Fat Fender Garage Unveils Sun-Faded 1978 Ford F-250 Restomod

Because of its arid nature, Arizona’s local weather has a particular capacity to protect automobiles. And whereas the climate might forestall rust and corrosion, Arizona’s solar is thought to ultimately eat away at cars’ paint jobs. Being based mostly southeast of Phoenix in Gilbert, the crew at Fats Fender Storage is conscious about how the Arizona climate results automobiles. For the store’s newest restomod project, it’s taken a ’78 F-250 Highboy, and fairly than portray over a donor’s sun-faded paintwork, Fats Fender has opted to focus on and have a good time the desert and its climate’s affect on automotive paint.

The Fundamentals

Created for this yr’s recently-wrapped SEMA Show the place it was on show on the TOYO Tires Treadpass sales space, this F-250 venture was created with the intention of updating the nearly-half-century-old truck’s efficiency whereas retaining a lot of its unique look — and spirit and DNA. As such, the truck’s outward look has largely been left alone. Below the floor, nonetheless, it’s been introduced into the twenty first century because of a bunch of recent aftermarket bits. 

The Exterior

Beginning life as a 1978 Ford F-250 Ranger, the donor proudly wears it unique paint — granted that paint work has spent the higher a part of the final half century baking below the recent Arizona solar. Consequently, the end is totally pale on all horizontal surfaces, and continues to be fairly weathered on the vertical ones. This finally give the truck a particular patina and allure, plus, other than a brand new set of Methodology Race Wheels, the skin of the truck hasn’t been altered in any means. There are not any fender flares, {custom} bumpers, or every other fashionable components in anyway — other than some modern suspension bits poking out from beneath the truck. 

Trendy Componentry

To assist modernize the ‘70s period donor’s efficiency, the Fats Fender staff handled the Ford to a bunch of latest parts. This features a set of Dana 60 axles, fore and aft — objects plucked from a late mannequin Tremendous Obligation truck — plus FOX shocks, modern braking {hardware}, and a very overhauled electrical system. The truck’s inventory gas cell has additionally been jettisoned in favor of a Boyd tank.

Below The Hood

Powering this less-is-more-style restomod is a rebuilt Lincoln-sourced 7.5-liter V8. Making slightly below 250hp, the engine has additionally been fitted with a rebuilt switch case and full {custom} exhaust system. 

Shifting Inside

The Ford’s doorways open to disclose a custom-worked cabin that places a novel spin on the donor’s manufacturing unit inside structure. The entire thing is trimmed in brown leather-based, from the sprint to the door panels to the seats. Additional complementing the inside are a Gen-5 Classic Air HVAC system, {custom} square-weave carpets,  billet aluminum window cranks, and a bespoke burl walnut trim package deal. For the cabin’s completion, the truck’s seats had been outfitted with Pendleton Sunbrella Grand Canyon Park wool upholstery cloth inserts. 

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

Fats Fender Storage is presently accepting commissions for {custom} builds, with pricing for this Ford F-250 restomod beginning at $95,000. 

1978 Ford F-250 By Fats Fender Storage

Fats Fender Storage celebrates the Arizona desert and the climates affect on automobiles with this sun-kissed ‘70s period F-250 restomod that modernizes the donor’s efficiency whereas sustaining its patina-rich, interval look.