Custom-built trucks run down the freeways and around corners, constantly drawing attention along the way. Sure, plenty of the comments are in admiration or amazement. It only takes so many drive-bys, however, before the jealousy bug raises its evil little head. As owner of Tune Town Car Audio in Albany, Georgia, Joey Booth had upgraded and gazed over far too many custom-built systems to just sit and watch another go by.
Joey finally reached his breaking point in 2001 and headed to Sunbelt Ford-Mercury in search of a starting piece he could make the local boys take note of. Joey found his muse in an '01 burgundy Ford F-150, and a labor of ambition began.
The F-150 soon lost that stock charm in front as Fro at Fro Daddy Custom in Albany installed tubular lower Chassis Tech control arms. Moving to the back, Fro dropped in a four-link and placed 2,600-pound Firestone airbags in all four corners. The rest of the system consists of Aplo air valves, 3/8-inch-diameter lines, and two 5-gallon air tanks. With the suspension ready to roll, Joey put the front feet in 22-inch GenX Fusion wheels wrapped in 265/35R22 Kumbo tires, while the back rolls 24-inch GenXs wrapped in 305/35R24 Kumhos.
Now on an even playing field with other rides, Joey crawled into his own shop for some minor bodywork. For Joey, the major attraction of this particular truck was its pearly burgundy faade, which he intended to keep after the custom metalwork. With the help of his friends Fro and Bubba Fells, Joey replaced the stock grille with a standard FBI billet grille; updated the look with APL headlights; and shaved the handles, emblems, and taillights.
A showpiece should continue from the exterior to the interior, as Joey was well aware. With his tools in hand, he wrapped the entire interior, including the dash, door panels, stock seats, and headliner, in leopard print, and stitched in tan-leather inserts. He also custom-built his center console, where a red Dub City Astro Van switch box resides, and painted the dash pieces to blend into the scheme.
Joey was then set to finish the F-150 with his specialty: audio alteration. Using Alphasonik equipment, he wired 6-1/2-inch subs into the kicker panels and 12-inch speakers to hit from the center. Both a four- and two-channel amp were strategically placed behind the seats, and as the powering tool, the centrally located Pioneer 6300 head unit connects the system as one. Joey placed a 13.3-inch Pyle monitor on the dash as the interior crowning piece.
In just more than a year and a half, Joey turned a stock-lot truck into an object of admiration. This F-150 proudly sat in the ranks of Extreme Lowz until the unfortunate closing of the Georgia Chapter. Not to worry, though; Joey found a new home with Eksessive. At the moment, however, the F-150 cannot be found on the streets of Albany, but rather under construction at a paint shop in Atlanta. After creating a custom ride worthy of those who inspired him, and sliding into place with his peers, Joey found things a little too boring. Recently, Joey took the F-150 off the show circuit, gave it a 4-1/2-inch body drop, and had the doors suicided, in addition powdercoating the 302 engine and other modifications. Joey plans to have the reworked Ford ready to emerge just in time for Spring Fling in Panama City. Now who's the jealous one?