The '56 Ford F-100 body was patched, sanded, primered, and block sanded smooth by Keith Beaucher. A front tilt hood was borrowed from an '81 Buick LeSabre. To allow the Ford big-block to nestle itself into the engine compartment, the firewall was recessed three inches. The dump bed vertical motion is powered by a pair of Dakota Digital power linear actuators. To showoff the cab-back frame, driveline, and rear suspension a Lexan floor with stainless steel stringers were installed. A radio power antenna was frenched into the rear passenger side cab corner. The factory grille, headlight buckets, and front and rear bumpers were sent out and rechromed. To draw attention from vehicles following, a Ford script third brake light was installed. Then Keith sprayed it with multiple coats of House of Kolor Tangelo pearl and PPG silver for the competition stripes. Keith then buried the Tangelo base coat and silver stripes with multi coats of clear.
Opening the door exposes the stitchwork of the crew at Jerry's Upholstery in Statesboro, Georgia, with a pair of '99 Dodge Stratus bucket seats that were covered with soft charcoal leather and matching charcoal carpet. The smoothed dash was given a new look by installing a three-inch dropped panel. A custom-made fiberglass center console with airbrushed real fire separates the bucket seats. A chrome ididit tilt steering column is capped with a Billet Specialties Torque Thrust leather-covered steering wheel. An easy to reach Lokar shifter was positioned onto the center console. Creature comfort is maintained by a Coyote A/C and heating system.
The Sony/Alpine audio sound system was installed and wired by Larry Weaver from Lyons, Georgia. Larry mounted the Sony Xplod Drive-S MP3 head unit into the custom center console, which is powered by an Alpine amplifier. A neat sub enclosure houses a pair of Xplod 12-inch subwoofers that are hidden behind the bucket seats and powered by another Alpine amplifier. A pair of Xplod 6--inch speakers were located in the kick panels.
John and his son Hunter are on a quest to have Carroll Shelby sign the dash of their Ford GT600 pickup.
Hunter was the recipient of the Young Gun Award at the '08 Ford F-100 Super Nationals in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Two of the major action features...
Two of the major action features ARE the remote dump bed and hood.