There are so many beautiful classic American vehicles out there. However, compared to today’s models, what a lot of them have in style, they lack in engine power.
That’s not the case with this 1956 Ford F-100.
Its owners, Bob & Donna Carr, not only restored it, but they put a powerful and modern V8 under its hood. Don’t worry – it’s a Blue Oval engine.
Bob Carr has had Fords multiple times over the course of his life. After marrying Donna decades ago, he came across the truck you see here. At the time, it was ravaged by numerous New England winters. In 1977, the F-100 was used to carry materials for the construction of the Carrs’ future home in North Carolina. House completed, the truck was retired and placed in a barn for the next 18 years.
It may have been out of sight for nearly two decades, but it was not out of mind.
Clearly, the Carrs eventually brought it back to – and beyond – its former glory. Their Vermillion Red F-100 now has an independent front suspension, power steering, and 11-inch disc brakes with four-piston calipers. Those sit behind 15-inch Cragar wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires, which, along with a 4R75W gearbox and 3.70 gears, put the 412 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque from a Ford Performance Coyote 5.0-liter V8 to the road.
The Carrs have covered more than 20,000 cross-country miles in two years inside their restomod’s interior. A Vintage Air system keeps them cool in their Ranger bucket seats while one of them keeps the truck pointed toward the horizon with the wheel from a 1974 Ford.
Most recently, the couple drove their F-100 to an award for having the best Ford hot rod with a late model Ford engine in it at the 36th Annual NSRA Street Rod Nationals North Plus in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
