1948 Ford F-1

Description

Great customs like this 1948 Ford F1 pickup are like onions. There are so many layers to the build that each time you think you've seen it all, there's something new to appreciate. Of course, things like a thundering 427 side-oiler with dual quads certainly makes an impression, too, and the fact that it drives as easily as your daily driver speaks volumes about the quality of the workmanship.

This truck just looks right. The chopped top, slightly modified hood with cowl-induction, and a few other subtle tweaks are major changes that blend perfectly with the original design. Onlookers will spot the easy ones, but it takes a trained eye to see all the many upgrades that this truck has enjoyed. The top looks right and updates the look, but isn't so radical that drivability is compromised, and you'll note a one-piece windshield makes it look sleek. Much of the trim was shaved, including the bumpers and door handles, but the classic Ford design details, including the vents in the hood, were retained. The custom electric blue paint emphasizes the sleek look and was expertly applied to show standards, so it glows in the sunlight and looks extremely impressive at sundown. The bed is full of beautifully finished oak that's every bit as shiny and polished as the bodywork, and the vintage Pepsi cooler doubles as weatherproof storage.

The blue interior is every bit as trick as the bodywork, but like the exterior, it doesn't use a lot of flash to get big results. It actually keeps the factory bench seat and covers it in blue leather, with matching door panels to add a bit of an upscale feel. The original dash has been extensively reworked to accommodate a full set of VDO gauges, including big speedometer and tach in front of the driver and the center stack is full of auxiliary gauges in their own individual pods that are aimed towards the driver. An AM/FM/CD stereo was fitted into the glovebox's old location, and there's storage underneath. Comfort features include a factory Ford tilt column with an OEM steering wheel and power windows that lower themselves with the click of the key fob. It's finished off with hand-laid pinstripes that emphasize the truck's custom nature.

But this truck is a lot more than just pretty. Open the hood and you'll find one of Ford's finest: a 427 cubic inch side oiler V8. Legendary in the Cobra, it's no less effective in a vintage pickup, especially when it's fed by a pair of 4-barrel Holleys up top. Professionally built for reliability as well as performance, it features an MSD ignition system with adjustable timing retard and when it was all buttoned back together with factory manifolds, it grunts out an astounding 600 horsepower. A heavy-duty C6 3-speed automatic seems up to the task of harnessing all those horses, and a Currie 9-inch rear with 3.73 gears inside can take all the punishment it can dish out. An independent front suspension with power steering and disc brakes and a 4-link out back give it that low, sleek look, and classic steel wheels with 205/60/15 front and gigantic 28x12-15 Mickey Thompson meats out back.

A turn-key show winner and a truck you'll never get tired of driving, this amazing custom delivers a lot more than it promises. Call today!