Willis' Florida Chevy
Michael R. Willis II from Haines City, Florida, likes Readers' Rides so much, he decided to show us his '93 Chevy K1500 4x4. The truck is outfitted with a 3-inch body lift, 33x12.50-15 Wildcat Radials on American Eagle rims, dual exhaust, and Rugged Trail gas shocks. Plans include upgrading the stock 305 to a 350 and replacing the stock 3.73 gears with 4.10s.
Kutilek's Arkansas Jeep
Jay Kutilek from Rogers, Arkansas, travels in style in his '88 Jeep Wagoneer Limited, which rides on 29-inch Yokohama Super Diggers and has a 4 1/2-inch Rubicon Express lift kit, a Dana 30 in front, and a Dana 35 in the rear. The leather seats, air conditioning, and Alpine stereo keep him cruising in comfort on and off the road.
Doyle's North Carolina Ford
Shawn Doyle does most of his four-wheeling in his '84 Ford F-150 on the sandy beaches near his home in Wilmington, North Carolina. With almost 14 inches of lift, the truck rides on 40-inch Super Swampers and is powered by a 351 Windsor.
Bell's New York Ugly Jeep
A few months ago, whenever Shelby Bell turned a corner in his '84 Jeep CJ-7, the tires started rubbing on the fenders. Shelby from Trumansburg, New York, says he fixed that with a cut or two with a Sawzall. The Jeep (or half-Jeep) will evolve into three Jeeps next summer, giving up its engine and tranny to one and its seats, radiator, hood, and fenders to another. What's left will be sandblasted, rebuilt, and covered with fiberglass. Watch those corners, Shelby.
Sansoucy's New Hampshire Ugly Chevy
Eleven-year-old David Sansoucy of Rochester, New Hampshire, sent us this photo of his ugly '78 Chevy K5 Blazer. David says when he bought the rig in 1996, it had all of its body parts, including a gas cap that he lost and replaced with a sock and a 350 V-8 that needs a lot of work. Since then, he's begun to strip it down. He plans to do more modifications when he has more money.
Barding's Illinois Ugly Ford
Wild Bill Barding's '77 Ford F-250 was a lawn ornament and a dog house in his front yard in Manito, Illinois, for four years before a $100 LTD station wagon donated a 460 V-8. (Bill sold the wagon to a scrap yard for $98. A $2 big-block!) Can you believe it: An engine rebuild kit came next, with an RV cam, 650 Holley double pumper, L&L headers, and 3-inch Flowmasters. At the rate Bill's working on it, his truck won't be ugly for very long. But for now...
Lete's Washington Ugly Ford
Tony Lete, of Centralia, Washington, calls his ugly '54 Ford four-door, crop-top convertible The Thang, and we'll admit, it really is somethang. With a Dana 44 from a '65 International, a '65 Ford tranny and transfer case, a '78 Ford 302 engine, a Chrysler power steering pump, and a '55 Chevy bumper, this little mud bogger is so mixed up it doesn't know what it is.
Stovalls' Montana Ugly Dodge
Jess and Cathy Stovall of Livingston, Montana, say their '68 Dodge WM-300 Power Wagon has seen some duty as a U.S. Marine Corps engineer service truck. The Dodge has a 10,000-pound winch, a 251ci flathead six, and military 9.00-16 tires with a 35-inch-inflated diameter. Safe top speed is about 40 mph, and, in 115 miles of snowplowing, 51 gallons of gas were consumed. Jess and Cathy, this truck isn't ugly, it's hungry.