Meet SHOWTIME on the Flat Lot during the 20th Anniversary Main Event
Saturday August 17th 8am -5pm
ARFT’S SPEED SHOP “Home of Showtime the Motor City Monster”
A Tribute to a son, brother and friend
Brian Shell and his best friend Paul Arft were both car guys, they worked in the industry and on their projects after hours and weekends. Brian a painter, and Paul a fabricator. In the early 80s, the monster truck scene took off and the pair was inspired. Brian a 4WD enthusiast had a 1978 Bronco which had a number of lift and tire changes before like many trucks was modified into a monster truck. In 1984 they created “SHOWTIME” with its bright yellow paint and classic 80s stripes riding high on 73-inch Firestone tires and multiple chrome shocks and lights. Brian and Paul toured and competed all over the United States plus Canada through the early 90s at in-door custom car shows, tractor pulls, and monster truck events before Brian eventually sold the truck.
Brian passed away in 2011, and with the rebirth of interest in old-school monster trucks, Paul and his son Carl (also a fabricated) decided to re-create ShowTime, as a tribute. The pair started hunting for the original truck last known to be in Pennsylvania had been cut up and scrapped. They located a 1978 Bronco and hunted for era-correct parts. The build started in the fall of 2016 and was finished in the spring of 2017 with the father and son doing all the fabrication and painting, themselves.
Specifications
- Owner……………Paul Arft
- Vehicle………….1978 Bronco
- Engine…………..460cid
- Transfer Case…..2-1/2 ton Military
- Axles……………. 5-ton Military
- Suspension …… 5-ton Military Springs, 20 shocks
- Tires …………… 73-inch Firestones
- Features…. 16 KC Lights, custom bumpers, louver grill, roll bar, bed cover, tilt hood
