GHOST OF CUSTOMS PAST
A Reincarnation of the Truck That Started It All
A Reincarnation of the Truck That Started It All
The ’56 flare-side is an uncompromised custom classic. Technology is changing the industry more quickly than most can keep up. It is exceedingly refreshing to see a classic recipe bubble to the top.
FOR A LOT OF HOTRODDERS, there exists that one build that got them hooked, a special project permanently embedded in their head. And romanticized or not, the ghosts of customs past have a tendency of reanimating. This was the explicit case with Barry Pope. Well-known in the industry, Barry and his family have been around custom trucks for as long as anyone, and Barry had one of these undead memories: a family friend’s laidout ’56 F-100 finished in primer black. As time and life permitted, Barry set his mind on recreating the classic truck he knew so well as a young man.
The ’56 flare-side is an uncompromised custom classic. Technology is changing the industry more quickly than most can keep up. It is exceedingly refreshing to see a classic recipe bubble to the top. Barry’s F-100 is that perfect, classic take on a custom. Its modestly lowered stance comes by way of an updated front chassis. In place of the original suspension,
the truck uses a firstgeneration Camaro front clip. The uncanny Chevy adaptation offers a pleasant upgrade in ride-feel. The icing on top is a golden-era muscle car rake.
The use of General Motors-made components doesn’t end with the front suspension. GM brakes sit at each of the four corners. And most importantly, under the hood lies a Chevy 350ci V-8. The iconic motor may seem like an odd or even mutinous choice for the classic Ford. But apart from Barry’s love for its rebellious spirit, the swap is by no means unheard of. By 1956 hot-rodding was a thriving component of Americana. At the end of the second World War, America’s youth had spent three hellish years keeping Jeeps on the road and
wheel accents extend around the truck by way of the refinished bumpers and body trim. Every single piece boasts a mirror polish. The truck’s body itself is immaculate. Matte black paint is a bit like a white bikini. For it to work well, the body has got to be bangin’. That is certainly the case in this example. The original features and lines, down to the running boards, remain in place.
The only exception is the period-correct louvered hood. An iconic look of the Ford hot rod, particularly in this color.
Barry’s favorite portion of his Ford is the interior. It too follows suit, giving heed to the rule of K.I.S.S.— keep it simple, stupid!
planes in the sky. When they heroically returned home, the need to tinker didn’t die out. They continued to swap engines, rebuild and repaint cars, birthing much of what is known today as customs culture. This meant using what they had and making it work. Chevy engines in Ford trucks and vice versa has been a part of the culture from the very start.
Barry’s application of the 350
SBC makes use of a custom 2.5inch exhaust system. It’s mated to a 350-auto transmission. The driveline terminates with a Buick rear end. The classic choices continue to the ’56’s exterior.
The lowered stance works in tandem with a gorgeous set of Detroit Steel smoothies. The 20x-8-inch rollers are finished in glassy oĢ-white with polished lips and center caps. The polished
Harsh as it may sound, it’s really good advice, especially when it comes to bringing classics back to life. The F-100’s cabin is outfitted with a one-off custom bench seat. The pillow-like update is wrapped in handsome sage green Ultra Leather. The dash and cabin are custom painted to match the exterior. This brings consistency to the style. The customized dashed sports updated gauges from Harris. In the interest of creature comfort, the ’56 now sports a refreshed AC system, power windows and an Alpine head unit. The stereo sings via a small army of Memphis Audio speakers and subwoofers.
Barry and his brother built something indelibly meaningful to him—a reincarnation of the truck that started it all. There is something about metal and motors and memories. The way these machines soak up their builders is unlike anything else on the planet. The significance they can have in life is uniquely tangible, drivable, customizable. Here’s to hoping the ghost of customs past continues to haunt us all.
Barry and his brother built something indelibly meaningful to him—a reincarnation of the truck that started it all.