Stats Box
| » Engine: 5.6-liter, dual-overhead-cam V-8 |
| » Performance: AEM cold air intake, Echo System 3 gas saver |
| » Wheels: two different sets: a set of 1/24-inch Golden Six-Spiked chrome rims, or a set of 2 20-inch aluminum rims with Nitto Terra Grappler tires |
| » Exterior: Chrome push bar with fog lights, chrome step rail |
| » Paint: two-tone custom paint, blue marbleized bottom with silver top and custom airbrushed lightning bolts, Fiberglas Tonneau cover |
| » Interior: custom molded door panels (custom painted), custom-built black leather/blue suede insert seats, custom painted dash, blue suede headliner, Paymer and Phelps sunroof, blue light-emitting diodes |
| » Audiovisual: four 12-inch CVR subwoofers, 5 1/4-inch Kicker speakers in custom-made pillars, six 1/2-inch Kicker components in door panels, Matrix box, two 1,000-Watt Kicker amplifiers, two four-channel Kicker amplifiers, seven sets of 6 1/2 midrange speakers, JVC head unit, 7-inch touchscreen with navigation |
Some people take their vehicles to car shows, feed off the attention for a few hours, and look longingly at the few cars that have tens of thousands of dollars invested, wondering if they’ll ever be at that level of competition. Others interpret the same scenario as a challenge to make the best possible vehicle around. Robert Borsa lives by one rule of car customization: Rome was not built in a day and neither should one’s car be. Today, his 2004 Nissan Titan seems worlds apart from the factory vehicle he drove off the dealer lot. After hooking up with a few car clubs and making some cosmetic updates, Borsa said he caught the bug. And when his Titan placed in his first car show, winning the award for best truck, he set his sights on the ultimate goal: having one of the top trucks in Maryland.
Borsa tried out a couple vinyl graphics packages on the Titan. The theme of the Silver Surfer was rotated three times in a year and half. Borsa eventually decided to scrap the vinyl and moved on to paint, creating a one-of-a-kind scheme accentuated by custom airbrushing. While he kept winning at local shows, he wanted to compete at larger regional events. After a misstep from a company that “promised him the world but never produced,” Borsa had the entire truck outfitted with Kicker audio components.
“The truck is very loud, the sound is crystal clear, and I’m extremely happy with the turnout,” said Borsa.
Next Borsa installed a custom engine hood and a Corvette exhaust out of the center of the back, followed up by a custom roll pan as well. While many people use a truck’s bed for hauling, the Titan’s bed is an audiovisual wonderland, featuring four 12-inch CVR subwoofers ported from the bed to the front of the cab in a cutout that runs through the back wall of the truck, while the interior features custom-molded door panels, black leather and blue suede seats, a custom-painted dash, a blue suede headliner, and custom sunroof. The interior is highlighted by strategically placed light-emitting diodes under the dash and in the doors.
The most difficult challenge during the build process was trying to create cash flow. With the truck not being sponsored, that financial burden fell squarely on Borsa. But to mitigate some of the cost, Borsa and friend Sonny Beavins did a lot of the work themselves.
Over the space of a year and a half, Borsa boasts an impressive 80 first-place wins and 10 best of shows for his truck. And yet the truck is his daily driver and sits in front of his house all year round, taking him back and forth to work each day. Borsa has even been asked to participate in calendar photo shoots and now has his eyes set on a few industry magazines. Even now, the truck is under the scalpel once more as Borsa prepares to redo the entire bed for next season.
What do you drive? A 2004 Nissan Titan crew cab pickup truck.
Why do you drive it? I needed a pickup truck and it was very roomy, has lots of power, and looked good. I am a very big guy and I needed something with space and for comfort.
What makes this vehicle so special? When I test drove it, I thought that it was perfect. If you see it driving down the street, it is definitely an eye-catcher.
What is your most memorable driving experience? My most up-to-date memorable drive was going to the ocean this past summer over the Bay Bridge. Two state police officers pulled up to the side of me while driving. I thought I was going to get pulled over for speeding. They were just checking my truck out and beeped and gave me a “thumbs up.” I smiled and waved and yelled, “thank you.” I then wiped the sweat off my forehead.
What was the first vehicle ever owned? The first vehicle I owned was a 1970 Firebird. It had a pearl white exterior and an ice blue interior. The car was hot and it was a chick magnet. I was in college at that time and it made me have a cool image as a teenager.
What music are you currently listening to in your vehicle? I listen to all types of music. There is no particular type.
And your first ticket? What was it for? My first ticket that I ever had was in Ocean City on my way back from a round of golf. I was on Coastal Highway and I didn’t have my seat belt on. That was two years ago. That same day I went to pay the ticket and that was the end of that.
