--- title: "High School Welding Class Builds ‘Carolina Squat’ Truck Just to Sink It Into the Sea" date: "2025-02-21" modified: "2025-02-21" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/high-school-welding-class-builds-carolina-squat-truck-just-to-sink-it-into-ocean" categories: - "Culture" - "News" tags: - "pickup truck" - "tacoma" - "Toyota" --- # High School Welding Class Builds ‘Carolina Squat’ Truck Just to Sink It Into the Sea ![]() *\Scallop Cove via Facebook\* Off the coast of Port St. Joe, Florida, more than 290 artificial reefs host scores of sea creatures. The idea is to provide a habitat for aquatic life where natural reefs are either damaged or absent altogether. Sometimes, old ships are sunken so animals can make their homes inside, while other artificial reefs might be made of concrete. The welding class students at Port St. Joe High School had a better idea for one, and it pays tribute to one of the automotive world's most polarizing trends: the [Carolina Squat](). This life-sized pickup replica is roughly the width and length of a third-gen [Toyota Tacoma](), but it's several feet taller—especially at the front end. That's the signature Carolina Squat look, where the front of a truck points to the sky while the rear sits at stock height. Because of that, its front end is high enough to shame the average NBA player, and its roof is even taller. It has a shark cutout windshield that would make Jimmy Buffet proud, tubular front and rear bumpers, and wheels that look borrowed from a steamroller. Inside, there’s a single bench seat with a three-spoke steering wheel, a tall shifter made from welded chain links, and even some fake gauges. There's no floor, though. Maybe it’s supposed to mimic a Rust Belt truck because I’ve definitely seen some from Michigan without a floor. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Port St. Joe students have built artificial reefs before. Since much of the Gulf of Mexico has a barren floor without a hard bottom, they help foster ocean life where there wouldn't be any otherwise. In turn, these students get to help the environment while also practicing their welding craft. And even though it's tough to inspect the quality of their welds over the internet, a few photos prove these high schoolers are a hell of a lot better at metal fab than I am. Their taste in trucks is a little suspect, but maybe the Carolina Squat part is an inside joke between them. The exact coordinates for the reef drop apparently haven't been decided yet. Either way, once it's there, you can bet it'll stay for a while. It weighs around 5,000 pounds, according to one of the students who helped build it. https://www.tiktok.com/@samerickson58/video/7466156243850251563 I'd like to think that when life eventually resets and a new post-human civilization starts exploring the ocean floor in millions of years, they'll find this squatted reef truck and think it's some sort of ancient, sacred relic. But really, it was just some high schoolers messing around. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()