Creating Mayhem
Jersey’s Elizabeth Truck Center-led builders weave the hottest mods into an ’08 International ProStar for some truly twisted results
By Bruce W. Smith
(Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Truck Cent
er)
Jersey isn’t the first place one would think of being a hotbed for customizing trucks. Gangsters ripping them off and hijacking their loads? Sure. But truck dealerships ripping a new rig apart and transforming what was once ordinary into an extraordinary work of rolling artisanship and craftsmanship? Fuhgetaboutit.
Such misconceptions are quickly dispelled the moment one lays eyes on Mayhem, James Carello’s totally tricked-out ’08 International ProStar.
Carello, the man behind Regional International in Henrietta, New York, wanted a showpiece rig for the corporation. It had to be aerodynamic and fuel-efficient, exude high-tech thinking and turn heads. The ProStar was the perfect base truck – and New Jersey’s Elizabeth Truck Center, custom paint maker House of Kolor, and Cenzi Custom Cycles of Spencerport, New York, the perfect customizing partners.
Together they have created what may be one of the most eye-catching aerodynamic custom rigs on the road.
First off, Mayhem’s frame was stretched from 220 inches to 340, topped off with a one-piece stainless deck plate while the rear of frame was filled and a custom rear light bar fabricated. While the craftsmen at ETC were at it, they flipped every huck bolt so the frame rails looked clean, shortened the hood, and dropped on a custom sleeper.
Not satisfied with the ordinary, they took a few cues from car customizers, adding lengthened Lamborghini-style gull-wing doors, converting the single exhaust to duals, adding custom fairings all around, and building a one-off visor and fifth wheel.
Then they had a friend CNC Mayhem’s Alcoa wheels on his machine for an even cooler look, complemented by Firestone 285/75R24.5s and one-off fenders by Cool Truck Components.
No custom rig is complete without something special on the inside. Mayhem boasts a totally custom interior, including a wraparound couch in the sleeper, but it’s the killer sound system that impresses most.
It’s anchored by a Kenwood head unit dumping into a 6,000-watt Kicker system consisting of no less than four 12-inch subs (beneath the couch), perfectly tuned to eight speakers all in custom enclosures.
Of course, both cab and sleeper are wrapped in Dynamat sound-deadening insulation.
When it’s time to watch videos, Carello has his choice of sitting back and enjoying a 37-inch flat-panel HD in the back, a seven-inch LCD in the dash or a 12-inch above — all tied in to Mayhem’s sound system.
To top off all the custom work, Tony Cenzi of Cenzi Custom Cycles traveled to ETC’s paint shop to put his extraordinary motorcycle painting talents to work on a much larger canvas. Using House of Kolor paints, they turned the bland ProStar into a kaleidoscope of color.
But the painting didn’t go quite as planned. According Carello’s son Jason, who is Mayhem’s handler, and Anthony Pesce, the head of customizing at ETC, this is the step leading to the truck’s name.
“It seems nothing went to plan building the truck,” says the younger Carello. “The paint job wasn’t cooperating and things overall were not going smooth as we rushed to get it completed before the 2008 Mid-America Truck Show. So in the end we named it Mayhem because that’s exactly what it was around the ETC shop.”
Mayhem made a minor debut at the International exhibit next to the Overdrive Pride and Polish lot at Mid-America last year, but its show-truck grand entrance came three months later at the Pride and Polish at the Great West Truck Show in Las Vegas. To no one’s surprise, it cleaned up, taking First in Limited Mileage Paint Bobtail, tying for First in Limited Mileage Interior, and taking Second overall in Limited Mileage Bobtail.
Word has it Mayhem’s newest role will be hauling a brand new International LoneStar to shows later this year. – CR
(For in-depth images of the ETC build in-progress, click here.)
Spec’s:
TRUCK NAME: Mayhem
OWNER: James Carello, Henrietta, New York
MODEL: ’08 International ProStar
BUILT BY: Regional International & Elizabeth Truck Center
ENGINE: 525-hp Cummins ISX; painted; custom 8-inch dual exhaust
TRANSMISSION: Eaton Fuller RTLO18913
SUSPENSION: Factory air front/rear
PAINT/GRAPHICS: House of Kolor products; Graphics by Tony Cenzi, Cenzi Custom Cycles; Paint by Elizabeth Truck Center
INTERIOR MODS: Full custom with wraparound sofa in sleeper; 6,000W 12-speaker Kenwood/Kicker sound system; 37-in. flat screen; multiple DVD screens; sound deadening throughout
EXTERIOR MODS: Shortened hood; tandem front/rear light bars; one-off skirts and fenders; 340-inch stretched wheelbase; frame filled
and hucks reversed; custom fifth wheel; extended Lamborghini doors; custom visor and rear panel; CNC’d Alcoa wheels; much more
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