POPE’S PATINA

When Less Really Is More

When Less Really Is

More

POPE’S HOT RODS IN SMYRNA, Tennessee, has quickly made a name for itself as one of the best-known F-100 shops in the country. In 2006 Brian Pope took his hobby public and has been cranking out customs to the market ever since. With the rapid development of the F-100 market, Pope’s continues to create beautiful builds that satisfy the taste of buyers from around the globe. With this, its 1960 F-100 known as Puddin’, Brian waited for the perfectly patinaed candidate to pop up. The truck makes a strong case for the “less is more” philosophy. It favors original parts and minimalistic updates for a true driver’s machine. It is everything that identifies Pope’s style.

The 1960 chassis was modified using tried and true techniques. In front of the cabin, the Pope team put to use its Mustang II style conversion. The front clip includes 2-inch drop spindles. Out back the straight axle was flipped and the frame rails C-notched. The sum of these suspension alterations adds up to 8 inches of ride height drop. The transition from a straight axle to the Mustang II-style IFS is costeffective and brings massive improvements. The steering feel, ride comfort, chassis rigidity are all distinctly better. But the swap must take into account some of the original design. The F-100 frame was engineered with “strategic” flex. The Mustang II, and other IFS adaptations are