The Major Players At Gatordrag
Since GatorDrag is in the South, there were numerous big shops from the Louisiana and Texas areas that came to show off their latest work. All of them had some amazing rides that pushed the limits of customizing. Because this was one of the first shows in the season, it was our first glance at what these shops have been up to during the winter.
Conroe, Texas Kustom Werx...
Conroe, Texas
Kustom Werx
These two C10s are like polar opposites in terms of style. Gabe's red '83 is wild and shaved, whereas Cory's '85 looks more like a restoration. It was something else to see these two Chevys sitting next to each other.
Yes, that is painted trim....
Yes, that is painted trim. Since Cory's orange '85 Chevy was a hit last year, he decided to build a '71 in the same style with a twist of having the trim airbrushed by Pat Maxwell.
Seeing Scott Rupp's newly...
Seeing Scott Rupp's newly finished '64 Datsun was definitely the highlight of the show. This truck had no less than a crowd gathered while they tried to guess what kind of truck it was. It was also clean enough to snag the GatorDrag Best of Show truck award.
Houma, Louisiana D.I.B. Customs...
Houma, Louisiana
D.I.B. Customs
This B-Series Mazda was laying body over 22-inch wheels with a clean back-halved frame.
First, '05 Chevy HD dualies...
First, '05 Chevy HD dualies like this one are big trucks to start. Next, add a body drop over 24-inch wheels on the list of things to do and you have yourself crap-load of work.
D.I.B. decided to go with...
D.I.B. decided to go with hydraulics on this body-dropped Ford Expedition. From what they told us, it was driven to the show and rode like a champ over the bumpy Louisiana highways.
Houston, Texas Ekstensive...
Houston, Texas
Ekstensive Metalworks
One of the hardest-working members of the Ekstensive crew, Eric, finally built himself a well-deserved truck. His late-model Toyota Tacoma was cut to lay rockers over a set of 24-inch wheels. Topped off with a Chaotic Rods & Customs paintjob, this midsize is clean.
As usual, Bill Carlton showed...
As usual, Bill Carlton showed up fashionably late on Saturday with his three-car hauler, pulled by a custom Chevy TopKick. On the back end of the trailer was Stunner's Avalanche with a set of 26-inch wheels on it. The truck is bone-stock with the exception of a full mandrel-bent frame and airbagged suspension.
Pasadena, Texas B&C Offroad...
Pasadena, Texas
B&C Offroad
These guys are seriously into the lifted truck business. They shocked everyone by rolling to the show with a brand-new lifted Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Silverado. The Chevy was outfitted just right, with a roof rack and stylish two-tone paint.
Lubbock, Texas Hill's Hot...
Lubbock, Texas
Hill's Hot Rods
Two of the most exceptionally well-built trucks were this '86 Chevy C10 and '55 Ford F-100. The Ford's bodywork was so clean that the pickiest of the critics could not complain.
Rocky's Tacoma sure looked...
Rocky's Tacoma sure looked sweet, and with a custom tube frame made, he didn't have to raise the bed floor for the body drop.