Check Out this Awesome Project F-150 from Father/Son Duo
All it took was a little time and a lot of patience.
Ford trucks have been around for decades. They’re reliable, good-looking and so common that we’ve all probably ridden in, driven or owned one at least once in our lives. While you can opt for a new model from your local dealership, some owners prefer to get their hands dirty restoring an old classic. According to this great story from Lima Ohio, that’s exactly what this father/son duo has done. They spent the last 15 years restoring a 1978 F-150. Take a look at this awesome build and see what’s next for the pair.
Decades in the making
Denny Latham, of Wapakoneta, Ohio spent time working for the Ford Motor Company and developed such a fondness for the late 70s F-150 model that he just had to bring one home. He didn’t buy it new, however — in 2004 he brought home a 1978 F-150 with the goal of restoring it together with his son Brett. They just now got it finished.
This truck has been a labor of love. “He had his graduation pictures taken with it,” said Denny, referring to his son. They’ve spent his whole childhood turning an old pickup into a show-worthy piece that they’re proud to show off at local car events.
A hands-on project
Some collectors might hand their project cars off to professional mechanics for restoration work, but not the Lathams. Denny and Brett did the majority of the work themselves in their home garage. The only thing they didn’t do was restoring the interior, which they trusted to 3G Customs, a local shop in Wapakoneta.
Denny’s wife Sue has a great sense of humor about the whole project, though she says doesn’t mind that it’s taken them so long to work on it.
if you’re thinking about tackling your own project car, make sure you’ve got the right tools to get the job done. That includes but isn’t limited to hand tools, power tools, and a lift that is specific to classic cars. Our very own F150online forum is a fantastic place to start and is full of great information and people who are eager to help in any aspect of your build.
The 1978 F-150 is a classic, and came as the base Ranger, Custom, Ranger XLT, and Ranger Lariat. This model beefed up the cab and came with a stronger frame than older models as well. The standard engine gave you 114-horesepower, but you could nearly double that by upgrading to the 300-cubic-inch 6-cylinder. They also made slight design changes, including moving the large F O R D letters off the grille and onto the hood.
Looking forward
Denny’s son Brett has picked up a truck of his own, but we don’t have any info on what make and model he’s working with and whether we’ll be seeing another father/son build in the news. If you’re in the Wapakoneta area, you might see Denny and Brett and their project truck making the rounds at local car shows, so keep your eyes peeled!
Photos: F-150 Online