Final Effort: Matt and Michelle Tracy’s Timeless 2001 Toyota Tacoma

Some custom trucks are built to chase trends. Others are built to stand the test of time.

Matt and Michelle Tracy’s 2001 Toyota Tacoma, appropriately named “Final Effort,” falls squarely into the second category. This clean, body-dropped mini truck combines classic styling, thoughtful modifications, and meticulous craftsmanship into a build that looks just as relevant today as it would have twenty years ago.

For Matt, the goal was never to build the loudest or wildest truck on the show field.

“I wanted to build a truck that was clean and simple, yet over the top. A truck that would be timeless versus trendy.”

After five years of ownership and continuous improvements every winter, Final Effort has become exactly that—a refined mini truck that showcases the best of old-school styling with modern attention to detail.

A Long History Finally Completed

The story of Final Effort began long before Matt ever owned the truck.

The 2001 Toyota Tacoma Final Effort was purchased brand new in 2001 by one of Matt’s close friends. Almost immediately after leaving the dealership, the truck was body dropped and transformed into a custom project.

Over the years, the truck changed hands several times, remaining within the local scene while receiving various modifications and rebuilds. Despite all the work performed throughout its life, the Tacoma was never truly completed and never returned to the show circuit in finished form.

That changed when Matt acquired it.

“I think it took me about a year to make it show worthy. Then yearly winter upgrades have brought it to its current state.”

Today, the truck represents the culmination of more than two decades of history and evolution. Amazingly, the Tacoma still shows only 13,700 original miles on the odometer.

Why It’s Called Final Effort

The truck’s name perfectly reflects Matt’s mindset toward the build.

“This is my final effort on the truck. I will take it all the way through.”

Of course, like every true custom vehicle enthusiast knows, no build is ever truly finished.

Even though the truck has reached an elite level of craftsmanship, Matt already has future plans to continue refining the Tacoma. His next focus will be cleaning up and detailing the engine compartment to match the level of perfection found throughout the rest of the build.

Body Dropped and Built Right

One of the defining features of Final Effort is its traditional body drop.

The Tacoma sits on a 2¾-inch traditional body drop, giving it an aggressive stance while preserving the truck’s clean body lines.

The frame has been completely reworked from the cab back, including:

• Full back-half chassis construction
• Custom C-notch
• Custom fuel cell between frame rails
• Five-gallon fuel tank mounted underneath
• Hidden air management system
• Hidden compressor setup

Everything underneath the truck was designed with the same attention to detail as the visible portions of the build.

The truck rides on Firestone 2600 airbags controlled by an AccuAir VU4 manifold, with dual chrome Viair 444 compressors supplying air pressure. A chrome TCI four-link suspension with sway bar helps manage the rear suspension while maintaining excellent drivability.

Chrome Speedway Motors shocks add another level of detail underneath the truck.

Big Brakes and Modern Performance

While many mini truck builds focus strictly on appearance, Final Effort incorporates serious performance upgrades as well.

One of the standout features is the Wilwood big brake system supplied by Little Shop Manufacturing.

The setup includes:

• Six-piston front calipers
• Four-piston rear calipers
• 14-inch drilled and slotted rotors
• Custom powder-coated calipers

The brake components were color-matched to the dashboard, creating a subtle design connection between the chassis and interior.

The result is a truck that not only looks incredible but performs far better than a factory Tacoma ever could.

Clean Exterior Styling

Matt’s vision centered around simplicity, and that philosophy is evident throughout the exterior.

Rather than overwhelming the truck with unnecessary modifications, the Tacoma features carefully selected bodywork that enhances the original design.

Exterior modifications include:

• Shaved door handles
• Shaved tailgate handle
• Shaved fender marker lights
• Shaved front valance lights
• Shaved third brake light
• Shaved wiper cowl
• Welded roll pan
• Suicide doors
• AirBagIt Phantom billet grille
• Dual Legacy sliding ragtops
• ARE camper shell

Many of the modifications were originally performed by Boitnott’s Customs, while Jason Kerr handled the truck’s suicide door conversion.

The finished appearance is smooth, clean, and timeless—exactly what Matt envisioned from the beginning.

Billet Wheels and Perfect Stance

Final Effort rides on a set of Billet Specialties wheels that perfectly complement the truck’s classic mini truck styling.

The setup consists of:

Front Wheels: 19×8 Billet Specialties Rear Wheels: 19×8 Billet Specialties

Wrapped in:

215/35R19 Tires Front and Rear

Combined with the traditional body drop and air suspension setup, the wheel package gives the Tacoma an ultra-clean stance whether laid out at a show or cruising down the highway.

A Refined Interior with Custom Luxury

Inside the Tacoma, the attention to detail continues.

The factory dashboard remains intact but has been smoothed and painted in beautiful Sunset Mica Bronze by Joe Wykoff. Additional hard surfaces throughout the cabin—including the door panels, center console, and extended cab panels—received the same treatment.

The upholstery blends luxurious materials with classic mini truck styling.

Interior highlights include:

• Oxen Brown upholstery
• Big Bird Caramel ostrich inserts
• Custom door panels
• Custom center console
• Billet Specialties steering wheel
• AccuAir remote integrated into console
• 20-percent window tint

The combination of bronze-painted surfaces and rich upholstery colors creates an upscale appearance that perfectly complements the truck’s exterior.

Award-Worthy Audio System

A custom mini truck wouldn’t be complete without a quality audio system.

Final Effort features a Sony XAV-AX5000 multimedia head unit paired with JL Audio components throughout the truck.

The system includes:

• JL Audio amplifiers
• Dual JL 12-inch subwoofers
• Four JL 5×7 speakers
• Custom bed enclosure
• Plexiglass lighting display

Spade Kreations handled the stereo installation, while custom lighting behind the plexiglass enclosure transforms the bed into a visual centerpiece after dark.

Built by Friends, Supported by Family

Like most successful custom vehicle projects, Final Effort is the product of a strong support system.

Matt gives special thanks to his wife Michelle for her unwavering support throughout the build process.

Additional thanks go to:

• Joe Wykoff
• Jim Boitnott
• Jason Kerr
• Rick Spade of Spade Kreations
• Adkins Upholstery

Their contributions helped transform an unfinished project into one of the cleanest Toyota Tacomas on the show circuit today.

Timeless Never Goes Out of Style

In an era where trends come and go quickly, Final Effort stands as proof that timeless design still wins.

Every modification was carefully chosen to complement the truck rather than overpower it. Nothing feels forced. Nothing feels trendy. Everything works together to create a cohesive, polished package that will look just as impressive years from now as it does today.

For Matt and Michelle Tracy, the 2001 Toyota Tacoma Final Effort isn’t just another project. It’s the realization of a long-term vision and the continuation of a truck’s remarkable history.

And despite the name, every mini truck enthusiast knows the truth.

The final effort is never really the final effort.

Photos by: Dan Davis