There was one step left, and it's always the most important for that positive first impression. Lots of color choices were available, and choosing the right one was a serious proposition. George had already vetoed several of the basic shades and was looking for something genuinely distinctive. Son-in-law, Paul, solved the problem, showing up one weekend with a model Ford truck painted with an amazing fade that began with PPG Atomic Orange, standard Black, Candy Black, and Candy Red. The combination was an instant success, and George gave the OK. Paul painted the truck in his home shop in Plattsburg, Missouri, carrying the distinctive fade into the bed, already outfitted with traditional oak slats and stainless steel strips. The metal portions of the interior also benefitted from his spray gun.
The build took a year, and that one-of-a-kind paintjob, along with the dozens of other custom touches, changed everything. What started out as a simple daily driver morphed into a full-blown show truck. (George isn't the first person to discover that a build often rewrites its own ending!) The multiple upgrades blend a high level of comfort with a high level of performance, making the truck the perfect choice for a road trip. George and his wife, Donna, regularly drive their rejuvenated ride to area shows, and the distinctive mods have made the vintage Ford a strong trophy magnet. Special thanks to Paul Read for bodywork and paint, Bob Gossey for the interior, Tony Vargas for suspension work and wiring, Ben Redd for the custom wood bed, along with Tyler Read, Steve Read, Lisa Read, Cameron Dyer, Jordan Dyer, and especially George's understanding wife, Donna.
George Lindsey's '53 Ford F-100
- Ford 5.4L 16-valve SOHC Lightning V-8, 380 hp, 450 lb-ft of torque
- Eaton supercharger, 8 psi of boost
- 3.54-inch bore
- 4.16-inch stroke
- 8.4:1 compression ratio
- Custom cam covers painted to match
- Polished Portel radiator, condenser, and overflow tank
- Portel Zirgo 16-inch fan
- K&N air filter
- SVT Lightning 4R100 four-speed automatic
- Lockup torque converter
- 8.8-inch Ford Explorer
- Traction-Lok rear with 3.73 gears
- 31-spline axles
- Ceramic-coated Ford Racing Performance Parts headers
- Dual Flowmaster mufflers
- Front: Heidts IFS, tubular A-arms, Heidts shocks
- Rear: P&J leaf springs, P&J shocks
- Front: Heidts disc, 12-inch rotors
- Rear: Ford Explorer disc, 11-inch rotors
- Front: Foose Legends, chrome-plated, 18x9, 4-1/2-inch backspacing
- Rear: Foose Legends, chrome-plated, 18x10, 5-1/4-inch backspacing
- Front: Nitto NT555, P255/45ZR18
- Rear: Nitto NT555, P295/45ZR18
- Metal surfaces painted Atomic Orange, '94 Ford bench seat narrowed 3 inches, cinnamon and black Allante vinyl on the seats and door panels, Dakota Digital dash, ididit column with Billet Specialties wheel, Vintage Air A/C, Kenwood stereo
- Aftermarket fenders, running boards, and bumpers; tilt-forward hood; welded cowl vent and body seams; custom PPG Atomic Orange, Black, Candy Black, and Candy Red fade paintjob