If you happen to spot a six-wheeled, decked-out Jeep roaming the streets of Salt Lake City like the apocalypse is near, don’t worry. It’s just Utah Jazz center Hassan Whiteside heading to work.
Whiteside gave Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune the full tour of his custom ride, which the 32-year-old named “Big Shirley”, and it really is something else. After spending nearly $330,000 on his creation, the result was a machine tough enough to make winter in the mountains a mere inconvenience at best.
Not that Whiteside knew he’d be living there when his project began in 2019 as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. Two years, a lot of money and 9,000 miles on the odometer later, Big Shirley can’t be stopped—as long as it doesn’t need to refuel.
Did I linger after practice was over one day just so I could get an up-close look at Big Shirley and hear Hassan give Andy all the gloriously ridiculous details? Yes, yes I did. https://t.co/QDRkARH66E pic.twitter.com/LuvswE1v4M
— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) December 23, 2021
Whiteside said just driving from his home to the arena for practice and games would burn up a full tank of gas. He had to add an additional fuel tank just to get the capacity up to 34 gallons.
I actually paid for Big Shirley from Crypto profit my profile pic actually worth more ….Wow I love this #NFT and #CRYPTO Space 🚀🌙😎 https://t.co/iORaov8bug
— Hassan Whiteside (@youngwhiteside) December 23, 2021
Per Larsen:
“It was created by, in Whiteside’s words, “a mixture of a bunch of crazy people that did a great job.” Whiteside said four car modding shops worked on different aspects of the project, among them SoFloJeeps and Apocalypse Manufacturing in Florida. America’s Most Wanted put a Hellcat engine into the 6×6.
“…The all-new Hellcat engine can put out 900 horsepower, Whiteside says — but also has two cooling mods added under the hood. Six massive 40-inch tires touch the pavement, along with a Dana 80 axle up front. Stabilizer bars have been added on either side, and obviously, the suspension system has been upgraded.”
He also had the driver’s seat lowered as far as it could go so the seven-footer could, you know, actually fit inside.
And the whole thing only took about 1,800 hours of labor to complete.
As for the reason he named it “Big Shirley”, well, it’s best to hear Whiteside explain it:
“You know…She’s big and good-lookin’. Like a country mama.” the veteran told Larsen.
Well that clears things up.
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