenes grew out of different traditions, but they eventually met through the same places: street cruises, car shows, magazines, audio competitions, and a shared obsession with building something personal. The big connection was that both scenes were about taking an affordable vehicle and turning it into a complete expression of your identity. One leaned toward Japanese performance and tuner culture; the other came from the lowrider tradition, custom paint, hydraulics, and show-quality mini-trucks. By the1990s and early 2000s, those worlds were increasingly sharing parking lots, judging categories, and influences. I was sad when we moved away to the clean sanitary look with more earth toned subtle vehicles. The original scene lost much of its mainstream visibility as the market moved toward larger pickups, but the traditional culture continues through classic-truck restorations, club gatherings, social media, and dedicated events. With the emergence of the 90s imports and mini trucks showing back up to events, I am reinvigorated by what we can expect at car shows.

For Steve Greathouse, building a custom mini truck has always been about more than just modifying a vehicle. It’s about nostalgia, craftsmanship, and keeping a piece of automotive culture alive. A member of EVIL Truck Club for the past five years, Steve has owned his 1996 Nissan Hardbody D21 for approximately 11 years, and it’s become a truck that reflects both his personal style and his appreciation for the golden era of mini trucking. His interest in air-ride mini trucks began after attending the Mini Truck Nationals in Carlisle, where seeing trucks rise and drop on air suspension immediately caught his attention. Having graduated high school in 1995 and purchased a brand-new Nissan that same year, Steve had always been partial to the brand. When the opportunity came along to purchase a mini truck, he knew it had to be a Nissan.

What makes this particular Hardbody especially special is its condition and history. When Steve purchased it, the truck had just 31,000 original miles. Today, it has only around 44,000 miles and still wears its original Pebble Stone Clay Metallic paint. The truck had spent years sitting in an estate after being inherited by its previous owner's family, helping preserve a condition that is increasingly difficult to find in these older mini trucks. Rather than completely transforming the truck or sacrificing its originality, Steve has taken a thoughtful approach, making changes over the years while retaining the character that made him fall in love with it in the first place. One of the biggest additions is the custom vinyl graphic package, designed by a longtime friend who teaches graphic arts at a local technical school. Inspired by the old-school mini-truck graphics that were once everywhere in the scene, the design brings back a style that Steve feels is making a welcome comeback. The graphics are printed vinyl rather than paint, offering the flexibility to change colors or designs down the road without the expense of a full custom paint job.

The truck also features a Phantom grille, a modified Toyota Pathfinder bumper, aftermarket halo LED rock lights, and a ragtop roof. This year's addition was perhaps one of the most eye-catching: a set of custom-cut 18-by-8-inch solid billet wheels, manufactured to Steve's specifications for the truck's six-lug pattern and desired offset. Combined with its air suspension, the truck has the unmistakable stance of a traditional mini truck. Underneath, the Hardbody runs 2,500-pound air bags at all four corners, manual valves, dual Viair compressors, and a triangulated four-link rear suspension. Steve upgraded the rear suspension after purchasing the truck, replacing an inadequate monoleaf setup that struggled to build air pressure. Like many custom mini trucks, the bed has required some modifications to accommodate the air suspension. A section of the center bed floor has been cut out and covered with a custom-built sealed trough, while the factory fuel tank has been replaced with a fuel cell. The trade-off is reduced storage space, something Steve hopes to address with a future bed-storage project. With a regular-cab, short-bed truck, space is already limited, and the current setup means passengers sometimes have to share their space with whatever Steve has brought along. He loves the look of fully bodied trucks sitting on their rockers, but preserving this truck's integrity and reliability is more important than taking modifications too far. He also installed protective strips and drag blocks underneath the frame, allowing him to enjoy the lowered stance without unnecessarily compromising the truck while being able throwing sparks on demand.

Despite its modified appearance, drivability has always been important to Steve. He appreciates the fact that he can jump in the Nissan and drive it hundreds of miles without worrying about structural modifications or questionable fabrication. Powered by a stock 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a five-speed manual transmission, the truck isn't built to win races. Instead, it's a reliable cruiser that handles surprisingly well on back roads and country roads. Steve appreciates that he can simply turn the key and go, without worrying about the mechanical temperament often associated with older classic vehicles. It's part of what makes these trucks so appealing today, they offer vintage styling and character while retaining much of the reliability of a more modern vehicle.

The original interior remains largely untouched, something Steve has come to appreciate. Although he's considered adding leather upholstery and customizing some of the interior plastics, there's something special about climbing inside and feeling transported back to the late 1990s. The truck still has working air conditioning and heat, making it comfortable enough to enjoy throughout the driving season. One of the most interesting aspects of the build is Steve's commitment to period-correct details. For Steve, maintaining that period correct atmosphere is just as important as the modifications underneath. He's currently searching for an older Rockford Fosgate Punch 45 amplifier to complement a custom speaker enclosure he's built between the seats. Rather than simply installing modern audio equipment, he wants something that looks like it belongs in the truck.

Finding those increasingly rare pieces has become part of the enjoyment. Steve knows firsthand how difficult it can be to locate original trim, seals, mirrors, and other components that manufacturers stopped producing decades ago. Sometimes a small piece can take years to find. Other times, a trip through a junkyard turns up exactly what he needs. It's that treasure-hunt aspect of the hobby that keeps things interesting. That attention to detail extends throughout the vehicle, from the original stainless trim and factory mirrors to the smaller pieces he's tracked down in junkyards over the years.

And while the Hardbody is nearing completion, Steve still has plenty of automotive projects to keep him busy. His collection includes a 1999 GMC Sierra short-bed regular cab equipped with a large turbocharger and a recently purchased 1988 Ford Mustang Fox Body. The Mustang is particularly special because his wife has always wanted one. The plan is to restore it while retaining its traditional 302-cubic-inch, 5.0-liter V8 and five-speed manual transmission, creating another enjoyable cruiser rather than an all-out performance build.

Steve also enjoys being part of the larger automotive community. Through EVIL Truck Club and friendships with members of other local car clubs, he regularly attends shows and cruises throughout the region. He appreciates the camaraderie, the opportunity to spend time with fellow enthusiasts, and the chance to introduce people to a side of the automotive hobby they may not see every day. He also believes the mini-truck scene is experiencing a significant resurgence. Trucks like the Nissan Hardbody, Chevrolet S10, and Mazda pickups are becoming increasingly desirable, and finding clean, unmodified examples is getting more difficult. What was once considered an ordinary used truck is now something enthusiasts are actively searching for. As these vehicles become harder to find, their value and appreciation within the collector community continue to grow. For Steve, that's part of the reason he's so committed to keeping his Hardbody around. Although he has other vehicles that he might eventually sell, this one carries a sentimental connection that makes it nearly impossible to part with. His plan is to enjoy it for another decade or longer before eventually passing it down to his grandson.

Although the truck gets plenty of attention, Steve particularly enjoys seeing the old-school mini-truck styling find a new audience. With so many modern builds leaning toward clean, shaved, understated appearances, he believes there's something special about bringing back the graphics, pinstriping, chrome accents, and other details that defined the scene years ago. And for Steve, the story doesn't end with his own enjoyment. At 50 years old, he's still having fun with trucks, sharing the experience with his family, and introducing the next generation to the hobby. His grandson, who was enjoying the show right alongside him, may eventually become the truck's next caretaker. You can find Steve on instagram @steveo_great or find him cruising around SWPA enjoying the tradition of mini-truckin!