When building a project car you have three choices for the frame; go with what the car came with, which is rare to find a useable frame let alone time consuming. If you’re a fabricator you can build it on your own, spending hundreds of hours in the garage cutting, welding, measuring, and even shaping. Or you can do what so many builders do and go to Total Cost Involved.

One eye-catching truck that TCI was involved with at this year’s SEMA show is the Bankrupt Blues 1940 Ford truck owned by Mike Young and built by Chaotic Customs. “This was supposed to just be a nice driver,” says Young, whose words we’ve heard echoed by other owners and builders endlessly over the years.

According to Chaotic Customs’ Chris Carlson the TCI chassis is one of the best to work with. Carlson says they’re easy to set up, and to get the vehicle ride, handling, and traction where it should be. Carlson goes on to say that the TCI chassis is very easy to get the alignment set right on. “If you set up the chassis like Total Cost Involved does, they ride right, they handle well, and they hook up,” Carlson says.

A Chevy LS engine under the hood provides power. There isn’t a single panel that hasn’t been reworked in someway throughout the truck. The rear fenders have been reworked to feature Corvette style lights, not to mention the shape of the wheel housings as well. The cab has been chopped and sectioned, as well as receiving a custom rear window that appears to have been inspired by the ’63 Corvette.

Bankrupt Blues was featured in the NAPA booth at this year’s SEMA show. Martin Senor paint is responsible for the truck’s custom color. The wood for the custom bed comes from Bedwood. Of course underneath the truck is a Total Cost Involved chassis with independent front suspension, and a coil over rear suspension with Ford nine-inch differential. Inside the truck an Ididit column is in good company with a set of Dakota Digital gauges on hand, as well as custom leather from Townsend Leather.

This truck was the second collaboration between Mike Young and Chaotic Customs, we look forward to seeing what they dream up next.