Custom 1976 F-150 Will Certainly Turn Heads
Vintage F-150 is in excellent condition and looks absolutely amazing – except in one area.
There’s no accounting for taste. Too many people misunderstand that saying and use it as a justification for some type of super tacky fashion choice. But the axiom is really a way to convey that good and enduring designs simply aren’t quantifiable. Basically, you can’t nail down exactly what makes something look great. That goes for something like the F-150 too.
By contrast, we can determine exactly why this particular truck looks odd. To be fair, there is a lot of good with this F-150 currently for sale over at Streetside Classics. But one thing separates it from being a masterpiece. While the design and execution followed through, the end result leaves a lot to be desired. We have to imagine it receives a multitude of confused looks everywhere it goes. And the next owner will have to determine whether or not the addition should stay. No one should feel like they can’t modify a vehicle to their liking in fear of being ostracized for it. That being said, people are allowed to criticize things.
Bad News First
We might as well talk about this F-150’s biggest shortcoming: the additional space that’s been tacked on behind the cabin. In terms of quality, it is unimpeachable. The paint, which is an excellent blue, matches right up with the rest of the truck. Everything looks professionally done. Unfortunately, none of those things make up for how it completely destroys the truck’s profile. The previous owner wanted their vehicle to stand out and they certainly accomplished their goal with the transformation. But that modification severely limits the truck’s desirability factor.
Flawed F-150
Why does this truck ultimately fall flat? Other than aesthetics, the reasoning for the stretched cabin isn’t terribly compelling. Here is what the ad has to say about the addition: “But what has really caught your attention is how the custom rear cover you saw on the outside now shows that it extends the room inside. You have three Rockford Fosgate amps and a crossover, which is all part of an awesome stereo system that this extra space uses to its full advantage. And your gateway to all of this is an AM/FM/CD stereo with USB input to do everything from hook-up your iPod to charge your phone.”
How many people actually care about a vintage truck with an above average stereo system? People have all sorts of different reasons for liking classic cars, but audio systems play a very small role in that. Classic cars and trucks are valued because they’re historical artifacts. The presence of an older model brings back memories, good and bad, for the people that see it. And they highlight the history of the company that made them. Sacrificing aesthetics for a stereo system isn’t a terribly great justification for fundamentally altering the design of a classic F-150.
Maybe It’s Not So Bad?
Although we may have pilloried this truck for being uselessly extended, there’s a lot to like about it. The blue paint looks fantastic. It’s had a whole bunch of new parts installed. Plus, the undercarriage is probably cleaner than it was when it left the factory. The wheels and rims work well with the truck and its stance looks surprisingly good. Similarly, the interior is basically perfect. We love the padded dash. There’s always the possibility that the additional cabin space can be removed too.
Modified trucks are always a welcome sight. They add character to what were once work vehicles. It’s fun when someone customizes one to their liking. But sometimes people take things too far. That’s exactly the case with this 1976 F-150. Fortunately, the damage doesn’t seem irreversible. And beyond that, the truck is pretty damn nice, even with the aesthetically challenged bed area. Any way you slice it, it’s a solid classic. Head over to the listing if you’re interested.
Photos: Streetside Classics