Haul of Fame: Inside Ivy’s Poison – The Wild 1986 Peterbilt 359 That Refused to Die

If you hang around truck shows long enough, you start hearing the same names over and over. Some are people. Some are companies. And a rare few are trucks.

Ivy’s Poison is one of those trucks.

This chopped, dropped, tribal-flamed 1986 Peterbilt 359 is the kind of ride that makes people stop mid-sentence and go, “Wait… what is THAT?” Built with serious love, serious parts, and a whole lot of attitude by Chrome Shop Mafia and the crew at 4 State Trucks, this rig is old-school cool with a show-truck twist.

In this Haul of Fame feature, we’re cruising through the story of Ivy’s Poison: how it was built, what makes it special, and why it still draws a crowd years after its debut.

In this exclusive interview, Joe Eldridge aka "Truck Show Joe" sums it up perfectly “It’s everything wild and nothing mild.”

The Ivy Boys, Southern Transport, and the Name Behind the Fame

You’d be forgiven for calling it “Poison Ivy” the first time. A lot of people do.

But the story behind the name is personal.

Why It’s Ivy’s Poison (Not Poison Ivy)

The truck is owned by the Ivy brothers, Jonathan and Thomas Ivy, who run Southern Transport. The name is a play on their last name: it’s their poison, their obsession, their project.

“That’s why it’s Ivy’s Poison, not Poison Ivy. We don’t get mad when people say it wrong, but that’s the story.”

It’s a truck that’s as much a part of the family as it is a part of the show circuit.

Meet Ivy’s Poison: A Classic 359 Turned Full Showpiece

Originally a standard 1986 Peterbilt 359, Ivy’s Poison underwent a complete ground-up transformation in the late 2000s during the iconic Trick My Truck era.

While it never starred on the show, it lived in the background of those years—part of the same creative energy and custom-build culture Chrome Shop Mafia was known for.

The Big-Ticket Upgrades Include:

• 3408 V8 CAT engine, fully rebuilt and painted
• Spicer 6/4 transmission with a true twin-stick setup
• 333-inch wheelbase
• 1993-era factory Peterbilt air ride
• Full custom paint and graphics by Wild West
• Chopped cab and sleeper – 4" removed
• Suicide doors, shaved handles, and electric poppers\
• Smoothed frame, custom covers, painted fifth wheel
• Complete audio/visual upgrade with dual TVs, amps, and custom enclosure

This wasn’t a quick makeover. It was a full redesign—engine out, interior reworked, paint stripped and reshaped, and dozens of hours smoothing factory parts to achieve that glass-like finish.

The Heart of the Beast – 3408 V8 CAT and 6-in-4 Transmission

You can’t put “wild” tribal paint on a stock motor and call it a day.

Underneath the show-shine, Ivy’s Poison backs up its looks with serious hardware.

3408 V8 CAT – Old-School Muscle

Before

After

Under the hood sits a 3408 V8 CAT, fully pulled apart, rebuilt, and painted before the truck ever hit the show floor.

This isn’t just a detail-for-show engine bay – it’s a proper old-school power plant with that unmistakable V8 CAT attitude.

Everything is painted and detailed, turning the engine bay into its own display:

• Painted block and accessories
• Clean layout
• Show-ready finish that still knows how to work
• Twin-Stick 6-in-4 – The Real Driver’s Setup

Backing up that V8 is a 6-in-4 transmission, making this rig a true twin-sticker. This is the kind of setup that separates the “I drive automatics” crowd from the die-hard gear-jammers.

There’s even a little “insider” accessory in the sleeper that seasoned two-stick drivers will recognize immediately – the kind of thing that always gets comments from folks who know how to run a twin-stick the right way.

100% Custom Aftermarket Wheels, Tires & Brakes

JTX4 Wheels with Large Cutouts

The JTX4 wheel designs with a deep blue paint add a bold presence to the truck while also reducing overall wheel weight and height.

Custom Painted Drum Covers

It’s a small touch that ties the entire them together. These complementary drum cover color adds more depth and contrast to the open-faced wheels.

Chrome 10-hole Wheels

The high-luster chrome plating adds an instant shine to the wheels. They’re also easier to maintain than aluminum, and perfectly match the chrome accent trims, exhaust stacks, and stainless-steel bumper.

Exterior Peterbilt 359 Body, Frame & Chassis Upgrades

Chopped cab and sleeper (4 inches removed from both – “chopped and dropped”)

This is an aluminum polished sleeper trim siding with a laser-etched custom CNC-lasered brand, “IVY,” proudly posted in the center.

Smooth Side Rail Covers

These fabricated metal covers hide any of the exposed slide rail mechanisms to give that smooth show truck appearance. It creates a smooth, continuous frame line that complements the custom blue paint job and accent colors.

Smoothed and Fully Painted Fifth Wheel (still functional)

These shaved casting lines that have been sanded, prepped, and painted, offer a seamless show-truck look that highlights the smooth frame for that high-end finish.

Smoothed Frame and Components (Sanded & Finished for Show)

This gets rid of any factory imperfections for a smooth-as-glass show finish that enhances the paint’s reflectivity and depth. It turns the chassis into a centerpiece.

Aircraft Style Fuel Caps

On custom trucks, it’s the small details that bring it to life. Ivy’s Poison features flush-mount, machined cap covers add yet another touch of personalization to the rig. It bolsters the overall refinement of the tank’s appearance.

Suicide Doors (Rear-Hinge)

The doors hinge from the rear which requires some significant reinforcement. This adds to the dramatic visual impact of Ivy’s Poison, and it also gives easier access to the cab.

Shaved door handles (no exterior handles, clean look)

These door handles add to the ultra-clean minimalistic external profile. Think better aerodynamics on top of a smooth, external look.

Electric Door Poppers with a Key Fob

This setup features a safety backup switch for the doors. 

Here's the first thing you notice: there are NO exterior door handles. That’s because the truck runs suicide doors with electric poppers controlled by a key fob.

Pop the fob, the door jumps, and you’re in. For safety and practicality, there’s also a default switch just in case the batteries get low or something fails—because there’s nothing worse than being locked out of your own show truck.

Not only do these details boost accessibility and safety, but they also look sleek. Seamless integration with shaved doors adds convenience and a more modern feel to the 359 model.

Roll-Down Rear Window in the Sleeper

One of the sleeper’s most unique features is the roll-down back window. That’s not something you see every day on a big rig.

This fabricated opening offers more sleep comfort due to the ability to get more ventilation into the cab. This is a truly unique show-truck feature that’s rarely seen on Peterbilt 359s.

Truck Show Joe says the rare roll-down back window always get’s a lot of attention at truck shows as he often hears passerby’s say “They spent all that money and didn’t put a back window in it?”

Joe likes to leave it halfway down at shows. He says “Fully down, it looks like there’s no glass there at all, and people love to assume someone “forgot” it. Then you roll it back up and watch the lightbulbs go on.”

Trucks with roll-down rear windows are still rare today. Back when this was built, it was practically unheard of. It’s one more example of this build being ahead of its time.

The Paint, Graphics & Finish

The entire truck is wrapped in a tribal paint scheme laid out and sprayed by a painter known as Wild West, working with Chrome Shop Mafia and 4 State Trucks at the time.

The little details, like the raised-edge graphics on the body of the truck add another layer of uniqueness to the rig.

• Full painted engine bay (block, accessories, detailing).
• Custom paint on various interior pieces (dash, trim, cooler, etc.).
• Custom painted Igloo cooler: The cooler is yet another small interior accessory that matches the overall blue color theme.

The Interior Accessories that Boost Comfort & Style

The interior add-ons only add to the overall vibe of the electric blue exterior, with complementary flooring, chrome-polished shifter base trim, and a custom-painted dash.

The minor details that perfect the interior are mirrored on the exterior, namely the repeated use of tribal pattern designs painted across the cab body.

These are also embroidered into the interior upholstery of the Peterbilt 359, from the door siding and cab roof to the seats.

Here are the biggest highlights!

Custom-Painted Interior Dashboard & Flooring

This is a show-ready painted dashboard that complements the entire sleeper cab interior.

Reupholstered Semi Truck Seating

Brand new interior stitch pattern designs for a more luxurious and personalized feel to the cabin space. The reupholstered semi truck seats pair perfectly with the other interior upholstery upgrades and trim pieces.

An Old-School Air Ride with a Story

Most people notice the paint first. But the suspension setup on Ivy’s Poison is quietly just as cool.

1993-Era Factory Peterbilt Air Ride

Under the back end sits a factory air ride from a 1993-range Peterbilt – one of Peterbilt’s early attempts at a rear air ride system. That’s a piece of history on its own.

These early systems worked well when they were new, but with time and bushings wearing out, they developed a reputation for being a bit… “floaty.”

Most people swapped them out long ago. But on Ivy’s Poison?

It’s still there, maintained and preserved as part of the build’s identity.

It’s a perfect example of how this truck blends history, experimentation, and custom fabrication into one wild package.

Aftermarket Audio/Video & Electronic Upgrades for the 359 Cab

They had installed a custom AV and stereo for the head unit/DVD/TV setup. This was truly the cherry on top for this custom truck build.

Completing a Fully Upgraded Stereo System

The new audio system includes new sub-woofer boxes and amp layouts, transforming the interior rig from a basic in-cab sound setup into a high-quality noise profile with an even higher-quality visual aesthetic that matches the interior custom upgrades.

Two TVs in the cab/sleeper: The dual-screen setup in the sleeper helps with staving off boredom and keeping the driver entertained after a long day on the road.

DVD player (relocated to rear so you can run movies and music separately): Enables running movies and music separately and simultaneously, while giving a clean dash layout and integrating to the rest of the AV system.

Head unit in dash (originally acted as DVD player)

Why Ivy’s Poison Belongs in the Haul of Fame

Ivy’s Poison isn’t just another pretty Peterbilt. It represents:

• A bold era in custom truck building
• The partnership and craftsmanship of Chrome Shop Mafia and 4 State Trucks
• A family’s pride in their rig
• A style that came full circle from “too much” to “timeless”

From its 3408 V8 CAT and 6-in-4 transmission, to the raised tribal paint, suicide doors, roll-down rear window, and fully painted interior, this truck is a rolling reminder that going all-in on a vision is always worth it—even if the world doesn’t “get it” right away.

How Chrome Shop Mafia & 4 State Trucks Crafted a Custom Rig

If Ivy’s Poison has sparked ideas for your own build—whether it’s:

• A full custom paint job
• Interior upgrades
• Custom wheels and covers
• Classic CAT power and show-truck detailing —our crew at 4 State Trucks and Chrome Shop Mafia is here to help you bring your own “nothing mild” vision to life.

Ivy’s Poison was a complete ground-up custom build of a classic Peterbilt 359, from the cosmetic detailing and polishing of the exterior body to the engine removal and replacement.

Because at the end of the day, that’s what the Haul of Fame is all about: spotlighting the rigs that prove trucking isn’t just a job… it’s a lifestyle, a craft, and sometimes, a little bit of poison you just can’t shake.