Retro F-150 Blends Modernity with Excellent Two-tone Paint Job
Alabama-based Ford dealer went for maximum nostalgia with custom F-150. And this truck has some bite to match its retro bark.
Automakers perpetually try to inject their heritage into every new model they develop. Fortunately, Ford has succeeded in keeping the F-150 looking fresh without throwing tradition out the window. But they can’t do everything to satiate the desires of those who’d wish to see something a bit more classic. The good news is that within the last year or so, several Ford dealers stepped up and introduced their own retro F-150 creations into the market.
Town & Country Ford, a franchise consisting of two Alabama Ford dealerships, is the latest organization to jump in on the trend. In a recent video posted to the dealer’s YouTube channel, Co-General Manager Mitchell Watts showed off his dealership’s take on the retro, two-toned custom F-150 fad. Overall, it seems like they did an extremely good job recreating some old-school cool.
An F-150 With Style and Substance
Basically, Town & Country’s retro F-150 is a lightly modified XLT model with one major interior upgrade and obviously some pretty big modifications to the exterior. This particular F-150 comes equipped with the Chrome Appearance package. In case you’re wondering, that was intentional, as the chrome is an important part of the retro look. Additionally, it’s an FX4 model, although the sticker normally affixed to the bed was removed.
Perhaps the biggest interior revelation is the leather seats. Originally, the F-150 sported factory cloth. The dealer decided to outfit their retro model with Katzin Leather. The end result are seats that extend the two-tone look into the cabin. It’s an excellent upgrade that offers a functional benefit too. “By having three separate pieces of leather on this center part, you’re going to see that this leather system is going to actually last you a lot longer than even the Ford leather,” says Watts. That sounds good to us!
Authentic Paint
The biggest selling point of any of these old-school oriented trucks is the two-tone paint job. Unlike previous iterations from other Ford dealers, Town & Country Ford opted for actual white paint to supplement the Rapid Red clearcoat metallic paint from the factory. Those other customized trucks came equipped with vinyl wraps. While that lowers the cost, vinyl wraps generally last about 5 or 6 years. By contrast, actual paint will most likely last for the life of the truck. “But what we did is we actually sanded the side of the bed of the truck, we actually painted the white, and we cleared everything back over,” says Watts. It’s the real deal. And their choice of white complements the factory red quite nicely.
To complete the retro build, the dealer outfitted the F-150 with a lift kit, chrome running boards, a Magnaflow exhaust, and alloys with a classic aesthetic. They also installed a light bar. Interestingly enough, that bar is offered by Ford, who calls it a “Sport Bar.” KC Daylighter styled lights complete the retro look up top. And they’re halogens too! “Yeah, we could have gone with some LEDs. But we’re going retro here, so why not go with the actual halogen bulbs that we have here,” says Watts. It’s a smart choice that some people may not have made.
Expensive for a Reason
How much does a retro-styled F-150 cost? Quite a bit, actually. The featured truck, or one just like it, is in stock at Town & Country Ford of Bessemer. If you pull up the window sticker, you’ll see a price of just under $56,000. The dealer is currently asking for an additional $19,000 for the truck. Considering all the added equipment and time spent to install the extra kit, that doesn’t seem excessive, especially for a build that didn’t skimp on anything. And of course that price is almost certainly negotiable.
Ultimately, this is a pretty rad truck. It isn’t just some aesthetic curiosity either, as it comes with legitimately substantial upgrades. Make sure you check out the video to see an in-depth look at everything featured on the F-150 and to hear the sweet sound of the Coyote through the Magnaflow exhaust.
Photos: Town & Country Ford of Bessemer