Classic F-100 is transformed from a heap in a field into a gorgeous showstopper.
Many car guys dream of someday retiring and spending all of the newfound free time on restoring a sweet classic vehicle. Truck Trend recently detailed the story of Raul Silva of El Paso, Texas, who left the working world and tackled a full restoration of a 1953 Ford F-100 – creating a gorgeous show truck.
The Retirement Project
Raul Silva bought a 1953 Ford F-100 in 1991 and the truck went neglected for years, but when he retired from his job in the engineering world, it was time to bring that old F-Series back to its proper glory.
When this truck was purchased, it was sitting in a field in rough shape, so when the restoration project began, it needed massive amounts of bodywork. Remarkably, Silva was able to have almost all of the original sheet metal repaired except for the bed and the rear fenders.
Although this F-100 looks very similar to how it did when it came off of the assembly line back in 1953, there have been some small changes made, including slightly narrower running boards and a front bumper that is pulled in three inches closer to the body.
Of course, there is also the custom paint work, the extra chrome on the grille and the chrome wheels wrapped in low-profile tires that all come together to modernized the exterior appearance, but overall – this 1953 F-100 maintains its original look.
"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.
