2000 Chevrolet S-10 - Hale's Kandy Comet

When most people start off building their first truck, they have a slight idea of what they want, but the proper building path is a little unclear. When Brian Hale purchased his '00 S-10, he knew that he wanted the ultimate show-stopper, but it took him a few tries to get there.

The first version of the truck had 18s all the way around and hopped like a jack rabbit thanks to air cylinders mounted in the bed. Of course, the ride left much to be desired, and although beating up his truck was fun for a while, it soon lost its charm. Brian went back to the drawing board and decided that he would take a new approach.

With the help of his buddy Jared Crutchfield of Classic Traditions in Huntington Beach, the truck was shaved up and sprayed. Each of the door handles was removed, skinned, and primered, as was the tailgate handle. The front cowl was pulled off and a Street Scene wiper cowl along with Street Scene mirrors were added to help smooth away some of the factory look. Up front, a Stull billet grille was added and a Sir Michaels roll pan was bolted in place of the rear bumper.

Once the truck had been sanded and blocked, Jared laid down a few coats of sealer, followed by four coats of silver base for the candy. The next step was to begin making passes with the House of Kolor Kandy Apple Red. Each pass allowed the color to get deeper and deeper until both Jared and Brian were satisfied. Several coats of clear were sprayed along the body panels, and then the truck was color-sanded and rubbed.

Brian took the truck to a few shows, but he wasn't getting the attention he had hoped for. Although the candy paintjob looked sick, it just wasn't flashy enough to turn heads and gather crowds. Enough was enough. Brian decided that this was the last time anyone would pass by his truck without their jaws dragging behind them.

Together, Brian and Jared mapped out their new plan for the S-10. Jared planned on giving a nod to the originators of our sport by throwing true traditional flames coated with heavy flake from head to tail as well as some pinstriping from the real Von Dutch era. Brian planned on fitting on some larger wheels and coordinating an interior that would scream for attention as loud as the exterior would.