When I see a minitruck, I can’t help but take a closer look. It’s the scene I got my start in, and I’ll always have an affinity for a slammed mini.
So of course when I saw this ’72 Hilux at the recent Scion Auto Influencer event I was drawn in. But it was the manner in which it’s been built that made me stick around.
It all starts with the 152E, a high-strung race version of the Toyota 18R-G that likes to rev to 9,000rpm and beyond. Owner Scott Kanemura had his built up with TRD cams and a dry sump, 13:1 compression JE pistons, Carillo rods and a forged stroker crank.
Originally designed for road and rally racing, the 152E came with a four-valve head and dual sidedrafts. Ivan Stewart even ran a 152E in his Mickey Thompson stadium truck back in the ’80s.
Plenty of custom machined parts were made to adapt the engine into the Hilux bay. Scott’s truck previously ran a 2JZ, but it was just too much motor for such a little truck. That engine has been slated for a different, but equally-cool project.
Solid motor and trans plates make it clear that this minitruck was built more for performance than looks, but I would argue that’s why it looks so tough anyways. Similarly serious parts are everywhere you look, such as a full Art Morrison front clip with QA1 coilovers.
The rear of the frame has been narrowed, with a cage tying everything together and a sheetmetal Ford 9-inch again suspended by QA1 coilovers. Also notice the Dzus tabs for sheetmetal panels to cover it all up.
It wouldn’t be a mini’ without shaved door handles and locks. Scott stripped all the paint off to show that the truck is in great condition underneath. He likens it to “a pretty girl with no make-up.”
He also stripped the anodizing off the RAYS Volk Racing TE37Vs. The rears measure 10 inches wide.
The bare wheels really further the performance aesthetic of Scott’s Hilux, as do the big Project Mu brakes stuffed inside them.
The Recaro buckets are from an ’80s Volkswagen, and tie in perfectly with the performance-plus-retro vibe.
Advanced Design Fabrications did most of the fab work, including the 6-point rollcage.
Scott is one of those guys in the industry who is there because he’s a passionate about building cool and fun vehicles. Last year he built two custom vehicles for Scion – a custom yellow FR-S that helped inspire the Release Series 1.0, and the ’70s-styled Riley Hawk xB that was unveiled at SEMA.
Scott’s passion for modding cars couldn’t be more apparent than when looking at his personal project. The level of quality and effort he has poured into a Hilux that could have been ‘just another minitruck’ only serves to prove the point.
Keith Charvonia
Instagram: SpeedhuntersKeith
keith@speedhunters.com
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
I think this truck is awesome! Any videos of it? :3
Ha love the fact he did shaved handles and suicide doors to keep it just a little standard mini.
Cool truck!
While the worksmanship is apparent and of very high quality, I can't say that I fully understand the minitruck style. It seems almost like a mix of VIP and sometimes track styles, but then some that go full stance.
Dem fendicators
Yet no airbags.
I would love to do something like this with my '75 Hilux, looks freakin awesome!
Man, the new site really sucks
tunerguy21 Thanks! The look I'm going for is import style. Back in the 80's before car people were using the terms JDM, VIP, Hellaflush and stance we were modifying these little import cars because we just thought it looked cool. It didn't matter if the parts came from US, Japan or Europe as long as it's the best part for the job. (no knockoff / copy parts) So if there is a term for the truck it's "old school import style"
luissk82247 Thanks! Here is a video with the 2J motor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI2gn8ay4PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0f9b944fwU
That looks like a LOT of brake and tyre for this little truck. What kind of events does he run?
This is an incredible truck! I absolutely adore seeing it in raw form like this. I only wish I can build a minitruck as cool as this one day. I know it would take me a lot of time!
greenroadster Yep. Couldn't agree more. New homepage is stupid. Would help if the text was above the photo, rather than below it.
mrwicksy greenroadster Agreed. It looked really good before why change it??? Looks like a website circa 2005 now.
Where did he get that engine?
More photos of the truck before the engine swap and paint strip... http://www.superstreetonline.com/features/1401-1972-toyota-hilux/photo-gallery/#__federated=1
Love everything about the truck except the suicide doors.
Thanks. You should go out a build a car or truck! Do it your way and take your time building it. There's no time limit.
Got the engine core from Toysport but, tore down and rebuilt everything.
Thanks for sharing, Keith. Reminds of how I've always wanted to build a LUV truck.
And @Speedhunters, I'm not sure what the big deal is about the website and why it has so many people riled up. Cheers.
Trentworth That's a way overkill diff too. Must have all been planned for 2JZ.
Scott from the old Project Car magazine fame?
It certainly is not as bananas as it was stuffed with two turbos and trying to out run its own front wheels, I still dig the style and effort going into this vehicle.
I look at my print copy of your build is SS often and think of the work going into the frame and such. You(Scott) and the drift Hilux guy make me want a little Toyota to play with.
Love everything about this little truck. Makes me wish I never sold my mini truck :(. Love the short wheelbase with the big wheels and brakes. Looks awesome!
Thank you.
DIG!
chiprez You know they started re-using articles from the other magazines. So I'm not sure if I actually did write a article for project car. lol Maybe you're thinking of Scott Tsuneishi?
yotafan Trentworth exactly! This new motor I'm trying to make 450 hp so it should do ok with the present set up.
@Whoshot Thanks! Yeah. It was a hard decision to pull the 2J but, this way it's more true to the old school and more rare. If you want to see more recent updates to the truck there is a Facebook page under ridiqulux.
Once this truck is finished. There is a plan to do something with the 2J that should be fun.
DAMNNN! Looks like fun.
I really wish you would at least put an estimate of the power for the motors you feature. Also, when you have a build like this, knowing the weight would be nice. Power and weight are after all the two most important aspects. Anyways, though I'm not really feeling the truck part, I love builds like this where everything is clean and basic and you can see every part. Keeping it (somewhat) simple and light.
Target hp is 450 with nitrous. The last time we weighed the truck with the 2J it was 2190 lbs. (full tank of gas, oil, radiator fluid)
I just wanna see it move under it's own power again!!! He's been working on it for so long (not to mention a change of direction or two)--seems like it will never be done. C'mon Scott--finish it already!!!
You and me both. The hard part is finding little parts for this motor. Probably got to custom make a replacement parts. Unfortunately it takes time and money to have custom parts made but, no choice. No more change of plans. I'm too far invested into this set up. Hopefully it will be done soon. Lol
I love the sheer mechanical poetry that is a functional, no-bullshit machine, and that engine is VERY poetic.
I'm in love keith
This and the engineerd to slide hilux are the best got to get myself one of these soem day
need... more... of... this... hilux..... pleeaasssseeeee!