1990 Toyota Pickup – One Of The Cleanest Mini Trucks

Richard “HalfDead” Knipp isn’t your everyday, “normal” mini trucker. And by “normal”, we mean a run-of-the-mill weirdo. (Don’t look offended; you know you’re strange too.) Rich is kooky, no doubt about that, but he’s a special kind of kook – the type that can be can be appreciated based on his degree of off-centeredness.

Just look at his truck. You can’t tell us that Leatherface skin inspired seats, a rib cage wrapped center console, and all sorts of biomechanical goodness spread across Toyota’s landscape aren’t all dead giveaways to this guy’s odd taste of the macabre. Don’t read these words wrong though, Rich’s creepy creation is bad as hell. From purchase date to completion, there are two years and bags of money invested in this piece. But aside from the obvious resources that have been poured into the build, there’s strong sentimental value surrounding it as well.

You see, just as show season kicked off last year, Rich had been checked into the hospital as he faced kidney and pancreas transplants. While others were finalizing last minute hotel reservations and making sure they had enough gas money to make it to their favorite mini truck show, Rich far from enjoying any part of his summer. Luckily, his friends proved to be the loyal type as they came together to help raise funds to help with medical expenses. A few buddies even kept the progress rolling on Rich’s truck, and when it was finished, it was taken to the shows he would’ve taken it to himself if he was physically able to.

Now that he’s back on his feet, Rich talked to us about the beginnings of this build. “After I drove 15 hours to get the truck, I got the truck home and noticed it was in worse condition than I thought. It had been ‘bagged and bodied nearly to the doors already, but the blown motor, less than average body condition, and sad interior forced a full rebuild. A little bit of research revealed that this truck had a history. It was previously known as Wicked Toy when The Drop Shop in Pikesville, Kentucky, was building it, and when it changed hands to another owner was building it; it went by another name – Lost Souls. With my rebuild underway, I knew it needed a new name and persona.”

With a freshly completed truck and a new lease on life, Rich plans on making up for lost time this year. He’s been through hell and back, but with a ton of helping hands, he considers the trip conquered. “I am deeply indebted for everything everybody has done for me when I needed it the most.”