Machine Mad: Steven Jones

Name: Steven Jones

Where are you from? Wellington

What is your local BurgerFuel Store? Lower Hutt

Favourite burger on the menu? Ford Freakout (with a few customisations)

A bit about yourself (where did you grow up, how did you get into machines, do you do it solo or with mates etc.):
‍My Dad told me lots of stories about playing around with Mini’s and motorbikes with his mates when he was younger and I grew up in Taihape where there was a pretty strong rally presence so that started me out on my journey pretty early. Dad bought me and my brothers a motorbike when I was 13 and taught us how to ride and I’ve been messing with anything with a motor ever since.
I started out with an Escort panel van as my first car and I’ve had all sorts since then, from turbo Mazda’s and Subarus to V8 Kingswood’s and sports bikes with nitrous. About 12 years ago I got my first Hilux to haul around a racing quad and I immediately fell in love with Minitrucking. Fast is fun but there’s something special about low and slow. The lower the better! I went to a Minitruck meet up right after I got my first Hilux and met an amazing group of guys that we went on to form our Minitrucking club with. I’m the President of Wellington Trucking Friends (WTF) and it has been going strong for 11 years now.
We run the Laid Out at the Lake Minitruck and Lowrider show in Taupo and we are so grateful of the support we receive from BurgerFuel every year! I’m also a huge fan of old small capacity motorbikes. I’ve participated in the TranzAlpine Scooter Safari since 2014 where we ride mopeds from Christchurch to Hokitika to raise money for the Cancer Society.

Now, your pride and joy…  

Make/Model/Year: 1993 Toyota Hilux

Engine: 2.4L 22R, Weber 32/36 carb, port matched intake, mild cam

Driveline: G52 5 speed, 3.9 LSD  

Interior: Recaro fishnet front seats, Momo steering wheel, suede headliner, 2x Alpine 10” subs, JBL 6.5” front components, 2x Down4Sound amplifiers

Exterior: Fully shaved body, 4WD Surf front guards and bumper, custom grill. The colour is a factory Lamborghini colour, Verde Draco (with even more gold pearl added)

Suspension: Airbag suspension, 8” C notched chassis, engine driven compressor, Level Ride height management

Wheels/Tyres: TBC Metrix 18x9.5”

What's unique or interesting about the car or how did you become to own it? The airbag suspension obviously draws a lot of attention when I’m driving it really low It was originally built by a mate of mine Guy Burrett, I was thinking of bagging my Hilux at the time when it came up for sale, so knowing the build of it already it was a no brainer to buy it

What’s your dream machine, if it’s not this one: I’d love to do a body drop and an engine swap on this truck. The list of dream cars is pretty long, a bagged ’64 Lincoln Continental is pretty high up on that list though

Anything else you wish to share (fun facts, hours worked/spent on the machine, plans for the future etc.):
‍I‘ve had my truck for 10 years now. It’s been through a fair number of changes in that time, 3 colours, multiple wheel combos and stereo set ups. I’ve long since lost track of the amount of time and money that’s gone into it, and I don’t think it will ever really be finished because there’s always something else, I want to do or to change. There’s currently another 22R sitting on an engine stand in the shed waiting to be built out to take some boost.

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