AS SEEN IN OUR F-Series Builders Guide Summer 2026 ISSUE – Buy Now!

Built to Have Fun!  

There’s a moment I’m sure a lot of us have experienced in this industry. You’re at your wit’s end from countless roadblocks trying to get a project done, seeking alternatives that you can’t believe you pulled off with so few people. Hanging out with the crew after it’s all done and laughing about how you almost didn’t survive makes it all worth it. You ask yourself, is there somebody else willing to go to this extent? So rarely do I see a difference between your family and your “shop family”—it’s the same quality of people. That’s what it was like hanging out with Jonathan Urquhart and his Quiet to Riot Customs crew.

I run all the marketing for Mobsteel and Detroit Steel Wheel Co., so when I see a reel/TikTok post/YouTube Short/etc. of a dope truck on our product rolling coal and laying rubber down for some citizen roadwork, I’m going to repost it. There are a couple that circulate the Ambassador wheel from Detroit Steel Wheels. At Power Tour 2024, I rounded the corner to see it posted up at the QA1 booth, giddy with delight for the excellent coverage I’d be getting with it. We were hosting a photoshoot after the show that day, and the invitation was accepted.

Jonathan, or English as his Quiet to Riot Customs crew calls him (because he’s Scottish), had always wanted a 50s Ford since coming to America. About 15 years ago he found his F-250, the perfect base for the vision he had for it. He kept the factory red paint, adding the satin clear coat, and modified it to a wide body, stretching the bed and fenders out. One of the things that makes this build so fun is the 5.9L 12-valve Cummins, stuffed in with the help of a grinder. The addition of the hood exhaust really makes for some excellent content, with the injection pump rebuilt to hold 640 hp, a bigger turbo, and Prince of Darkness injectors. The head was rebuilt and modified with fire rings and double springs and fuel injected with a FASS fuel system. They rebuilt the transmission with a Getrag 360, with custom driveshafts and heavy-duty U-joints. It has a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria independent front suspension, a 1998 Ford Explorer V8, an 8.8 rear drive axle, 2014 Mustang GT front brakes, and a rear big brake kit soon to come.

Its killer stance sits with Air Lift bags and QA1 shocks and springs. The frame is fully boxed, step-notched at the rear, and Z’d up front—all done by Jonathan and his Quiet to Riot Customs team. They wanted to keep the ’59 dash intact with very few modifications, only including an aftermarket steering wheel and gauges. Besides adding the shop logo, Jonathan knew from the beginning he wanted a staggered set of Detroit Steel Wheels. He has 20×9 Ambassadors with a 5.75-inch backspace up front and 22x9s with a 3.5-inch backspace in the rear. Jonathan did his research to get the wheel spacing for the wide body mod, giving his ride the epic stance it has now.

Something I love seeing is a group of dudes totally giggling about an inside joke from experiences shared during a build. You know, when you mention something and they look at each other and the story begins—that type of thing. That was nonstop with the Quiet to Riot Customs guys, really giving us a kindred spirit connection. While Steve and I shot photos, they chatted with Adam on location. My personal favorite tongue-in-cheek characteristic is the EV charging port. It’s just a nice touch while funneling diesel out the hood exhaust. Jonathan had some titanium drag blocks back in 2020 that he lit up during COVID cruise nights, and he added four air horns so if you can’t see him, you will hear him.

Jonathan and the Quiet to Riot Customs shop are both located in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. They’ve been hosting what they call the QTR Roast, getting everyone together for some friendly neighborhood burnouts. I did a deep dive on their social media, and the vibes are immaculate. This crew just seems to want to build cool stuff and have fun doing it. For real, I think that’s the perfect thing to strive for in this industry. I tell my boss, Adam, that I love going to shows and meeting our customers because I want to make sure they are seen. So much work goes into these builds, and for some people I think they feel like it goes unnoticed. I’m sure it feels that way for a lot of reasons, and that’s totally valid. There’s a difference, though, when you are doing it with the same people you break bread with. Family doesn’t have to be blood; we all know that. Family can be “a group of hot rod loving fellas building things that don’t suck,” as the mantra of Quiet to Riot Customs goes. For over 15 years, these guys have been doing what they love, building not only badass rides but also a community that loves them for it.