1955 Ford F-100

Description

This extremely impressive 1955 Ford F-100 pickup colors outside the lines a bit and is all the better for it. Full of innovative details and neat tricks that you don't see on run-of-the-mill trucks, it's a fantastic hauler that proves creativity in the rodding world isn't dead.

The shape is instantly recognizable and there aren't many better-looking pickups than the mid-50s Fords. Maybe it's the pugnacious attitude or the fat fenders, but they just look right. Add a bit of rake and the transformation is even more remarkable. Looking closely, you'll find that a few bits were altered here and there, including shaved door handles, the hood was cleaned up a bit, and the bumpers were tucked in nice and tight to the body. All the sheetmetal was smoothed and then several coats of electric blue metallic paint went on just to make it pop. Then you get to the bed, which is perhaps this truck's most extraordinary feature. Instead of the usual rehash of wood slats, this one has a single slick sheet of stainless steel that's both durable and good-looking. The tailgate, of course, couldn't be a stock piece, either. Instead, it's a trick side-hinged frame with a Plexiglas face with Ford script painted on its face. Just watch all the double-takes this truck generates, both on the road and at shows. It's very cool.

It's a little less radical inside, where the original bench is still in place, now wrapped in comfortable black fabric that looks quite OEM. That banjo-style steering wheel with V8 emblem on the horn button certainly looks right in the old Ford, and the factory instrument panel is still in place. Of course, the old gauges are still there, but more modern replacements keep a closer watch on the warmed-over small block under the rounded hood. Vintage Air supplied one of their powerful HVAC units to keep the cab comfortable and there's a billet tilt column to help in that regard as well. That extra-long Lokar shifter gives it the right old-school attitude, and you can easily imagine yourself cruising along with your hand hanging lazily off the knob. And yes, you're right, the rear window does have a bluish tint, which kind of goes with the exterior theme.

OK, so a 327 cubic inch Chevy V8 isn't exactly bucking the trend, but it's not a crate motor and it's topped with dual quads and velocity stacks, which definitely bring the cool. Edelbrock aluminum Street Performer heads and a Crane ¾-race camshaft mean it's more than just pretty under the hood. Lots of chrome and billet aluminum should be expected, and it's obvious that the stainless firewall and body-colored inner fenders were refinished with showing off the engine bay in mind. A dual exhaust system with long-tube headers and Flowmaster mufflers was custom crafted just for this truck, and a 1968 Camaro donated its front subframe to the build, also adding the power front disc brakes. A TH350 3-speed automatic transmission is a neat fit in the vintage Ford and turns easy-cruising 3.08 gears in the 10-bolt rear. Flashy 15-inch American Racing Torque Thrusts are the right choice on a vintage rod like this, and wear blackwall radials tall enough to fill the fat fenders properly.

A little out of the ordinary? Sure, but only enough to make it stand out. Appreciating details and doing your own thing is the core of rodding, and this awesome Ford definitely nails it. Call today!