Fresno Ford Fan Turns $800 Find into Show Truck
Starting with a junker, Benny Miranda created a priceless gem.
When Benny Miranda drove past an old 1941 Ford junker near Fresno, he knew he had to have it. Buying the truck for only $800, Miranda got the truck back to his garage where he and his brother began the long process of restoring the vehicle. The restoration wasn’t cheap and it wasn’t easy, but Miranda loved every second. In a recent interview with USA Today, Miranda discusses his restoration project.
“It was hard, but it was fun,” he said of the restoration of his gorgeous Ford truck, which is a mainstay at local auto shows and rallies around the Fresno area.
The truck enthusiast wasn’t interested in restoring the 1941 Ford into its original form. Miranda took the cab off the ’41 Ford and decided to put it on a 1987 chassis. Instead of the engine being in its original position, under the driver, he decided to put the big-block 454-cubic inch V8 behind the cab. Adding to the more modern bells and whistles, Miranda included power steering and power brakes. He wanted a classic truck with modern updates that can be driven around town easily.
Classic truck enthusiasts, don’t worry, Benny Miranda wasn’t interested in completely updating the 1941 Ford. Even in the warm California climate, he insisted on keeping the A/C unit in its original form, a metal flap next to the hood that opens to allow air to pass through the cab. Also, the interior of the truck looks incredible and era-appropriate. While his brother helped with the overall restoration, Miranda’s wife had a heavy hand in the interior. In addition to picking out the upholstery colors, his wife also helped pick the unique color of the truck, which is striking and demands your attention.
Altogether, the cost of the project was a $22,000 over a total of four years. However, what Miranda created is a truck unlike any other, with a value well above the $22,000 price tag.
