5-Minutes with Jason Hill of Hill’s Hot Rods
If you’ve been to any Goodguys events at Texas Motor Speedway, you’ve undoubtedly seen the bright red Peterbilt and matching trailer flanked by a host of cool squarebody trucks and muscle machines built by Hill’s Hot Rods. Jason Hill and his crew, or “Crüe” as they’re known, seem to have a good time wherever they go, greeting spectators with ’80s hair band tunes and trendsetting trucks.
Based in Lubbock, Texas, Hill’s Hot Rod’s has been pumping out trick trucks and cool rides for 30 years. The shop was building Chevy trucks long before their most recent wave of popularity, thanks in part to the abundance of trucks out in remote west Texas. It’s not all about trucks, though, as the Crüe has also built some respected muscle cars and street machines.
Jason makes no qualms about being a child of the ’80s and he embraces the experiences and good times that pre-date cell phones and the Internet. Cruising malls, hanging in parking lots with your buds, and coming of age when muscle cars and pickups were abundant and cheap…it’s like a scene from the movie “Dazed and Confused.” We caught a few minutes with Jason to see what he thinks about trucks, music, and the hot rod scene.
GG: You were on the forefront of the C10 truck movement. Did you ever think they would be this popular?
Jason Hill: Yes, I thought they would be this popular! It’s something almost everyone had in high school, or their dad or grandpa had one – so it’s sentimental. They are also very plentiful and could be inexpensive to do upgrades. Or, I guess I should say they used to be both of those things, but with their popularity they have become harder to find and parts are more expensive. I’ve been in business almost 30 years, but I was building trucks before trucks were cool. My first truck was in high school – an ’81 short wide C10, and I found every way possible to customize it. I even found a way to fill the bed with water for girls while we cruised! And I absolutely see it continuing. Squarebodies are stronger than ever and the second round of the OBS craze is just beginning!
GG: Tell us about your Build-a-Square program.
Hill: It was an idea we had to build a turnkey squarebody with different build levels and cost. You pick the color, interior color, and wheels for a base price, we supply the truck and build to order. The more you add or change, the more expensive it is. It could be on a 4/6 drop or with a chassis, along with more or less horsepower, to determine the level. The interior can also be upgraded – different gauges, leather or vinyl, but we have something that almost everyone can afford and make their own. The funny thing is we thought we could get a bunch of trucks ready in advance – but we’re so busy that never happened. We can also build an OBS in the program, so that’s the next step!
GG: We saw a Bandit-era Trans Am in your display in Texas. Do you see a surge in mid-’70s and early-’80s cars?
Hill: Yes. Between gen-two Camaros and Trans Ams, Grand Nationals, Mustangs, and Monte Carlo SSs, there’s plenty to build! They were all cool cars in their time. We’re all influenced by our youth. You may not have been able to afford one when you were young, but now you can – and you can make it better! Modern parts and upgrades are more plentiful for these cars, and you can do different things with them.
GG: Those years are right in your personal wheelhouse for starting to drive, right? We can see it around your display.
Hill: I’m definitely a poster child for the ’80s! I love the cars, the music, and the cruising. When we were in high school and college, we all cruised and talked cars and street raced. They were some of the most memorable times. I feel sorry for the youth of today because they don’t seem to cruise Main Street or hangout in parking lots talking and listening to ’80s hair bands.
GG: Those years are right in your personal wheelhouse for starting to drive, right? We can see it around your display.
Hill: I’m definitely a poster child for the ’80s! I love the cars, the music, and the cruising. When we were in high school and college, we all cruised and talked cars and street raced. They were some of the most memorable times. I feel sorry for the youth of today because they don’t seem to cruise Main Street or hangout in parking lots talking and listening to ’80s hair bands.
GG: You have quite a few Kiss collectibles; if you had to pick a concert, would it be Kiss or Motley Crue in their prime?
Hill: Motley Crue was pretty awesome in their prime. I saw them several times, even when they opened for Kiss. But I’ve been a Kiss fan since 1975 when I saw them for the first time in Lubbock with my older cousins, so I have to say Kiss! My wife even let me turn our pool room into a Kiss memorabilia display! I still have a Kiss lunchbox and belt buckles from 1975 that my mom saved for me. I can’t even count how many times I’ve seen Kiss over the years, and I even got to meet with Gene Simmons!
GG: You also have a lot of BMX bikes. How many, and what’s your favorite?
Hill: I currently have 11 BMX bikes, the majority of which are from the ’80s. Those are the bikes I target to collect. I have Mongoose, Redlines, and GTs, another obsession from when I was young. My favorite is a rare 24-inch Robinson Racing bike.
GG: What is your take on hot rodding today and where do you see things going for the next generation?
Hill: We need to get some young people involved or I’m afraid we might see it die off. There doesn’t seem to be the same interest or desire in a lot of young people to work on hot rods. As much of a truck person as I am, I wonder if the next generation will be more focused on imports like “Fast and Furious”-type builds. It’s so hard to predict and makes for an interesting question in another 10 years. I saw the OBSs coming back around, but I can’t imagine what people will want to build in 20-30 years. It just might still be squarebodies and ’69 Camaros!
