Truck of the month -- October 2001

"About 12 years ago, I was in England and saw a miniature red fire engine, and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen," said Tim Carlson, owner of Carlson Mechanical LLC in Mill Creek, Wash. "I said if I ever painted a truck, I would paint it red with the same color lettering." Ten years later, he did.

The truck, which will celebrate its second birthday this Christmas, is a fiery-red Isuzu with the Carlson Mechanical logo glowing in gold. The inside of the truck, designed by Carlson mechanic Bryan Monsaas, holds tools, an onboard air-compressor, a five-gallon water cooler, -- considered by Monsaas to be great for hot days with heavy work -- a 12-ft. pipe rack and locker boxes in the skirting.