» Engine: Chevrolet 350 V8
» Performance: Diablo chip and custom program, Flowmaster exhausts
» Wheels: 20-inch Enix wheels with Yokohama tires
» Exterior: Custom maroon and red tribal flame paint job
» Interior: Sony headunit, two 8-inch Kicker Competition subwoofers, Kicker 75 Watt amplifier
Mark Miller was no more than 15 years old when the thrill of fast cars and the paint jobs that dressed their bodies got under his skin — literally. Yet it was the hum of a supersize engine powering an American pickup truck that became his metallic muse.
In 1999, Miller purchased a brand-new 2000 GMC Sierra. Like Miller, the truck has evolved in much the same way he has developed from painter to business owner. Recalling his first earlier memories and first contact with custom vehicles, Miller said it was the car shows that helped shape both his particular interest in vehicles and the direction his life would take.
“People don’t go to the shows to see motors. The biggest thing they see first is the paint,” Miller said.
So instead of tearing apart engines, Miller learned all there was to know about paint and how it bonded to different surfaces. Since the purchase of his Sierra, Miller’s own truck has experienced three paint jobs, all done by the man himself. The current paint job consists of a red and maroon mix of tribal flames and skulls, which he decided to apply after a minor collision a number of years back.
But Miller didn’t stop at the custom paint work. He also decided to add a touch of imagination. Removing the stock tail lights and rear bumper, he meticulously welded shut the light mounts and used the rear bumper area to insert a panel of four Corvette lights into custom fiberglass holes created through the back. The move not only added uniqueness, but was a nod to a childhood of similar imaginations.
“I couldn’t afford a Corvette when I was 18, so I did the next-best thing,” he said.
Miller also treated the engine to a custom ECU modification to help the 350 Chevy engine breathe deeper. A set of 20-inch wheels added aggressive drive height while a red interior serves as the base for a future project: applying a tribal flame job to the interior to mimic the exterior. Miller will also be trying his hand at airbrushing Maltese crosses on the interior plastic trim pieces of his Sierra.
But perhaps Miller’s greatest influence came from popular celebrity motorcycle builder Jesse James. James, who casts an iconic shadow on many automotive enthusiasts, inspired Miller’s own passion. James’ rebellike attitude and never-say-never approach, coupled with his businessman’s instincts, helped point Miller away from collecting paychecks from someone else to bringing in his own business.
Miller’s car eventually became his resume. Those who wanted to know the kind of work he was capable of accomplishing needed only look at his Sierra. His persistence and hard work eventually opened the door to his own business in Linthicum Heights, Md., MJ Motorsports, where for the past year he has run a custom modification and paint shop.
What do you drive? A 2000 GMC Sierra.
Why do you drive it? I’m a GM man. But I don’t use it as a truck should be used. I’ve owned trucks since I’ve been 18.
What makes your truck special? Just running it forever. I just broke 100,000 miles. I also molded Corvette tail lights into the rear and replaced the stock lights.
What is your most memorable driving experience? Taking it to the race track every weekend. Everybody thinks it’s cool. I don’t go to drag strips. I like cars that go 500 miles at 200 miles per hour rather than something that runs a quarter-mile at 200 mph.
What music are you currently listening to in your truck? I listen to country. It keeps me calm and sane.
And your first ticket? What was it for? My first ticket was for a seatbelt. I’ve never had a speeding ticket.
