Modifying your car is a time-honored tradition among enthusiasts. Whether it's upgrading the performance for optimal track times, adding some awesome cosmetic enhancements, or just simply making your vehicle your own, modifications are an integral part of car culture.

While cars receive most of the attention when it comes to modifications, pickup trucks provide an equally amazing platform for customization that can easily result in some seriously badass rides. And just like with cars, these modifications range from gorgeous aesthetic makeovers to maximum power race upgrades.

The diversity among modified pickup trucks easily rivals what can be seen among modified cars. In some cases, the results of pickup modification can be even faster and more thrilling than cars.

The owners of these old pickups knew this. And while they didn't start off very pretty, with some work, these faithful old machines now look absolutely spectacular. So, keep reading to see the amazing results of 15 people who modified their old trucks.

15 Ford F-100

james hetfield f-100
Via Whichcar.com.au

Belonging to metal legend James Hetfield, if you're looking for a gorgeous custom vintage truck, this is definitely the "One." Starting life as a humble work truck, Hetfield customized every aspect of it in classic Hot Rod style. From the precise pin-striping to the jaw-dropping stance, this Hot Rod truck is as sick as it gets.

14  Mazda B-Series

Via Hagerty

A project of MotorTrend's fan-favorite show "Roadkill," this sweet old Mazda B-Series got some badass modifications by the show's enthusiastic duo. With a big Oldsmobile 455 V8 in the back, a custom air intake system, and a perfect amount of Patina, the "Mazdarati" is as cool as it gets. What isn't cool though, is that someone stole it in 2018.

13 Subaru BRAT

Via NZ Autocar

Subaru's BRAT (known as the "Brumby" in Australia) mini-trucks are anything but fast. Designed to be essentially disposable work vehicles, they struggled to get up to highway speeds on flat ground. To create the ultimate oxymoron, this Brumby was given a 1000 HP EJ25 paired to a 2 speed Powerglide transmission, letting it do a quarter-mile in a mere 7 seconds.

12 Datsun 620

Via Youtube

There's something undeniably cool about old Japanese pickup trucks like the Datsun 620. Whether it's the classic looks, the small and nimble size, or the simplicity (allowing for easy engine swaps), it's hard not to love them. As such, they're excellent platforms for modifying, and this one has been modified with the full drift car treatment, and aptly named "666."

11 GMC Syclone

Via Pinterest

The GMC Syclone was a vehicle ahead of its time. In an era when pickup trucks and SUVs were as utilitarian as possible, the concept of a stock truck being able to outrun a Ferrari sounded like a dream. But the Syclone made that dream a reality, offering wicked performance straight from the factory. Yet that wasn't enough for some people, as this Syclone has been turned into a full-on Time Attack racer.

10 Ford F-1

ol smokey burnout truck
Via Pinterest

There's something cool about rusted old trucks being restored to driving condition, what should have been in a scrap heap decades ago can prove its worth once again. But what happens when someone wants to turn a pile of rust into a 200-mph monster? Ol' Smokey is the answer. This antique Ford truck was given a NASCAR-style tube-frame chassis and a Cummins Turbo Diesel giving it well over 1000 hp.

RELATED: 15 Classic American Pickups You Can Have For Less Than $10,000

9 Subaru Baja Turbo

Via Imgur

The Subaru Baja is a love-it-or-hate-it vehicle. A failure in every sense of the word, the Baja offered inferior performance and cargo space for more money than people were willing to spend. This Baja, affectionately dubbed "Yeti," has been given the performance it could only dream of, with a full STI motor and transmission swap, on top of tank tracks and a suspension that allows it to dominate off-road.

8 Chevrolet K30

green vintage chevy truck
Via Motor1.com

Off-road trucks with massive lift kits are nothing new. Plenty of people have reaped the benefits of a beefy off-road truck build, but few have done it with as beautiful a truck as this Chevy K30. Named the "Ponderosa," this gorgeous classic was given a full set of off-road upgrades, a dually rear axle, and a Cummins turbodiesel that lays down 1300 lb-ft of torque.

7 Ford F-150

Via The Supercar Blog

Ken Block is an absolute legend in the car world, and for good reason. While his custom Mustang known as "Hoonicorn" already seemed to be the peak of monstrously overpowered stunt cars, taking a vintage F-150 and adding almost 1000 hp proved that there are still many vehicles Ken Block can, and will, turn into tire-shredding machines.

RELATED: Ken Block Climbs China's Tianmen Mountain In 'Climbkhana-Two'

6 Chevrolet S10

Via Dragzine

Named "La Vicktoria," this mean and mighty Chevy truck was turned from reliable work vehicle into a quarter-mile monster. Everything about this build is certifiably badass, from the fender exit exhaust to the cool blue paint. Unfortunately, during a drag race in 2016, La Vicktoria lost traction and ended up wrecking into the wall.

5 Jeep Commanche

Via Youtube

While on-road speed is cool and all, sometimes owning and modifying an old truck means off-road freedom. Such is the case with this custom Jeep Commanche, modified in the style of Overland rigs. Think about it, you can drive off-road through places most wouldn't dare to, and when the day's adventure comes to an end, the truck becomes your campsite with little extra work.

4 Dodge Power Wagon

Via Top Speed

Speaking of off-road builds, it doesn't get much cooler than this old Dodge. Starting off life as a post-war utility truck, these old Power Wagons already were paragons of durability and all-terrain ruggedness. But to take things even further, this Power Wagon was given an extra axle, beefy tires, and upgraded suspension.

3 GMC Sonoma

Via LSX Magazine

Every year, the most daring speed demons and talented mechanics descend upon the Bonneville Salt Flats to push man and machine to the limit. In such an open and flat piece of land, vehicles can reach their true top speed. To test the limits of their old GMC Sonoma, Dave Kixmiller and his team created this beast, capable of reaching 222 mph on the salt flats.

RELATED: 5 Salt Flat Racers That Can't Keep Up (And 15 That Are Epic) 

2 Studebaker C-Cab

Via Grease Girl

While more modern vehicles may be the safer (and usually faster) choice for land speed cars, for Norris Andersen, this 1940s work truck was the perfect vehicle. Equipped with 2 V8 engines pushing out nearly 2000 hp combined, this decidedly un-aerodynamic vehicle managed to crack 190 mph on the salt flats - way faster than Studebaker engineers ever dreamed of this truck going.

1 ZIL-130

Via Pinterest

To round things off, here's a rather quirky beast. While the other trucks on this list are Japanese and American work trucks, this monster started off life as a military transport for the Soviet Union. It's rare to see military vehicles get a full Hot Rod treatment, but this is a home run of a build. Taking the quirky aesthetic of the ZIL truck and giving it a rowdy makeover has done wonders, and the results are absolutely stunning.

NEXT: 15 Classic Pickups Collectors Don't Want To Buy Anymore