1948 Ford F1 a Pinnacle of Restoration Greatness: Modded Monday

By S.J. Bryan - December 6, 2021

Custom build takes a major wreck and returns it to its classic Ford truck roots … with a few special updates.

Anyone who has taken on a restoration project knows it can bring a lot of headaches. Especially if the build is a classic 1948 Ford F1 pickup truck. And then–just to make it even more of a challenge–the Ford pickup truck is a rusted wreck. Where do you start?

The team at KTL Restorations found themselves facing this in their 1948 Ford F1 restomod. Their client wanted to build a very special Ford truck, and use it for their paint delivery business. It had seen better days.

Okay, it had seen better decades. But there was still a lot of solid classic Ford truck to work with. It was going to take imagination and skill. KTL consulted with their client on their truck. Together they put together a build plan, and a sharp design seen in this render.

It is a bit of a departure for the company, known mainly for their work on classic Ford Cougar and muscle car restorations. But they are steeped in spirit of classic Blue Oval. Getting a chance to restore and rebuild such a sweet Ford F1 is a welcome challenge.

Named “Pinnacle,” the restomod is just stunning in every detail. But the truck bed is stunning. KTL’s Kurtis Lawrancen wanted the bed to be unique, complement its aesthetic, and still function as a work truck. Working with PAC Custom, they used black walnut excavated from a 200-year old plantation on the James River. The bed was handcrafted, and the wood also used effectively on the bed sides. It is a showstopper.

Each custom detail works to enhance the beastly 1948 Ford truck. Given they truck is used in paint delivery, the blue and yellow are a nice touch on the exterior. And the custom company logo is a great touch. Inside, the worn leather is a perfect complement to the black walnut. Clean and striking.

From its rusted roots, the build included a complete teardown. Rebuilding and updating included installing a new driveline. It is a remarkable accomplishment for KTL, and we look forward to more trucks as they have expanded beyond muscle Fords to truck restorations. And so far, they’re knocking it out with this 1948 Ford F1.