Sleek looks and a heart of speed —this truck is a contemporary classic and an emissary of NASCARs long tradition of excitement.
Shooting Up the Ladder
By 1998, NASCAR was at the height of its powers. And while the sport has made new headway heading in recent years, it's unlikely that the sport will ever regain the national ubiquity it had as it approached the new century. Many drivers were household names with considerable marketing power, and auto manufacturers like Ford were quick to leverage it. This 1998 NASCAR Special Edition Ford F-150 is a sharp-looking throwback to stock car racing's speedier times.
Photos courtesy of Motorious
Racing Like a Pro
The 1998 NASCAR Edition Ford F-150 was available as a regular cab, front-wheel drive pickup wrapped in that year's XL trim. The truck was created in celebration of the announcement that same year of a five-year contract between the automaker and the racing body in which Ford trucks would become the official truck of NASCAR. Three thousand of the special edition models were made, each at Ford's plant in Norfolk, Virginia.
>>Join the conversation about this very rad NASCAR F-150 right here in the forum.
The Strip's Just Right
Connoisseurs of special edition trucks may be surprised to see there is no unique badging on the interior beyond some embroidery on the seats, and the steering wheel is standard to other base model F-150 releases that year. One possibility for the lack of frills is that Ford did not want to further hinder the production of their standard editions.
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Checkered Flag in the Wind
The 1998 NASCAR Edition Ford F-150 was available with only one engine choice: a 4.6L V-8 mated to either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission capable of 220 horsepower @ 4,750 RPM. The truck's dual stainless steel side exhaust also differentiated it from standard editions that year.
>>Join the conversation about this very rad NASCAR F-150 right here in the forum.
Race Day in America
The true selling point of the vehicle is the exterior. In addition to the dual exhaust, the truck also features an XLT edition diamond mesh grille and a Roust-Brand front air dam. The NASCAR graphics package truly pops off the truck's jet black interior. Interestingly enough, the NASCAR Special Edition had a one inch lower ride height than standard F-150 models produced that year.
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Fire Roads to the Interstate
The truck's Goodyear Wrangler AP tires with yellow lettering complete the NASCAR look and play nicely off the checkered flag striping that accents the bed, which still has its original bed cover. Whether you're a long-time NASCAR fan or simply in the market for a sturdy, reliable truck, you could do a lot worse than this sharp-looking throwback. This truck is a true collector's item for race fans, one whose unique look is bound to capture attention at the race day tailgate.
>>Join the conversation about this very rad NASCAR F-150 right here in the forum.
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