Hybrid. To gear heads this a foul, disdainful word usually associated with vehicles that hum instead of lope, that recharge though a wall outlet instead of sipping dyno-juice at a gas station, they’re ”green” and their evil owners aren’t satisfied with just owning these cars themselves, no, they want laws passed that will put your high-winding smally out to pasture F-O-R-E-V-E-R.

But alas, there are other types of hybrids — ones far more pleasing to the typical wrench that doesn’t have a trunk full of batteries but does have a V-8 under the hood! To be honest, we didn’t really know what to label this week’s submission to Reader’s Rides by owner/driver Kevin Chatelain. Is it a Chevota or a Toyevy? Maybe it’s a Toy-ev-ord. While most modern day hybrids measure their success in volts/hours-per-linear-kilometer with the boredometer pegged at the red line, Kevin measures the performance of his 1980 Toyota pickup in horsepower-per-quarter-mile. Kevin obviously thought it would be a sly idea to have a lightweight import truck with a small block chevy stroked-out to 406 cubes that is backed it up with powerglide tranny. All that bowtie power is sent rearward to previously mentioned Ford 9-inch rear end which sports a 4.56 gear set.

A tried and true set of leaf springs and good old fashioned slapper bars help stick the power to the track. 15-inch Weld Racing Draglite wheels give this screamer that ‘period correct’ look and Mickey Thompson rubber can be found at all four corners. Kevin caged up his beast for safety and added a side-exit exhaust so he can hear the sweet song of his small block 1320ft at a time. We dig the custom wing too!

Kevin usually terrorizes North Carolina’s Fayetteville Motorsports Park in this hodge-podge of a compact truck while competing mostly in footbrake/no box style 1/8 mile bracket events. His best ET so far has been a 6.68 at 100.49 mph with a 1.437 short time. Kevin was kind enough to send us a couple of snaps and even some on-track video. Thank you Kevin!

Whether you race your car or just like to rub it with a diaper at shows, we want to see it! If you’d like to have your baby (a car – not an actual baby) get some press here on Dragzine in an upcoming Reader’s Rides. Simply “like” us on Facebook and send us a direct message. Tell us about the life and times of your ride along with a complete list of its mods and specs. Remember, details are what tell the story, so the more you tell us the more we can brag about your pride and joy. Be sure to include at least one high resolution photo of your vehicle with each submission. All photos must be your own work or come with the written permission of the original photographer in order to be published. So there ya go, ya Wrench-Monkey. Who’s next?