Trying to create an attention getting mini-truck with the right amount of custom mods can be a challenge even to the most seasoned enthusiast, especially when the scene is full of body-dropped rides sporting crazy paint and wild interiors. In the contemporary mini-truckin' scene, enthusiasts are leaving no stones unturned and unfortunately that can cause a bit of a gray area between what is cool and what is really a bit much. It seems some enthusiasts are so infatuated with trucks layin' flat on the ground over big wheels, that they forget simplicity sometimes can be king of the hill.

David Owens of Nashville, Tennessee, proves just how good a simple custom truck can look with his bagged and clean 2001 Chevy S-10. Here at ESM we like David's truck because it is just enough that it grabs your attention, but left alone to the point that it is very drivable, so show spectators won't be the only people giving him the "thumbs up" seal of approval.

For starters, David began with a bone-stock S-10 extended cab and using the customizing guidance of his club Dominating Designz, David began his modifications by getting the suspension setup to bring it down to Tennessee soil with the push of a switch.

The adjustable suspension consists of an Air Ride Tech Airbar out back Airlift 2500 bags up front and a five gallon suicidedoors.com chrome air tank, mounted in the bed on a piece of diamond plate, that feeds the Viair 460 compressor through ½-inch lines. The shocks were relocated with ART shock relocators and Nissan Hardbody shocks were installed to even out the bumps on those Tennessee highways. Completing the low-down stance is 20-inch chrome Falken DIP wheels on all four corners surrounded by Falken 245/35R20 rubber. With the suspension in check and the stance nailed, David decided it was time for a few body mods.

At first glance, David's slammed S-Dime may look like any other red sled sporting a dynamic suspension and cool DUBs, but upon closer inspection, a few subtle body modifications will jump right in front of you. For starters the stock bumper was ditched for a C-5 Corvette roll pan and the stock handle was flipped to the inside. A Cadillac Deville license plate box was mounted in the center of the tailgate, right above the roll pan line, along with a billet bow tie. The stock valance also made its way to the dumpster since it was replaced with a sportier Street Scene style version with APC fog lights. Also among the body mods includes a billet grille insert, APC chrome mirrors, clear headlights/corner lenses, billet bow tie, billet antenna, and billet fuel door. Rounding out the body mods a Checkmate painted to match hard tonneau topper covers a carpet bed liner.

Inside David's S-10 reveals various custom billet pieces throughout the cab and black Weapon-R four-point harness racing buckets, blended with pieces that were sanded and painted to match the S-10's exterior skin. For a smoother look on the dash face, the factory A/C controls were relocated to the glove box, and a custom plate with the suspension air gauges was made to fill the gap. The speedometer stock gauge face was also replaced with an APC white gauge face. A Sony Xplõd audio system, that consists of a custom made fiberglass subwoofer enclosure that houses two 10-inch Audiobahn subs and a 760 watt amp, provides the musical platform while cruisin' down the road, so David can jam to his favorite tunes on the way to a show. Finishing off the interior mods are two SPL 5.6-inch monitors connected to a Sony PS2.

Under the hood things are mild, for the most part, but David did manage to change a few things. David installed a red top Optima battery, an APC cold air intake with K&N filter, and a few billet dress up pieces along with red wire loom. Finishing off the performance factor is a 50 series Flowmaster muffler that gives this little red S-10 the "oh-so-right" amount of rumble.

David has one smooth S-10 or as we like to call it, SHOW-10. By embracing a mono paint job and a few simplified custom components, David's hauler will look good for years.

Shout Out: "Special thanks to Mom, Dad, David, Jim Owens, Chuck Smith, SuicideDoors.com, and my club Dominating Designz." -David Owens