OK, so first off, this has nothing to do with the Holy Trinity of car presenters from the UK. Those chaps have moved on from British Broadcasting’s sacred car program way back in 2015. But the brand has lived on in various forms, and although the BBC themselves have since cancelled the show entirely earlier this year, they do maintain a YouTube presence that uploads fresh content regularly.
Rolling under the banner of “American Tuned,” it spotlights various vehicles that are owned by Americans, and modified by Americans. Once such example that would intrigue most of you, is this highly-modified TrailBlazer SS that was featured a few months back. Packing a wallop that depicts over 1000hp, it’s both interesting and refreshing to see a lower-key, but honest, review of an American vehicle from someone representing the TopGear brand.
This example, owned by Thomas Hatcher, started out in life as an AWD example (RWD-only versions were built, too), but as his taste and style in speed were different than what the Trailblazer originally offered. With a background littered with Japanese tuner cars, Thomas wanted to lend that “tuner theme” to the truck, but in his own way. Under the hood, where you would typically find an LS2, perhaps even an LSA supercharger upgrade. Not this one, though.
Implementing some of that JDM tuner spirit, we see an LSX engine, but with a hairdryer, rather than a blower. There’s also aftermarket brass wheels, huge Brembo brakes, and plenty of carbon fiber. We can break the truck down a lot further, but we figured that we’d let Thomas do it for you in the video above.
Rick Seitz is the owner and founder of GMEFI Magazine, and has a true love and passion for all vehicles. When he isn’t tuning, testing, or competing with the brand’s current crop of project vehicles, he’s busy tinkering and planning the next modifications for his own cars.
