Race Driver to Auction Tundra for Charity

Posted by Mark Williams | June 22, 2012

BJ Tundra

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Clint Bowyer is looking to auction off this pretend classic pickup parts hauler at the Barrett-Jackson Orange County auction this weekend in California. Our friends at Autoblog point out there is very little on this truck that looks like a pickup from the 1950s or 1960s, but then again, they say, neither does a new F-150, Ram or half-ton pickup truck from GM.

All the proceeds from the sale will go to the Emporia Community Foundation, which is based in Bowyer's hometown of Emporia, Kan.

Erick Brockmeyer Designs and custom painter Jason Jewett (owner of Red House Custom Paints) created this Toyota Tundra, which features a red patina paint job to make it look like a well-used, weathered "tri-five"-style work truck. Additional '50s-style design elements include a roof visor; custom wheels; louvered tailgate; vertical bar grille; white bumpers, mirrors and grille; a wood bed and wood bed stakes; and blanket upholstered seats.

Bowyer said he wanted to take a brand-new Tundra and make it look like it had been working on a farm for 50 or 60 years. We're told Bowyer will likely head straight from his race this weekend in Northern California to the Southern California venue to be part of the actual sale of the truck.

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Comments

Mater!!!

Posted by: Brent | Jun 22, 2012 6:13:54 PM

junk yards are paying good now.

Posted by: rj | Jun 22, 2012 6:29:30 PM

Think I'll pass on this bid. Poor Clint stuck with Toyota now since Richard Childress drop him from Chevy. sad sad days

Posted by: johnny doe | Jun 22, 2012 7:23:28 PM

Cool unique idea for charity I approve

Posted by: moparman | Jun 22, 2012 7:46:12 PM

LMFAO!

Posted by: Frank | Jun 22, 2012 8:54:56 PM

UGLY!

Posted by: HEMI V8 | Jun 22, 2012 10:38:44 PM

Or they could have picked up an old Hilux and reworked everything but the body.

Posted by: Tom with a Ranger | Jun 22, 2012 11:32:07 PM

just another boring ugly tundra!

Posted by: Kemo | Jun 23, 2012 12:42:18 AM

Was the guy who painted this on an acid trip and then tweeked on crystal meth to calm his nerves?
I have nothing against the Tundra, but this is ugly.

I hope it sells for a decent price as it is for a good cause.

Posted by: Lou | Jun 23, 2012 1:04:57 AM

Lou,

do you think someone that was tripping on crystal meth then took acid would be able to paint this truck?

He probably wouldnt even be able to change his diaper, or want to leave the couch lol.

Posted by: Allistar Evans | Jun 23, 2012 8:00:39 AM

in my best Scottish accent... "You're a walking contradiction"

Posted by: cyberpine | Jun 23, 2012 8:23:11 AM

LOL!

it is a nice truck!
but what is under the hood it would look cool if it had a blower.

hehe! one time took acid then drove to uptown stick my had out window oooh S*ht its raining blood! look the sun its so hot its burning.....haha!LOL!

Posted by: Big Roy | Jun 23, 2012 8:35:02 AM

at least it's for a good cause, but do they have any idea there were no toyota pickup trucks around in the 50-60's, (around here, or full size)? and all they had to do is put one on an American farm for a few yrs. and it would wear just like they made it seam too! and it wasn't acid that did this, it was lots and lots of good ol shin that did this! I didn't think you could make a tundra any uglier than it is new, but I stand corrected!

Posted by: sandman4X4 | Jun 23, 2012 9:22:40 AM

oh one mre thing, instead of toyota on the doors, they should have put Papason Sanford &little Sanford on them.

Posted by: sandman4X4 | Jun 23, 2012 9:24:56 AM

Blech... I just threw up in my mouth a little!

Posted by: OH Sparky | Jun 23, 2012 9:44:31 AM

I would rather drive a GM product than be seen in that thing! That says it all!

Posted by: Len | Jun 23, 2012 10:02:47 AM

While I think the oversize yellow wheels, the visor and the patina make it look kind of I silly, I like it. One of the things I like about the Tundra is that the curves and bulges in the body are reminiscent of a 50's or 60's era truck. That, to me, is more appealing than looking like the race car I cut out of a block of wood when I was in the cub scouts.

Posted by: bored | Jun 23, 2012 10:07:06 AM

EPIC FAIL !!!!!

I just noticed again how Toyota copied the Dodge RAM with its front end styling cues,but again epically failed !!

Posted by: Karl with a C , Drives a Ford but wants a RAM !Had a Toyota but it was a epic lemon | Jun 23, 2012 10:24:23 AM

@Allistar Evans - if he wasn't on meth and acid when they apinted it, they definately were on it when they came up with the paint scheme. LOL
@Brent - it does look like a cartoon character. Tow Mater's cousin "Toy Mater" ;)

Posted by: Lou | Jun 23, 2012 2:24:29 PM

wow first time ever i was edited........... sorry mark.

so what i said a little nicer is its amazing how many haters are on this site. a guy puts a tundra up for a charity cause and all people on here do is hate............ amazing

Posted by: hemi lol | Jun 23, 2012 6:12:40 PM

@hemi lol, Ever wonder why no one collects toyota's. Because
they are disposable. They are like paper plates. You toss them in the trash when you are done with them.

Posted by: HEMI V8 | Jun 23, 2012 8:04:01 PM

@hemi lol - I have nothing against the truck or the charity, just the hideous paint job.

Posted by: Lou | Jun 23, 2012 8:31:07 PM

It's not just the paint that looks hideous.

I hope Toyota gets their truck right with the next Tundra. I'll be the first to stand up and applaud.

Posted by: Mike | Jun 23, 2012 8:44:41 PM

OMG! Epic fail! Charity and sponsorship has certainly reached it's plateau! Keep the truck and just donate the money!

Posted by: Glenn | Jun 23, 2012 10:08:39 PM

"Bidding for the truck started out slowly, sticking at $30,000, but after Bowyer added a driver suit and a trip to next year's Daytona 500 the price tag skyrocketed to a final price of $100,000."

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/23/custom-toyota-tundra-pickup-raises-100-000-for-charity-at-barre/

Posted by: Greg B. | Jun 24, 2012 5:44:33 AM

what they sould have used is one of those new (Southern ) trucks, the ones that look like a early 50"s Chevy, but is all new and pwered by Ford! it would have been more $$$, but it would have looked the part, not to mention a LOT better!

Posted by: sandman4X4 | Jun 24, 2012 10:23:48 AM

Ugly--and a dumb idea in general. It would look just as ugly/phony no matter what new pickup was used.

They should have went the opposite direction and done a modern prerunner/sport truck theme.

Posted by: Dav | Jun 24, 2012 1:08:17 PM

Dav:::: google southern motor company, $68K Chevy powered from 5.3,6.0,7.0 up to 550hp!

Posted by: sandman4X4 | Jun 24, 2012 3:58:52 PM

As a Tundra fan and as a general truck enthusiast, I think it's always cool to see a custom truck.

However, I gotta say that I don't get it. The Tundra has about as much a connection to the 1950's as I do (and I was born in 1978).

I'd much rather see Toyota embrace custom trucks that appeal to younger consumers, because that's the future of the brand.

Posted by: TundraHQ | Jun 25, 2012 11:14:06 AM

To make it more realistically 50s, they should of replaced "Toyota" with "Toyopet";)

Posted by: jamcool | Jun 25, 2012 2:44:05 PM

@jamcool - I had to look that one up, interesting thought.
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Museum/data_e/images/a03_16_1_1_2.jpg

Posted by: Lou | Jun 26, 2012 12:37:28 AM