ROOM FOR THE CREW
Two Cabs and Eight Doors Were Used to Create This One-of-a-kind F-1
WHEN YOU’VE BUILT YOUR OWN MODEL A AT AGE 13 AND OWN A TRUCKING COMPANY AS AN ADULT, YOU HAVE THE CREDENTIALS TO CREATE SOMETHING GENUINELY UNIQUE. Bob Bradley from Bozeman, Montana, has been involved with cool vehicles his whole life, and this chopped and suicided crew cab is his latest. Although he’s had eight custom cars in the past, this is his first custom truck. Smiling, he explained, “I always wanted a crew cab, so I thought to myself, why would I spend $50,000 on a new crew cab when I can build one for just three times more.”
Even with his humorous approach to the project, the idea
didn’t turn into reality until he met a young fellow named Kyle Fehrer, a body man from Snubnose
Hot Rods. Bob hired him to assist with the project, explaining his idea of converting his ’52 Ford F-1 into a crew cab. With a few details sketched out and a second F-1 donor truck purchased, the pair took the first step, stripping both trucks so that they could weld portions of the frames together to achieve the desired length.
The Mustang II independent front suspension uses components and airbags from Scott’s Hotrods. In the rear, a shop-built trailing arm suspension uses ’bags adapted from a Freightliner truck. The VIAIR compressor and the homemade 5-gallon reserve tank are located under the bed. Rocket Fuel chrome wheels transform the chassis into a roller, using 15x7s in the front and 15x8s in the rear with Cooper rubber. Supplying another collection of parts, a ’95 Lincoln Town Car became the next donor vehicle involved, a creative addition that gave up its 4.6L SOHC V-8, stock except for a cold air kit and dual exhausts. Its AODE transmission was fitted with a longer two-piece driveshaft. The Lincoln disc brake rear axle, along with the power brake booster and master cylinder, ensured modern stopping capability.
After fabricating the rear-mounted gas tank, Bob repurposed the Lincoln fuel pump and gauge. Finally, the Town Car wiring harness was called into play to make everything work.
Once the chassis and power train were established, the body was next, and the first step was cutting the original cab behind the door. After the second cab was cut at the A-pillar, the two halves were carefully welded together to create the crew cab body using a roof skin from a Jeep wagon to fill the gaps.
Although not part of the original plan, Kyle talked Bob into chopping the top and installing hidden hinges. It was a major undertaking, with the radiused corners on the doors eventually requiring a total of eight donors before they got four to fit. The front doors open in the traditional manner, while the rears are suicided.
Retaining the original 1952 hood, bed and all four fenders, Bob added personal touches that began with extra teeth in the grille, tri-bar headlights, chrome spears on the sides of the hood