LokJaw works because it breaks the usual diesel formula. Instead of a clean, predictable build, this ’66 Chevy hides a supercharged 6.6L Duramax with about 650 horsepower before nitrous, plus the fabrication to back it up. The rough exterior is intentional. Underneath it, the truck is packed with custom billet work, stainless headers, carbon fiber, framed rear structure, and hand-machined wheels that took serious time to produce. That contrast is the whole point: crusty on the outside, heavily engineered underneath. The result is a diesel that gets attention not just for power, but for how completely the package was thought through.
The video takes place at Mattel's Hot Wheels headquarters in El Segundo, California, during a Hot Wheels Legends stop. The setting is described as being surrounded by roughly 750 notable vehicles, with judges evaluating entries to decide which one could become a future Hot Wheels toy. Banks presents its truck, LockJaw, at the event, with the build identified as being protected by AMSOIL and supported by Roadster Shop and Nitto.
A central point of attention is the truck's engine. LockJaw is powered by a 6.6-liter Duramax diesel fitted with a Whipple supercharger. The combination surprises several attendees, who clearly did not expect to find a supercharged Duramax in the truck. Output is described at about 650 horsepower before nitrous, with an additional 150-shot of nitrous available. One observer notes that the engine revs faster than many gasoline engines they have seen, underscoring how unusual the setup is for a diesel-powered truck.
Much of the praise focuses on the workmanship under the hood. Viewers call out the stainless-steel headers, the Whipple supercharger installation, and the extensive use of billet components. The engine bay is repeatedly described as highly detailed and carefully executed, with attention drawn to the welding quality and the precision-machined parts. The contrast between the truck's rough, weathered exterior and its refined mechanical presentation becomes one of the defining themes of the recap.
Another standout feature is the wheel and bodywork package. The wheels are described as being machined from solid chunks of material rather than finished from simple off-the-shelf blanks. Each wheel reportedly requires about 22 hours of CNC machining. The fender wells are shaped to complement the wheels precisely, and attendees specifically praise the way the wheel openings and inner fender areas are finished. The result is presented as a cohesive visual package in which the machining, fit, and surrounding body details all work together.
The nitrous system becomes one of the truck's most memorable technical talking points. Attendees remark that it is uncommon to see a diesel truck running nitrous, especially in a street-oriented application, and they single out that setup as one of their favorite aspects of LockJaw. The truck also features carbon-fiber components, including the nitrous bottle and the driveshaft, adding to the sense that the build combines unconventional diesel performance ideas with lightweight specialty materials.
LockJaw's appearance relies heavily on contrast. Externally, it is described as a rust-bucket or rough, crusty truck, but underneath that worn look is a highly engineered machine. Observers point out the extensive metal framing work at the rear of the truck, noting that it appears designed to support both the weight and the power of the drivetrain. This hidden structure, combined with the polished fabrication and billet work elsewhere on the vehicle, gives the truck a dual identity: intentionally weathered on the outside, but sophisticated and heavily reworked underneath.
Beyond the major powertrain and chassis elements, attendees notice a number of smaller fabrication details. The intake system is described as exceptionally large, and the inner fender wells receive praise for their handmade appearance and tooling quality. One fan mentions owning nearly every Banks product for a 5.9-liter Cummins except the boost tubes, showing that the truck also resonated with diesel enthusiasts already familiar with Banks engineering. Across the comments, the recurring theme is that LockJaw rewards close inspection, with details in the welding, machining, and packaging that are easy to miss at first glance.
Although the event rules prevented the vehicles from being started inside the venue, the truck's sound still became part of the discussion. The fire marshal would not allow anyone to fire up the cars indoors, but the crew notes that they could have done so and describes LockJaw's sound as unholy. Spectators who had heard it previously say their ears were still ringing and emphasize that the noise was worth it. Even without a live startup during judging, the truck's reputation for being loud and intense clearly contributed to its presence at the event.
LockJaw did not win the 2022 Hot Wheels Legends stop in El Segundo. The winning entry was identified as a gold 1969 Buick Riviera owned by Maro and Nora Zamuyo. Even so, the recap closes by emphasizing continued enthusiasm for LockJaw and its future. The truck is said to be about two weeks away from being drivable, with plans to have it driving home soon. The final note points toward upcoming footage of the truck in action, including the promise of seeing LockJaw smoke the tires once it is back on the road.