From Beat to Sweet: 1990 Toyota Pickup Time Lapse Video
Watching the transformation of this 1990 Toyota Pickup will soothe the soul of project owners everywhere.
When you’re neck deep in a project, it’s perfectly normal to get the feeling that you’ll never be done. Or at least I hope it is, because I’ve gotten to that point on every large-scale project — automotive or otherwise — I’ve ever attempted. That said, when I feel like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, I head to YouTube and check out time lapse videos of projects making the journey from beat to sweet — and this one from mechanic extraordinaire Austin Niemela is the best I’ve seen in a bit.
Now, there’s no exposition about the truck’s mileage or where he got it. But toward the beginning, Niemela gives viewers a visual tour of the rig, then gives it a through blast with a pressure washer. While there are lots of little issues, from what I can tell, it looks to be a great jumping off point for a build. Given that it gets pushed into the garage with a tractor, I’m going to go out on a limb and say the running gear wasn’t exactly in optimal condition. One thing at a time though.
Over the next 12 minutes, Niemela methodically attacks every area of the truck. The motor gets pulled, the bed gets popped from the frame, the interior is stripped, and the body gets fully prepped for a new coat of paint. While there’s obviously a ton of mechanical skill on display here, anyone who’s struggled with a cramped, less-than-ideal garage setup might find themselves distracted by the amazing workspace. It’s the kind of place that many gearheads go to sleep dreaming about.
By the end of the clip, the humble little Toyota pickup is essentially unrecognizable. The slight lift to the suspension, along with the beefy new wheels and tires, ensures the refreshed rig has a great stance, and everywhere you look, there’s evidence of Niemela’s handiwork. Personally, I think the matte, grayish-green paint gives it a purposeful presence, and makes little details like the clear corner lights really pop.
Of course, there’s also the wicked custom-fabricated front bumper to discuss. The work here looks top notch, and in addition to providing a better angle of attack for off-road obstacles, it looks fantastic. Watching it get welded together is one of the coolest parts of the whole video, and if you like what you see, Niemela actually sells templates on his site. So if you’re handy with a torch, you could build one yourself.
Check out the video below, and let me know where you turn for inspiration when you’re bogged down in a project!
Photos: YouTube