Nathan Thacker was a true mini-truckin’ enthusiast who loved to work on his truck. When Nathan wasn’t busy modifying his truck, you better believe he was talking about it! Nathan always wanted to get his truck featured in Mini-Truckin’ Magazine, but before those plans could be carried out, he was killed in a tragic car accident in January of 2002. ESM isn’t a print magazine and we certainly are not Mini-Truckin’ Magazine, but we are sure going to give “Nathan’s Pride” some well overdue attention!

After speaking to Nathan’s parents, Greg and Paula, for an hour or so at the Nathan Thacker Auto Show, I came to know Nathan a little and now I have an understanding of his style and the way he wanted his truck to be. You see, Nathan was a true blue enthusiast, he enjoyed going to auto shows and loved the custom auto scene, especially mini-trucks. I am sure if Nathan was still with us today, he would agree when I say that custom autos is more than turning a wrench and driving down the strip, it is a type of lifestyle. Nathan lived such a lifestyle to the fullest while he was with us and his 1998 GMC Sonoma is evidence of that.

After Nathan received his truck, on his 16th birthday, some of the first modifications achieved was the addition of a hard tonneau topper, tinted windows (by Sunscreen of Clarksville, TN), and a new set of 16 inch Billet Specialties T-45 wheels wrapped in 205/40/ ZR16 Toyo rubber (from Hunter’s Custom Auto in Nashville, TN).

With the wheels added, the bed covered, and the windows darkened, it was time to up the ante in the modifications department by going straight to the source of fun... the suspension. Nathan decided that the stock height was just not going to do. Staying in line with the heart of mini truckin’ enthusiasts, Nathan had the stock springs in the front replaced with Firestone air bags and the rear was treated with a more sophisticated monster c-notch along with a four link suspension with Firestone air bags providing the height adjustment.

With the truck laying frame and a pocket full of Ben Franklins, Nathan dragged his truck over to the friendly staff of Street & Sport of Clarksville, Tennessee and summoned their body work skills. Nathan wanted to smooth out the body of the truck a bit, so the tailgate handle was flipped to the inside of the bed, the door handles were shaved smooth, and the license plate was frenched into the tailgate. Leaving no stone unturned, Nathan had the stock antenna mount shaved as well and moved it behind the passenger side rear window where it is frenched into place. To keep the lines of the truck flowing in continuous order, the stock bumper was also removed and a Sir Michael’s steel roll pan was molded into place to finish out the tail end.

Nathan was pleased with the progress of his truck, but realized that something different needed to be done in order to make it a crowd teaser and a judge pleaser. One of the most attention grabbing modifications that can be done to a truck is to suicide the doors, especially when it is done correctly. Since Nathan was a true blue mini-truckin’ enthusiast, he didn’t let us down! With the help of his friends at Street & Sport, the old hinges were removed and holes were punched on the opposite side of each door to enable the suicide door modification. A set of ‘57 Chevy hinges were hunted down and then carefully installed for proper clearance as well as operation of the doors.

With the doors in place, Nathan had the nose of the truck cleaned up by adding a ram air hood and a billet grille from Hunters Custom Auto. With the truck starting to take on an obviously wild appearance, it was time to summon the skills of Fabian Bauer to lay down some wicked graphics. With the gun filled and ready to spray, Fabian laid down his signature work onto the metal canvass which is a series of wild graphics which wind from the front wheel wells and stretches over the topper and making contact from each end on the tailgate.

With the exterior complete, it was time to upgrade the interior with a new fresh look. To complement the graphics on the outside, Nathan decided to enlist the skills of the staff at Auto Stereo in Clarksville, Tennessee. The old interior was scrapped and purple tweed and gray vinyl took its place.

But wait... what about the tunes? Nathan knew he just didn’t want his friends to see him coming, he wanted them to “hear” him coming. Keeping in line with such a bodacious concept, Nathan had Auto Stereo build a custom box with four 12 inch Infinity Kappa subs which are powered by three Infinity amps. A Pioneer CD head unit spins the tunes to the speakers and a 5.6" LCD TV, in the passenger sun visor, provides entertainment for those long trips.

Events sometimes change our plans in life, but while Nathan was amongst us, he did everything he could to fulfill his dream of owning a wicked mini hauler. I am sure Nathan, this very moment, is up above looking down upon us with a grin on his face and with switches in hand, draggin’ bottom and layin’ frame on the streets of heaven with all of the mini truckers who have come and gone before him.

Shout Out: On behalf of Nathan... we would like to thank the sponsors, volunteers, and friends who have helped us at the Nathan Thacker Auto Show. Nathan will always be in our prayers. -Greg & Paula Thacker (Nathan's Parents)