{"id":2478,"date":"2014-01-13T13:37:25","date_gmt":"2014-01-13T21:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=2478"},"modified":"2015-11-11T10:15:08","modified_gmt":"2015-11-11T18:15:08","slug":"this-f-100-is-world-class-fast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/this-f-100-is-world-class-fast\/","title":{"rendered":"This F-100 is World Class Fast"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"John's<\/a><\/p>\n

Photos: Gary Rosier<\/strong><\/p>\n

Henry Ford built his first truck in 1900, a vehicle which evolved into the F-100 in 1953.\u00a0While the F-100 was originally equipped with an in-line six or a flathead, Henry Ford could never have imagined the power plant that would drive this 1955 pick-up, owned by John Maffucci of Port Orange, Fla.<\/p>\n

John first discovered the truck resting in an old chicken coupe in Clemont, Georgia. Looking over the rusting ride, visions of its future danced in his head. Would it be a shop truck, a rat rod, both? But as his vision cleared, the image of the truck’s fate morphed into the record-setting, all-purpose vehicle that we see today. John has a long history with racing and race vehicles, including a turn driving the Camel Light cars back in the 80s. He previously owned a 2003 Mustang Cobra that he set a Production Supercharged record at Bonneville (203.231mph), all while having driven that car all the way from Georgia and back again! He also owns RPM Ranch<\/a> in Dawsonville, Georgia, a company that helps connect people with the Mustang of their dreams.\u00a0 John’s a man who knows speed, and knows Fords, and suddenly, he had a project in front of him screaming out for a combination of that knowledge. But he needed a little inspiration.<\/p>\n

He got it directly from the Ford Motor Company, who contacted him expressing an interest in the project truck based on John\u2019s involvement with them in the Salt Flats record Speed attempt.\u00a0 Knowing John’s reputation, Ford wanted to see his inspiration play out at its SEMA Booth exhibit, with a 2003 powertrain from a record setting Mustang at his disposal. Rising to the challenge, John and his team quickly set about transforming the old F-100 into a show-winning, record-holding vehicle.<\/p>\n

Heidts Mustang II front suspension with dropped 2 inch spindles, BBS RGR one-piece forged aluminum wheels (18×8\u2019s all the way) and BF Goodrich Comp TA\u2019s (P235\/50ZR18\u2019s \u2013front and P245\/55ZR18\u2019s rear) help it roll, while the 13 inch Cobra Spec binders in front and SVT Cobra rear 11.6\u201d discs help it stop!\u00a0The stock independent rear is fitted with 4:10 gears and traction locks.\u00a0 Spent gasses are handled by the Bassani headers and Borla 2.5\u201d mufflers exiting in the custom rolled rear pan. It keeps its cool too, inside and out, with an AutoRads Customer aluminum radiator as well as vintage A\/C. The front and rear pans are about the only body modifications made to this all-steel truck. The custom front pan hides the intercooler, while at the rear, the license plate hides a class III Hitch for those occasional shop\/parts runs.<\/p>\n

Randy Powell of Powell\u2019s Auto Body in Dahlonega, GA used Dennis Carpenter reproduction sheet metal in getting the body ready for the Ford \u201906 Tungsten Gray paint.\u00a0 Graeme \u201cRabbit\u201d Bartils of North Georgia Fabrications in Dahlonega boxed the frame and made many of the modifications to get it all to fit. Tim\u2019s Upholstery in Gainesville, GA added the interior which was fashioned from an idea he had looking at the front seat of a Bentley. The Porsche “Lipstick Red” leather\u00a0 upholstery was fashioned from one piece so that there would be no seams and used on the overhead custom panel as well as the doors. The Lexan Bed Floor cover shows off all the underpinnings garnered from the 2003 Mustang Cobra.<\/p>\n

Powered by the Ford Modular overhead cam V-8 (Mod Motor-510 rwhp) and a Tremec T-56 6-speed, the truck ran at an official 133 mph at Maxton to take the AA\/Modified Pickup East Coast Timing Association land speed record in 2006. The next year, the truck went even faster:\u00a0144.2 mph in the Maxton Monster Mile.\u00a0 Other awards followed including People’s Choice, Editor\u2019s Choice, Best Interior, a Fun Ford Weekend Best of Class and a Top 15 Win at the \u201906 F100 Nationals. Some kind of parts hauler you have there, John. Thanks for sharing it all with us. Henry Ford would be proud!<\/p>\n