Network
When we build our hot rods, sometimes we have purpose and sometimes we just have a drive inside us that tells us we need restore, build and/or modify something. There are times, though, that those all converge and something amazing is born. Recently, we caught wind of one of those instances. Old Glory Automotive of Largo, Florida is building a masterpiece for a customer; a late 40s F1 Ford Pick-up that will hopefully dominate the Autocross track.
The F1 Ford will look like it was built in the 1960’s but will have many modern improvements.
The owner of the truck, Joseph, found it sitting in a field in Georgia. As a big car collector and racer, Joseph instantly knew he had to have the truck and build it specifically for Autocross. Originally, the car was going to look the part but be built using fiberglass panels. An Art Morrison custom chassis was used as a base but then things changed. Joseph had used Old Glory for previous restorations and the truck ended up in their hands. Old Glory is a small shop with big aspirations and even bigger talent. The fiberglass was ditched in favor of a medium they preferred much more; steel. TJ, of Old Glory, is a metalsmith that prides himself on building top notch vehicles that cannot be compared to anything else.
The whole premise of the truck was to use a 60s-ish GT theme with many different metal finishes throughout. A race inspired industrial look is being used to further set this truck apart from the rest. So far, TJ and the crew at Old Glory have been working on the truck for about 4 months. There is still plenty to do but the truck is shaping up nicely. All original Ford steel is being used. The cab was dropped on the frame to improve sightlines and aesthetics when compared to the original truck bed. Under the hood, a crate Ford Coyote 5.0L V8 has placed in to give the truck the motivation it needs. The engine is backed by a Tremec 60 with a Centerforce clutch.
The mods don’t stop at the powertrain, though. The front suspension is a tubular control arm IFS utilizing Strange coilovers for support. The narrowed rear fabricated Ford 9-inch differential is located using a 4-link suspension and Strange coilovers. All of the suspension is adjustable for fine tuning the truck to the track. Wilwood brakes provide stopping power and a Detroit Speed Rack and Pinion Steering keeps the truck pointed where the drive wants it.
Left: Old Glory custom builds their own body mounts for their builds. The mounts used here were specifically designed to bring the body line of the truck in-line with the edges of the bed. Right: Every single bit of this truck is being touched. The extreme level of detail being put into it will make for an astounding truck in the end.
The truck is obviously still a work in progress. Plans for the rest include tubbing the truck bed to clear tires, custom CNC taillight buckets and custom front and rear bumpers. The interior will continue the race and industrial look including multiple types of metals and potentially Baseball glove-like leather seats. Old Glory and Joseph are considering using a dash from another vehicle, possible an Alfa Romeo unit that flows with the sought after look. One major intention is to set up an iPad as an entertainment system. The exterior paint is still being sorted out, though there is a plan. The painter is using a piece of heated up stainless steel as inspiration to blend up a pewter colored mix.
The truck that Old Glory Automotive and Joseph are putting together will certainly be unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. When the truck is finished, you can count on us doing a full fledged feature on it here in the hallows of Rod Authority. For more info on Old Glory Automotive, check out www.oldgloryauto.com.
