Flareside beds might take away from bed space, but they give this old Ford pickup a little more room for rubber.
Flared Beauty
Though we obviously can't buy a new Ford Flareside pickup, few body styles in history still grab our attention quite as quickly. For decades, those curvaceous bed sides were incredibly popular among fans, despite their obvious negative effect on bed space. And when you see this ravishing red 1977 Ford F-150 we spotted at GR Auto Gallery, it's pretty easy to see why.
Photos: GR Auto Gallery
6.2.5
Big 'N Little
Instead of going for the traditional high-rolling truck stance, the previous owner of this F-100 made it more of a street machine. Which kinda makes sense, given those fat flares out in the back. Now, it sports a "big and little" wheel and tire configuration that just looks plain cool.
Photos: GR Auto Gallery
>>Join the conversation about this classic Flareside F-100 right here in the Ford Truck Forum!
6.2.5
Shaved and Raked
The rest of the exterior has also been shaved, much like an old street rod. Most of the original trim and emblems are gone, giving this pickup a clean look. A roll pan of sorts in the rear also makes this part of the F-100 look a little lower, despite its raked stance.
Photos: GR Auto Gallery
>>Join the conversation about this classic Flareside F-100 right here in the Ford Truck Forum!
6.2.5
Added Contrast
A few chrome bits remain, however. That includes a portion of the front grille, the bumper, door handles, window trim, mirrors, and wheels. Along with the blacked-out center grille section, it's just enough contrast to break up the sea of blazing red.
Photos: GR Auto Gallery
>>Join the conversation about this classic Flareside F-100 right here in the Ford Truck Forum!
6.2.5
Proven Powerplant
Lift the hood, and you'll find the familiar 351 cubic-inch Cleveland V8. We can spy an aftermarket intake manifold, carb, and headers, but the rest is a mystery. Regardless, it should provide enough power to turn those large rear meats, with the potential to do much more if you so desire.
Photos: GR Auto Gallery
>>Join the conversation about this classic Flareside F-100 right here in the Ford Truck Forum!
6.2.5
Old School Cool
The street rod theme continues to the interior, which is quite handsome in its classic red and black theme. There's a smaller aftermarket steering wheel to grab, as well as an old school B&M shifter for the automatic transmission.
Photos: GR Auto Gallery
>>Join the conversation about this classic Flareside F-100 right here in the Ford Truck Forum!
6.2.5
Jazzed Up
The original bench seat remains, but it's been covered in an attractive black vinyl with a center red stripe and red piping. Throw in a few aftermarket gauges, and you've got a pretty nice place to plant your rear while you cruise around town.
Photos: GR Auto Gallery
>>Join the conversation about this classic Flareside F-100 right here in the Ford Truck Forum!
6.2.5
Sweet Sounds
The interior has also been fitted with a more modern CD/MP3 stereo, while power steering makes it a little easier to maneuver. And we're betting that the V8 sounds pretty sweet through the truck's dual exhaust as well.
Photos: GR Auto Gallery
>>Join the conversation about this classic Flareside F-100 right here in the Ford Truck Forum!
6.2.5
Just Right
Overall, it's pretty amazing what the right set of rolling stock and stance can do for a truck. With a raked appearance, 15-inch Eagle alloy wheels, and tires measuring 285/70 and 225/75, this F-100 sits just right. And personally, we're digging it.
Photos: GR Auto Gallery
>>Join the conversation about this classic Flareside F-100 right here in the Ford Truck Forum!
6.2.5
Taking Advantage
So sure, the original intention for Flareside pickups was to add a little style. But why not also take advantage of that extra space and stuff some meaty tires in there? As we can see from this beautiful '77, it certainly can't hurt.
Photos: GR Auto Gallery
6.2.5
