Brother Ted's Radical Customized Ford Pickup Truck

[FenderMender]

In the early 1960s my late and older brother Ted and I built quite a few custom cars, hot rods and truck models.  Ted was the creative genius behind the design and execution of these models.  He gleaned many ideas and concepts from the emerging hot rod and custom car magazines that were being published at this time. I have always wanted to complete a radical Ford pickup truck that he had started building back then to pay a special tribute to his skills, creativity and imagination as this truck emphatically epitomizes his work.  Originally, the top was vented and chopped, the bed was changed and shortened, the hood was altered, and completely new front and rear ends were molded (with plastic aluminum) onto the body. The rear portion of the truck had wild fins molded to the sculpted sides. The dashboard was carved from wood and covered with corduroy fabric to mimic tuck and roll upholstery.  The seats were also done this way as well as a tonneau cover. Original paint was to be a metallic orange after all body work was finished with the top attached and the hood fitted properly. The unfinished work lay dormant for years in a box of spare parts and accessories.

Here is what the truck parts looked like in the 60s:

To complete the model from its original inception required a chassis to be scratch built, an engine from a kit labelled "Ford", a new steering wheel, and new tires and rims as these parts had never been determined or even available back then. A close color match to the original orange paint was used although it wasn't metallic. 

Ted's radical truck creation is now complete and it is a testament to his remarkable vision of what a custom show truck in the 60s would have looked like. 

Here's to you, Ted!

Thanks for looking...

Here's an early mockup testing out wheels, the non-attached top, and the unpainted hood:

Ted's Radical Custom Ford Pickup Truck Completed

 

[FenderMender]

 

[PappyD340]

Cool pickup!

[XYHARRY]

Cool custom pickup, that colour looks great. I might have to use that corduroy trick one day, it mimics tuck and roll really well. Well done Bob. 

[rchaffee]

Nice!

[ea0863]

Bob, such a wonderful story and build. So creative!

[Bainford]

Great story. Very creative period build, and nice work on the restoration. I am intrigued by the tail light panel; are those 'vanes' individually placed pieces of plastic?

[FenderMender]

4 hours ago, Bainford said:

 I am intrigued by the tail light panel; are those 'vanes' individually placed pieces of plastic?

To the best of my memory, the entire back piece included both the taillight housings (less the lenses) and the cross panel as one unit.  Those parallel vanes are molded into the piece as such. They are not individually placed.   The part came from an SMP 1961 Ford Thunderbird Convertible 3in1 kit, I am pretty sure, as some of those small kit parts are still in my spare parts bin.  I was tempted to chrome the edges of each vane but decided against it realizing that the "look" of it corresponds well with the orange corduroy upholstery.