Filthy Is a One-of-a-Kind, Big-Rig, Rubber-Shredder With More Power Than Should Be Legal

Folks, the yellow and chrome wonder before you has been dubbed nothing more than Filthy, and while the name doesn't quite fit this rig's appearance, it's once you see it fired up and spinning in place that everything makes sense. That's because this beauty is designed as nothing more than a burnout truck, and yes, it's one hell of a showstopper.

So, how did we get here? Well, Filthy's story was actually a seven-year one, started and completed by none other than Australia's Michael Lake, a trucker from Brisbane who's been surrounded by trucks his whole life. As he says, he "breaths trucks," and by the looks of Filthy, by god, I believe him!

Now, the video below highlights all that Filthy is about, and so, let's start off with the basis for what we see. Oh, and just to be clear, Michael worked on this bugger just about every day after work for those seven years I mentioned, but the payoff is a visual, auditive, and downright awe-inspiring spectacle like few, maybe even none before it or after.

Overall, it looks as though a Peterbilt body was used for this beast, but once all the custom paneling and chrome touches are thrown on, it barely resembles its former self. But, the real hot ticket here is this tractor's power level.

Because it's a burnout rig, and a heavy one at that, the level of power needed to spin those rear wheels is out of this world, for me anyway. For example, the engine is a 28-liter V12 Cummins 1710 with twin turbos and "all custom made."

As for the real juicy bits, those numbers, what blew me away was the ease and lack of amazement when Michael blurted out that this powerhouse is rated at 900 hp and able to spit out 4,000 lb-ft of torque. However, that's just what the engine is rated at, apparently stock or something like that, because Michael also mentions something about four turbos that can reach a peak of 2,300 hp...I don't even know what to say to that. I guess I don't need to, but the way it sounds is just fantastic.

With the power behind Filthy out of the way, let's take a closer look at all the other signature touches it's equipped with. For that, let's begin with one of Michael's favorite features, that front grill. Aside from the blinding chrome look it brings to the game, it sits above a hydraulic bumper that's equally chromed out and able to move out of the way to clear speed bumps and other obstacles road trips to and from shows may bring.

Heading toward the rear, the yellow paint job starts to be seen along the frame, fenders, and parts of the hood. The latter is more engine than hood, and this beauty's name can also be seen in the chrome work. Then, more and more shine, air filters, and the cab begins to take shape. Check out the sunvisor and black and chrome stacks toward the rear, not to mention the fifth wheel, which I'd never use but has been. Heck, this thing's got enough power to rip away from any trailer, like a cat with soda cans tied around its tail.

But, this story doesn't end here either; the interior has seen just as much attention as the exterior. Starting off, take note of the roll cage spotted inside, those cushion-covered bucket seats, and the absolutely flawless dashboard, the latter of which even lights up once the sun sets. Sadly, we don't get to see any of that action in the video below. Oh, the steering wheel is also a removable one.

Now, to answer the question on everyone's mind, how much Filthy may have cost to complete, let's play a little game. Before going on, feel free to comment on just how much cash you think went into this hunk of steel and diesel; no peeking.

Toward the end of Michael's interview with Ridiculous Rides, he mentions that Filthy only cost him about $50,000 to complete, which, if you ask me, isn't very much at all for something of this nature, but it gets even better; that's most likely in Australian Dollars, so in reality, a conversion like this can be achieved for around $32K (at current exchange rates). That sounds absolutely amazing if you ask me.

There just seems to be one catch to that number. By the looks of things, Michael owns all the equipment needed to achieve the work he did, and moreover, I don't think that includes the truck itself. Nonetheless, no matter how we look at it, it's one hell of a project; enjoy the show.