Gary Tokarz of Monee, Illinois, is a man driven, some say to perfection, others say to distraction, still others insist he's driven to extremes. If his '84 GMC S-15, dubbed "Last Time," is any indication, the truth is probably a little bit of each. With the support of mobile electronics supplier Bazooka, Tokarz has built one of the most innovative sport trucks prowling the Midwest show scene. It started with the angular old-school styling of GM's first-generation small pickup, and after flipping its lid, unique paint and graphics were added, morphing into a roadster like no other.
The project started back in November 1994 when Tokarz, then 15 years old, picked up the S-15 for 1K. Even at that young age, he was no stranger to cars, having helped his stepfather build a '55 Chevy 210 sedan, giving him the street smarts to build his own rig. Prior to its current roadster configuration, it was a removable-top convertible. Early on, the door handles and antenna were shaved, and the front fenders were replaced with those from a Chevy, making it something of a hybrid. The next step was an interior upgrade, but it didn't stop there as Tokarz hooked up with John Wargo at The Custom Shop in Flanagan, Illinois, where the first of a series of radical remakes began, including shaving the taillights; installing 2-inch drop spindles along with an air ride suspension system with a ladder bar setup in the rear; and painting the truck, including the frame.
It was at this point, about two years ago, that disaster struck while driving home from a show in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: The convertible top blew off, necessitating a return trip to Wargo at The Custom Shop. There, it was decided that instead of reinstalling the convertible top, it was only logical to cut down the roof even more, converting the S-15 into a full roadster. While the S-15 was at The Custom Shop, the graphics received an upgrade as well. To give the angular front end a different look, the crew installed a full phantom grille with bumpers donated from a Toyota 4WD pickup. The resulting effect is one of the few attributes of this truck that could be characterized as subtle.
At this time, the interior received another set of changes. In his quest for the ultimate interior, Tokarz turned to his mom, who stitched the blue- and gray-tweed interior with seats donated by an Acura Integra. The stock dash was removed and replaced by a full custom shell, which houses a set of Auto Meter Pro Comp gauges and the controls for the airbag setup.
It was at this time that the truck attracted the attention of amplifier, speaker, and subwoofer supplier Bazooka, which stepped up to the plate, providing Tokarz with a full sponsorship. Just prior to our photo shoot, the system was updated with three of Bazooka's new P. Miller signature series amplifiers, which are mounted in a custom amp rack located behind the seats. The doors and kick panels house a set of 6.5-inch mid-woofers, 5.25-inch midranges, and 1-inch tweeters, while the head unit, mounted in the center console that flows down from what was once the center stack, is a Sony AM/FM/CD from the Xplod series.