Daily Slideshow: 1955 Ford F-100 Takes Home Grand National Gold
Events don't get any more prestigious than the Grand National Roadster Show, and trucks don't get any nicer than this F-100!
1. Best Ford... in a Ford
The Grand National Roadster Show is well-known as the place to be if you love big money, big effort street rods. The vehicles on display at the legendary show are more like polished pieces of jewelry than actual vehicles. And it isn't often you see something like a Ford F-100 make it to these legendary ranks. But not only did Oregon City, Oregon resident John Rydzewski see his candy blue 1955 F-100 make the grade, he also took home our favorite award - Hot Rod's Best Ford in a Ford!
2. Keeping It in the Family
Like most of us, Rydzewski grew up a Ford fan thanks to his dad, who owned a number of Blue Ovals over the years. He purchased this fat-fendered Ford 24 years ago and proceeded to turn it into his vision of a dream truck. In that first iteration, the F-100 had purple paint and ghost flames, a 351 Windsor, and 15-inch wheels. But six years ago, he got the itch to rebuild his old truck once again. And while many things changed, the 351 stuck around, albeit with a rebuild.
3. Built to Be Driven
Inviting two-tone leather covers the inside of the cab, including the aftermarket bucket seats and door panels. There's a custom center console in the middle, filled with an aftermarket stereo, B&M shifter, Vintage A/C vents, and even billet cup holders (which is your first clue that Rydzewski likes to drive his truck). Dakota Digital gauges housed in the custom billet dash round out a very attractive interior.
4. Smooth Operator
On the outside, the shaved and smoothed body sports molded running boards, a rear roll pan, and frenched antenna. The rear fenders were widened to accommodate huge 20x13 Schott wheels and Mickey Thompson rubber. The stunning paint is a House of Kolor custom mix, laid down by Ben's Custom Paint.
5. Nothing Fancy
This might be a show truck, but it was built with an eye toward hitting the road again in the near future. So there's plenty of realistic, usable suspension components underneath that gorgeous sheetmetal. They include a Mustang II independent front suspension, ShockWaves shocks, and a Watts-equipped 4-link in the rear. As beautiful as this truck is, it doesn't hold anything too exotic, outrageous, or unreliable. And that might just be our favorite thing about it!
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