Frame Off Built F100 Pickup LT1 700R4 4 Speed Auto w/AC

Few vehicles are more quintessentially American than the pickup. We use them as work horses, show pieces and everything in between. In the truck market, few names carry as much weight as the Ford F-Series. It's Ford's longest-running nameplate and certainly one of their most successful. The F-Series managed to claim the title of America's Bestselling Vehicle for 28 years consecutively. With this in mind, it's should come as no surprise that the market for classic trucks is exploding. If you've watched any of the big auctions this year, you've probably noticed mid-50s F100s bringing in serious money. We've seen it too. We sold this incredible "(external)1956 Ford F100”: http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/top_sales_2012#!/1956-Ford-F100/132897 in March for a whopping $183k. It was It was an unbelievable truck with an amazing amount of time and money in it but, as many of you commented, it was almost too nice (if there is such a thing). If you loved the lines of that truck but are in the market for something a little more accessible, here's an awesome frame-off built 1955 Ford F100. With killer paint, a stout small block and a great custom interior, this truck checks all the right boxes while offering tremendous value.

Without question, the paintwork is what draws almost everyone to this truck. The two main colors at work are Laser Blue Metallic and black divided by a custom graphic rendered in silver and gray with a hand-painted orange pinstripe. From a distance, parts of the door graphic appear three dimensional – a testament to the level of detail on display. The stripe continues around the backside of the cab, front of the bed, inside of the bed and even into the door jambs. Replacing the typical wooden bed floor is an arrow straight sheet metal piece painted to match the outside. Out back, the door graphic is repeated on the tailgate. At the nose of the truck, a subtle purple overlay shows like a reflection and stops nearly everyone in their tracks. In day light, the paintwork pops in ways studio lighting rarely captures. As well as the paint shows, the number of hours invested in paint and body had to have been staggering.

This '55 seems to have been built with a respect for the original F100 shape. Though there are plenty of modifications to be found, the truck retains its classic profile. No chopping or sectioning. At the front, a chrome factory-style bumper has been brought in significantly closer to the body. Above it, a chrome grill adds some flash to the familiar front end. On the cab, the stock filler neck location has been filled in and concealed with a flush mount gas cap cover. The bed has been tubbed to accommodate modern wheel sizes. The bed sides have also been smoothed. At the rear, a custom set of billet tailgate hinges eliminate the clunky stock pieces while a custom roll pan with cut outs for the Lexus exhaust tips smoothes out the back. Custom tail lights are housed in the bed sides and complimented by an LED strip beneath the tailgate that is barely visible in daylight. In stock form, F100's shipped with very little external trim and this '55 remains true to that ideal. With the exception of headlight bezels and the stainless steel pieces on the bed floor, there is virtually no trim to be found.

Underneath the custom front-tilt hood, a reverse-cooled Chevrolet LT1 V8 sits between the frame the rails. Despite being a 1990s block, there's no tricky sequential port injection or finicky mass airflow sensor to be found here. Instead, a tried and true Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor sits on top of a GM Performance intake manifold. At the front of the engine, a polished pulley set turns the accessories and adds some extra flair to the bay. Further shine is provided by chrome Chevrolet valve covers and a cool retro-looking scoop. An electronic ignition gets the power plant started while a set of Edelbrock headers connected to a 3” true dual exhaust system with Magnaflow mufflers help it breathe.

The LT1 is backed by a 700-R4 automatic transmission with overdrive for easy highway cruising while a Ford 9” rear with 3.73 gears and Moser 28-spline axles ensures this '56 has no trouble getting off the line. Front disc brakes and rear drums help this F100 stop as well as it takes off. The truck's ground-hugging stance is provided by a refreshingly traditional suspension. Up front, the original twin I-beam configuration has been replaced by a torsion bar setup while leaf springs and lowering blocks bring down the back end. In a scene seemingly dominated by air ride and complex link setups, this time-tested configuration is a nice change of pace. A set of chrome 5-spoke wheels measuring 18” x 8” up front and 20” x 10.5” in the rear sit nicely inside the large fender wells.

Inside, a tastefully customized interior provides enough comfort for even the longest of road trips. Eight-way adjustable bucket seats are wrapped in gray leather with simulated snake skin insets. An embroidered F100 logo furthers enhances the custom look. The snake skin theme continues onto the headliner and across the sun visors. While it may sound like a lot of snake skin, the pattern is subtle and comes across as little more than an attractive textural element. Between the seats, a matching leather console houses an Eclipse head unit that sends signal to four speakers. Controls for the Vintage Air system are hidden away in the glove compartment. The dash has a clean and classic looking while offering space to bring the custom Laser Blue Metallic paintwork into the cab. It features a polished bezel housing Dolphin gauges that look right at home amidst the 1950's shapes. An Ididit tilt steering column with a chrome shifter and Grant steering wheel round out the custom cab.

Someone has invested a ton of time and money into creating this head-turning F100. For the asking price, you'd be lucky to replicate the paint and body work alone, unless you were doing every bit of it yourself. If you're in the market for a super cool custom truck you can drive comfortably and show with pride, don't miss the opportunity to take this Ford home. Call now!