To pull off a rich and classy two-tone laid over a host of wild metal updates, Jim looked no further than the pros at Xtreme Toyz in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Owner John Pryor redefined the Ranger's exterior attitude by shaving the door handles, the antenna, the factory mirrors, the gas door, the stock taillights, and the cowl panel. All the factory seams were ditched for a smoother finish, while the top bodyline was completely shaved to give the Ranger a seamless midriff section. The rearview of the truck is enhanced with a Fender Bender International steel roll pan and tailgate skin combo.
Sending stop and turning intentions out with bright authority is a pair of 10-inch Hitech LED Products taillights frenched seamlessly into the smoothed tail section. At the nose, the factory Ranger hood was relieved of its lines, and a classic Ford Fairlane-style hoodscoop was grafted into the hood. Once the bodywork was complete, John went the extra mile and crafted a custom dash, door panels, and subwoofer enclosure for the Ranger's innards.
The original door panels were...
The original door panels were ditched in favor of these fiberglass-mold replicas, which have each been reshaped and fitted with an opening for an Infiniti 6-1/2-inch component set. Xtreme Toyz performed all the shaping and laid down the paint styling.
A custom dash, fashioned after a classic Mercury, resides between the A-pillars and is teamed with a pair of smoothed and reshaped door panels. A custom-built subwoofer enclosure resembling the front of a classic '57 Chevy Bel Air fender sits between the trick upholstered seats. As the sparks cooled from all the welding and the dust settled from the glassing and sanding, John mixed up a bright blend of House of Kolor Copper and Tangerine Pearl to kick off the truck's lower body panels. Up top, a DuPont and House of Kolor custom-mixed White sets the scene, while airbrushed trim in bright silver, reminiscent of '57 Chevy Bel Air trim, breaks up the two hues. For a true finished look, the paint scheme and graphic treatment were carried into the doorjambs and onto the dash, door panels, and the center console.
The Ford logo and a classic...
The Ford logo and a classic airbrushed trim recalling cars from yesteryear can be found all over this rolling work of art.
Between the doors, Jim commissioned Sonny's Upholstery in Fort Walton Beach, to throw some fabric updates on the Ranger's factory buckets. The seat frames were welded together to create a bench-style seat at the bottom, while remaining buckets in the backrest portion. Sonny of Sonny's Upholstery blended ostrich skin and white leather together on the buckets with a tuck 'n' roll pattern for a real old-school appearance. Dark- and light-gray carpet covers the floorboards, while a 14-inch Colorado Custom Classic steering wheel tops the one-off steering column. Jim Licata holds the keys to one radically redefined Ranger capable of snagging excess attention both at the shows and on the street.
The truck successfully blends the elements of modern sport truck flair with the character of a few noteworthy American classics. Special thanks goes out to John and Helen Pryor at Xtreme Toyz, Ray at APM Racing, Sonny at Sonny's Upholstery, and the crew at Kunfuzed Kustomz for pouring all their extra time and effort. So, if you're showing your truck in the mini-truck wild class this summer, you'd better watch out because Jim's truck will definitely be flexing its custom muscles.