THE INCREDIBLE STORY BEHIND CHIP FOOSE'S FORD F-100

From an early age, Chip Foose displayed a natural talent for drawing and designing, often sketching out cars and car parts. As Chip's design talents flourished, he began working in his father's shop. After graduating from high school, Chip attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he fine-tuned his design skills despite financial challenges.

Throughout his career, Chip has worked on a wide range of vehicles, from classic hot rods to modern muscle cars. He has designed numerous concept cars for major automotive manufacturers. The 1956 Ford F-100 was a pivotal point in his journey as an automotive designer. It was the first vehicle he transformed into a reflection of his unique style, and it marked the beginning of his rise to prominence in the automotive world. Here's the full story of Chip's F-100:

Related: 10 Most Outrageous Chip Foose Builds Of All Time

A Legacy Of Family, Passion, And Design

The story of Chip's F-100 begins with his father, Sam Foose. The truck was Sam's faithful shop workhorse, a rugged companion that bore witness to countless hours of dedication and craftsmanship. When Chip was just 13 years old, he acquired the truck from his father, eager to make it his own. With youthful enthusiasm and a budding design talent, Chip poured his heart into transforming the F-100.

A Three-Year Labor Of Love

He then spent three years rebuilding and restyling the pickup, carefully crafting every detail to reflect his personal vision. The result was a stunning transformation, with a root beer brown paintwork that exuded elegance. The F-100 soon became Chip's companion, serving as his ride for high school and into his early college years. The truck bore not only the marks of his design skills but also the imprint of countless memories and experiences.

Chip Never Forgot His First Love

For years, Chip Foose's beloved 1956 Ford F-100 sat patiently in his design shop. The truck, once his faithful daily driver, had been relegated to the realm of cherished memories, its restoration seemingly lost in the whirlwind of Chip's ever-expanding career.

Despite the relentless demands of his craft, Chip never fully let go of his dream to breathe new life into his beloved F-100. The truck remained a constant presence in his thoughts, a tangible reminder of his roots. In the quiet moments between design projects and television shows, Chip would sketch out ideas, visualizing the transformations he envisioned for his F-100.

Related: The 20 Most Epic Classic Pickup Trucks Of All Time

The Rebirth Of Chip’s Ford F-100

In 2005, Chip Foose's beloved 1956 Ford F-100 was “stolen” from his design shop. Little did Chip know that the truck's disappearance was not a case of theft but rather a plan orchestrated by his father, part of an edition of the Overhaulin’ show, which featured Chip as the co-host.

Sam, a renowned auto designer in his own right, had long admired his son's design prowess and saw the F-100 as an opportunity to showcase Chip's creativity to a wider audience. Using Chip's sketches and concepts as their design template, Sam and his team embarked on a meticulous transformation of the F-100.

Almost Every Single Thing Was Reformed

They reshaped, reformed, and cut open nearly every panel of the truck, creating a custom masterpiece that blended Chip's signature style with the truck's original charm. The truck's transformation began with a 2-inch cut on the cowl, subtly lowering the roofline and creating a more streamlined profile. The roof itself was tilted forward, further emphasizing the truck's rakish stance. The pie-cut hood, a subtle yet impactful modification, added a touch of elegance and sophistication to the front end.

Revised For A Rugged And More Aggressive Look

The front fenders and front axles were moved forward, giving the truck a more aggressive appearance and creating a sense of balance with the lowered roofline. The running boards were raised, providing a more rugged and purposeful look, while the rear fenders were widened, enhancing the truck's overall muscularity. Despite these significant modifications, the truck's original grille remained intact, a reminder of its classic roots.

Other modifications include:

- Stock headlights and taillights were replaced with modern halogen bulbs for better visibility

- Bumpers smoothed and modified for a cleaner look

- Bed posts resculpted for a more integrated flowRelated: Why You Should Daily Drive An Old Truck

The Power Behind This Classic American Muscle

Beneath the sleek, custom-designed exterior of the revamped Ford F-100 lies a carefully engineered powertrain, a harmonious blend of classic American muscle and automotive technology of the 2000s. At the heart beats a Roush Aluminum Sideoiler engine. This engine is paired with a Ford C6 Custom transmission, ensuring smooth and efficient power transfer to the road. The stock Ford shifter provides a direct connection to the transmission.

Chip Foose's Ford F-100 Specs

(Specs sourced from Chip Foose's website)

The Chassis Serves As A Foundation For Performance And Control

The truck's chassis is a combination of stock Ford components and meticulous modifications. The 116-inch wheelbase provides a stable platform for handling, while the Ford 9" rear end, equipped with a 3.73:1 gear ratio, delivers optimum power distribution to the rear wheels.

The rear suspension, featuring a Ford four-link system and Baer Extreme Plus brakes with six-piston calipers and 14-inch cross-drilled rotors, ensures exceptional control and stopping power. Coilover shocks provide a balance between comfort and performance, absorbing bumps and imperfections in the road while maintaining a firm, responsive ride.

Modern Parts To Enhance The Classic’s Capabilities

- A Corvette C5 subframe replaces the original F-100 suspension.

- Baer Extreme Plus brakes with 6-piston calipers and 14-inch cross-drilled rotors are used on the front brakes.

- A Corvette C6 master cylinder ensures responsive and effective stopping power.

- Foose Custom wheels, 19 inches by 10 inches at the front and 20 inches by 10 inches at the rear, are used for the truck's rolling stock.

- Pirelli tires, 255/40/ZR19 at the front and 285/30/ZR20 at the rear, provide exceptional grip and handling.

- A custom aluminum gas tank provides ample fuel capacity for extended journeys.Related: 10 Of The Most Powerful Pickup Trucks Of The '70s

A Classic Blend Of Style And Functionality

Stepping inside the truck, the dashboard, while retaining its original form, was customized by filling in the ashtray and radio holes, creating a cleaner and more streamlined appearance. The stock gauges were replaced with custom-made units by Redline, adding a touch of sophistication and providing easy-to-read instrumentation. Vintage Air climate control was added to ensure comfort and convenience, while a Painless Wiring Kit supplied by Summit Racing simplifies the electrical system.

The Revamps Remained Faithful To The Root Of The F-100

A vintage-inspired '40 Ford steering wheel replaced the original, adding a touch of nostalgia and character to the interior. The steering column was replaced with an ididit unit, providing a more modern feel and improved ergonomics.

The stock seats were customized with Keystone Bros black and charcoal leather with orange accents, creating a visually striking and comfortable interior. The black aircraft carpet completes the interior, providing a luxurious and durable surface that complements the leather upholstery and the truck's overall aesthetic.

At the 2005 SEMA show in Las Vegas, Jack Roush unveiled the revamped F-100 to an astonished crowd, including Chip himself. The reborn F-100 has become a part of Chip's daily life, serving as a constant reminder of his family legacy and the power of dreams. Chip hopes that his son, Brock, will inherit the F-100, carrying on the family tradition and the truck's remarkable story.

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