Feature
InTheGarageMedia.com
The Boss typography
Terry Orsini “Gits Down” With Her 1998 GMC Sierra
By Fuelish Media Images by THE AUTHOR
E

veryone in the classic Chevy truck scene should know Dino Battilana’s name by now. For those who are still in the dark, Dino is the guy behind the world-famous Chevy Only brand and the Dino’s Git-Down event in Phoenix. Dino’s name is synonymous with old-school Chevy trucks of all generations, as well as the good-natured camaraderie that is so important in today’s classic GM pickup culture. As much love and respect as we have for Dino, however, we aren’t here to talk about him much more today. In fact, the focus of this story is turned to a woman by the name of Theresa “Terry” Orsini, who just happens to be Dino’s lovely wife.

1996 gmc obs truck black paint chrome wheels lowered stance clean front end with clear headlights
1996 gmc obs custom tailgate black paint flush mount lights billet wheels low stance
While Terry is Dino’s biggest fan and largest supporter, she also has the distinct pleasure of serving as the official event planner for the Git-Down. Who are we even kidding? We all know she’s the real boss behind the show, but we don’t have to get into the weeds of that here. Even though Terry loves to pour her time and energy into the show that seems to grow every year, she is also an admirer of killer cars and trucks. That’s right—Terry pays close attention to the insane rides that must surround her nearly every day of her life. In fact, she decided it was finally time to locate and build a truck of her very own to drive and show off, but not only at the Git-Down—she envisioned unveiling her project at the highest level possible.
1996 gmc obs interior custom seats tan and black stitch suede accents and console
1996 gmc obs interior tmi steering wheel tan leather wrap custom black gloss dash finish
1996 gmc obs dash and door panels wrapped in tan suede with double din upgrade
1996 gmc obs rear wheel detail intro billet polished five-spoke and nitto performance tire
It goes without saying that Terry’s pickup of choice would bear a GM emblem, and what she ended up selecting to build was a single-cab 1998 GMC Sierra. There’s no losing with an OBS and what she had in mind for it would certainly impress the masses. Terry enjoys a slammed stance, but she also enjoys driving her vehicles, so instead of bagging the Sierra, she opted for coilovers all around from Aldan American. To help lower the GMC further, a pair of React 2-inch modular drop spindles were also added to the equation. A Stone Fab front sway bar and a rear bar from React, as well as a rear four-link setup have been assembled to give Terry’s OBS impeccable ride quality. The 20-inch Raceline “Royalty” wheels, Nitto tires, and upgraded brake kits from AZ Pro Performance have also been added to thoroughly transform the chassis system.
1996 gmc obs front quarter view lowered black truck smooth bodylines and billet wheels
The Sierra was blessed with a 1998 350 engine that has since been pampered with a few additions in the way of Borla headers and mufflers, as well as an aftermarket air intake to create some additional power—not to mention improve the rumble of the V-8. A pair of Slosh Tubz have made its way into the engine bay, which not only look great but also keep a good deal of dust from dirtying up the compartment.

While Terry can appreciate loud colors and wild paint schemes, she ultimately wanted her GMC to maintain a subdued factory appearance. To make that happen, she contacted Courtesy Chevrolet in Phoenix to perform all the necessary bodywork to get it ready for an all-black paintjob. You just can’t go wrong with black—it’s clean, classic, and shines up so nice.

1996 gmc obs engine bay ls swap k&n filter odyssey battery serpentine front drive
1996 gmc obs pickup static drop stance black paint tucked wheels wide front view
Since Terry plans to drive her Sierra as much as possible, she figured a comprehensive overhaul of the cabin by way of TMI Products would be a necessity. First thing on the list was establishing the Pro Classic bucket seats as they are a perfect fit for her OBS as well as her driving style. Furthermore, they added a molded fiberglass waterfall center console to close the gap. From there, they opted to go with a premium distressed Camel vinyl to match the OE tan pieces and added black suede plus Double Diamond (DD) stitching details to add a bit of depth. TMI then created a molded one-piece headliner, German square-weave oatmeal carpet, matching 14-inch GT half-wrap steering wheel, and molded fiberglass door panels. Finishing it off, TMI provided a molded fiberglass overlay dashpad that features a French seam with a top stitch.
1996 gmc obs rear side view shaved tailgate clean roll pan LED taillights
1996 gmc obs bed tubbed and painted gloss black with mini notch clearance
As luck would have it, TMI even offered Terry a spot to park in its SEMA 2023 display. The truck even won the Auto Metal Direct Choice Award during its grand debut. Terry knew she could take her build all the way to the scene’s most coveted stage, and thanks to all the helpful and talented individuals responsible for the outcome of her GMC (yes, Dino included), she was able to pull it off. Terry has also taken her Sierra to the Goodguys show in Del Mar, California, and hopes to tour it around as much as possible in 2025. Terry vows that she will never be 100 percent finished with her Sierra, so pay attention to any changes that may come its way in the near future.
Back to issue