7 Coolest Ford Trucks We’ve Ever Seen While Covering Auto Shows

Ford is well-represented at every major automotive event, from the classic Bronco to the modern SuperDuty.

Over the past decade, we have brought you the hottest and coolest Ford trucks from just about every major automotive event in the United States. Of course, we have showcased the debut of every new Ford truck and SUV along the way, but we have also featured many uniquely modified models at international auto shows and events like the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Today, we bring you a look at what we think are seven of the coolest custom Ford trucks and SUVs that we have seen in recent years.

‘The Pit Boss’ F-350

We imagine that most people who bought a 2011 Ford F-350 never considered lowering it and adding 24-inch wheels, we loved the “street truck look” of the Super Duty named “The Pit Boss”. This pickup was displayed by Ford at the 2010 SEMA Show and it shows how a hard-working Super Duty can be transformed into a slick sport truck.

This 2011 Ford F-350 Lariat Crew Cab is powered by the 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel, upgraded with a Snow Performance methanol injection system, a Nitrous Express nitrous oxide system and a cold air intake. The lowered stance comes by way of DJM Suspension upgrades, the huge American Force wheels and Falken tires. Cars by Kris provided the custom front spoiler and side skirts while Airhead Kustoms handled the paint job.

‘Hollow Point’ F-650

You have probably never seen a slammed, custom Ford F-650. These trucks are built for commercial use, so rarely do we see one that has been fully customized, but the crew from Mobsteel built one of these monster haulers for the 2011 SEMA Show. The truck is named “Hollow Point” based on the fact that it is “loaded with a huge dose of pure gangster attitude”.

This F-650 has the standard C7 Caterpillar diesel engine and Allison heavy duty transmission, but most of the truck around that drive line has been heavily modified. The frame has been shortened, notched and fitted with a custom air ride system and custom axles. The standard body, hood and bumper have been modified to sit down lower to the ground while the grille, fuel tanks, headlights and bed are all one-off custom items.

The interior is also fully customized with a high end sound system, but the exterior appearance is what drew up to this F-650, which is likely the coolest of its type in the world.

Land Speed Record-Setting F-250

Most of the vehicles that are on display at big automotive events are built specifically to be displayed, but that is not true for all of them. At the 2011 SEMA Show, Hajek Motorsports brought out their Ford F-250 that was responsible for setting two land speed records. However, shy of the unique wheels, chin spoiler, parachute and decals, this truck looks practically stock.

That is because this F-250 is practically stock. It does have a beefed-up fuel system, larger turbochargers and a modified rotating assembly, but in just adding some extra power, this Super Duty hit 182 miles per hour on the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting the world record unlimited biodiesel land speed record.

Kelderman’s F-250

There have been many monstrous, high-riding Super Duty pickups displayed at SEMA over the years, but this F-250 built by Kelderman for the 2012 show is one of the most remarkable. As you might expect, being built by an air suspension company means that it has loads of ground clearance, making room for the huge tires while also providing attendees with a good look at the trick suspension setup.

The 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine has been fitted with a cold air intake, exhaust and a tune. The exterior features the unique livery in matte black and green chrome with lots of aftermarket lighting while the interior features Katzkin custom leather.

K-Daddy Kustoms’ F-150

Sitting across from the black-and-green beast shown above at the 2012 SEMA Show was the bright red F-150 built by K-Daddy Kustoms. This F-150 is basically the polar opposite of that high-riding F-250, being transformed into a slick sport truck with a unique custom bicycle in the bed.

The exterior is the star of this show, featuring a lowered stance over 24-inch wheels, bright red paint with ghost flames and red-painted trim, a custom grille and a unique bicycle mounted in the bed. What we cant see in these pictures is the supercharged 5.0-liter V8, the Katzkin leather interior and the Rockford Fosgate sound system.

While the bike in the bed might not be your thing, anyone who appreciates a powerful sport truck built for street use has to love this gorgeous F-150.

1966 Ford F-100 Race Truck

The 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit was a big deal for truck lovers, as that event marked the first time that we saw the new F-150 Raptor. To help promote that new off-road best, Ford Motor Company brought out a cool classic race truck. This machine started life as a farm truck, but off-road racer Robby Gordon transformed it into a race truck back in the 1980s, winning the 1987 Baja 100.

All classic off-road race trucks are cool, but an F-100 that began its life as a hard-working hay hauler only to end up a Baja 100 champion makes for an incredible story. Meanwhile, at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, no story was needed for this truck to draw a huge crowd.

Jay Leno’s GT500-Powered Bronco

This might be out favorite vehicle on the list, but that might just be because this 1968 Bronco is the one that we have seen most recently. This classic SUV is owned by Jay Leno and it was unveiled at the 2019 SEMA Show. Building on the interest around the upcoming new Bronco coupled with the success of the new Shelby GT500, Ford and various industry partners built this vehicle from the ground-up around the 760-horsepower engine from the supercharged Mustang.

With the hood closed, it just looks like a really clean 1968 Bronco, but when you look up close it is so much more. In addition to the modern engine, it has Wilwood brakes, Fox suspension, a custom chassis and new sheet metal. Basically, this is a brand new 1968 Bronco packing the power of a 2020 Shelby GT500 Mustang and we love it.

Honorable Mention: Preproduction F-150 Raptor

You likely noticed that all of the trucks and SUVs above are modified, but there was one key debut of a production pickup that jumps out at us. At the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Motor Company introduced the world to a preproduction version of the 2016 Ford F-150 Raptor. That was the first time that we saw the modern Raptor in the flesh and while we didn’t get the power numbers at that event, we later learned that the dino-themed off-road truck is the most powerful production F-150 to date.

The Raptor is the still the most powerful, the most capable and the most technologically advanced F-150, so while its debut doesn’t beat the vehicles mentioned above, it is still a significant point in F-Series history.

Photos for Ford Truck Enthusiasts by Patrick Rall

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

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