The '56 Ford all-steel cab, front fenders, cowl, hood, front roll pan, doors, running boards, bedsides, and tailgate received both time and effort to make this '56 Ford F-100 an exceptional specimen of what attention to detail can create. The front fenders, hood, and roll pan were fused together, then molded seamlessly as one, creating a forward-tilting front end. The factory grille and headlight bezels received all new chrome. Tri-Bar crystalline headlights with turn indicators were installed into the freshly chromed bezels. The cab's lid was lowered five inches, the door handles were shaved smooth, and a pair of one-piece side windows were installed. A remote radio antenna disappears into a frenched cavity, located in the driver-side rear cab corner. The bedrail stake pockets were filled-in, the bedrail ends were capped and radiused. Beautiful walnut planks were laid across the bed floor and separated by polished stainless steel stringers. The taillights were cut into the rear roll pan. Each of the rear steel fenders were widened 2 inches to house the wide Toyo Proxes 295/55ZR18 tires. To start the painting process, House of Kolor Snow White Pearl was applied as a basecoat. The cab, fenders, hood, and running boards were masked before applying House of Kolors Violet Kandy that was sprayed over the Snow White Pearl. Two light green/dark green shaded graphics were sprayed onto each door panel. A ghosted pinstripe treatment was applied to the one-piece hood. Two colorful animated Tasmanian Devils cartoon characters were airbrushed under the one-piece-tilt hood and tailgate.
As the suicide doors are opened, we're exposed to the leather interior, with two-toned dash, Dakota Digital gauges, and a Vintage Air control panel. An ididit tilt steering column was capped with a Grant walnut banjo-style steering wheel. A pair of '85 Thunderbird bucket seats were covered in soft Swiss gray leather. The number 56 was embroidered into the seatback. A custom center console houses the electric window, windshield wiper, one-piece-tilt hood controls, and ignition key. Swiss gray leather was also used for the headliner and door/armrest panels. After installing Dynamat sound deadening material, purple wool carpet was laid down. A Clarion head unit and DVD player was mounted between the bucket seats. An 800-watt amp brings increased power to the system. The amplified tunes are heard through four six-inch mids located in the center console and two 6x9-inch mids located in the rear cab corners.
This blast from the past '56 Ford was built with some of yesterday's technology with attention to creativity and detail. This Effie draws a crowd when Lynn rolls into any show. The original builder Mike Vandenberg would be very proud.