After purchasing her first Toyota Tacoma in 1999 and beginning the customization process, Vickie Hill from Huntington Beach, California got in a car accident and it was totaled. So she purchased this 2000 Tacoma with the intent to mildly modify it. Then she was bitten by the customization bug that leads many truck owners far past their original plan to have a cool ride.

   Vickie's Tacoma was laid flat on the frame by Patrick Comfort at PC Customs using Firestone air bags and a host of custom parts. Patrick used DJM upper control arms, custom front bag mounts, Doetsch Tech shocks, modified radius arms, a 4-link, and several custom-made mounts to get the Taco' to sit over the 19-inch Foose Lusso wheels that were wheels machined from a 30 offset to a 45 offset by Jose at Intro Wheels. Along with having to move some items around in the engine compartment, the battery and gas tank were relocated to the bed. The Tacoma also received treatments to both it's front and rear wheel tubs. The front wheel wells were cleaned up after being cut out and the rear wheel well were removed and replaced by Alston wheel tubs. Then the inside of the bed was sprayed with a good coating by Line-X.

   The outside of Vickie's truck had to reflect her personal taste while still looking like a clean and low custom show truck that the guys would appreciate. The body needed to be smoothed out so the truck was pulled into Body Palace and was completely shaved of it's stock door handles, tailgate handle, gas door, windshield squirters, and wipers. The rear bumper was removed and replaced by a Sir Michaels roll pan. The mirrors and front bumper were prepped to be painted to match the trucks base color. The wiper cowl was removed and a custom fabricated smooth wiper cowl took it's place. Then Darren Dela Pena and Adelarde “Butch” LaBossiere at Body Palace sprayed the truck with a custom mixed paint in Black Sand Pearl. They also added ghost flames and graphics using House of Kolor Chameleon. Bob at Bob Iverson Pinstriping added to it with "metal molding" style graphics and custom pinstriping. Pete Santini at Santini Paint Werks finished it off with custom tinted APC carbon fiber taillights and third brake light. With only a few things still needed, Vickie added JBM billet grilles, APC clear corners, Euro style crystal headlights, painted Shorty Antenna, and a Webasto/Hollandia electric sunroof installed by Robert & Anthony at Airstream.

   The next step was to take her truck over to Steve "Revo" Reeves at Stitchcraft Custom Interiors for a full carbon fiber treatment. The headliner, dash, and doors were wrapped in silver and black carbon fiber material. The seats were wrapped in Katskin Leather with silver and black carbon fiber inserts. The floor mats were also given special attention using Mercedes black carpet with silver carbon fiber piping. Then the truck went over to Robert and Anthony at Airstream for  Carbon Fiber dash, door panel and center console work. The stock gauges were updated with NR Auto white face gauges and Patrick Comfort at PC Customs was brought in to fabricate a dual gauge pod for the A-pillar with APC white face gauges. Tom Hingle at Billet and Acrylic Fantasies built custom billet pedals, seat levers, A/C face plate, strut cover, and glove box handle. The steering wheel is a Billet Accessories Direct 'Fusion' with custom finish piece by Chris Diederich at PTP. Last on the list is a carbon fiber shift knob to replace the stock knob. After all, everything was matching so the stock knob had to go. Finally, Tom Sweere at Beach Auto Sound was brought in to give the stereo some needed upgrades. A Sony Xplod double-din head unit sends the signal to her surrounding speakers for now until she can do a full custom install.

   Vickie's Tacoma was almost finished but needed some detail and power under the hood. Matt Hunt at Under Pressure Fabrication & Distribution installed a polished Injen intake with a K&N Filter, custom fabricated polished aluminum lines to replace the upper and lower radiator hoses, and some other polished items. The truck also received Hose Techniques silicone vacuum hoses, a Primo powder coated valve cover, chrome power steering reservoir, and miscellaneous powder coated brackets. A few more items from Billet and Acrylic Fantasies were used in the engine compartment including billet engine caps, oil dip stick, and fuse box cover. Patrick Comfort used a Downey ceramic header and Magnaflow exhaust to help the Tacoma breathe easier and sound much nicer than the stock exhaust buzz.

   Vickie would like to give a special thanks to Patrick, Darren, Butch, Bob, Revo, Tom, Matt, RJ, Pete, Roger, Rudy at ProWheels.net , No Sympathy, Chris Brandon, Airstream, HW Motorsports, and 4 Wheel Parts/Santa Ana.

We would also like to thank our model Nicole Kelshiemer.