COMING ATTRACTION Spotto one blown, injected 57 Chev

Paul Bennett has built plenty of cool cars over the years - some for himself and some for customers. This 5.4-litre Ford powered 41 Willys started out as a customers car, but ended up a personal project when the customer decided he wanted out.

Paul Beck

Some car builds are so extreme and taken to the next level that they really do become rolling works of art. Case in point, this stunning ’56 F100…

PICK-UP Artist

This fat Ford pick-up had been subjected to an extensive eight year, show car build, yet it sports a 900hp, 600ci Steve Schmidt big block Ford, chop top and over-thetop wheel and tyre combo. Yes, it almost too good for regular street use, but as owner Dave Aquilina sees it, if you’ve got it, use it! Can’t have all that engine going to waste! Dave’s a car guy having owned plenty of cool rides over the years, most of which wore the blue oval badge including his current project, a John Goss Falcon Coupe that he is restoring. As a young guy just getting into cars, he remembers drawing many different cars, but it’s the early F100’s that have stuck in his mind. So, when the opportunity came to purchase this F-Truck, the desire to live out a child hood dream was just too strong to ignore. The truck was built in Queensland, which is where Dave picked it up from at 782 Motors.

The engine is a Steve Schmidt-built big block sporting no less than 600 cubic inches! Say it slowly and its even more impressive!

What sealed the deal for Dave was that mega-cube Ford engine. Having a Chev powering it just wouldn’t have the same appeal for Dave. The engine is a Steve Schmidt-built big block sporting no less than 600 cubic inches! Say it slowly and its even more impressive! Based in Indianapolis, Steve Schmidt Competition Engines have a huge reputation for making lots of horsepower in aspirated form. Dave’s big block relies on a single Quick Fuel carb that sends the fuel through the Trick Flow intake for the big bang to happen down below. Dave’s not too sure of the engines internals, but we can tell you it uses Trick Flow alloy heads, fabricated headers that flow into a dual 3.5-inch stainless system and a cam that scares little old ladies when stopped at pedestrian crossings. The most important part of this engine build is the horsepower and this one makes plenty. Thank god the F100 has a big engine bay, because there’s more than 900 ponies hiding under that big bonnet! It doesn’t look half bad either! Backing that big lump of an engine is a purpose-built Turbo 400 auto designed to handle the power being pushed through it with ease. The converter has a stall speed of 3500rpm. The third member of the driveline trio is a narrowed Race Productions 9-inch diff using tough axles, a four-link and Watts link assembly.

THANKS TO: My understanding wife Kerry. She is such a huge supporter of everything I do and encourages me to follow my dreams. My good mate Carl for helping with some paint touch ups, buffing and polishing. Andy at Andy’s Restoration for his advice and help. Wayne at A1 Automotive for his invaluable help. Matt King at Kings Customs for the body and paint. Tyler at Rewire Australia for the expert wiring. Chris at BMV Engineering for the custom metal fabrication. Peter Delaney at Diamond Valley Old School for the initial mechanical work. Cameron Hayward at North Coast Custom Trim for the Interior work.

The chassis has had many hours put into it to, to offer a much better ride than it did in 1956. Both ends now rely on Accu-Air suspension to supply a smooth drive and also get it slammed down low when not on the move. The wheels of choice are Billet Raceline measuring a huge 22x10-inches on the front (with 255/30 Kumho tyres) and an impressive 24x12-inches on the fat rear end wrapped in 305/35 Kumho’s. As wide as they are, those big rear bags can’t cope with the gobs of torque the big block pushes at them. Wilwood discs and calipers handle the braking. It’s almost a shame to cover that detailed bright red chassis, but when you have a body like this F100, it needs to be shown off! Chris at BMV Engineering handled the initial metal work including the roof chop that saw 150mm of height removed from the roofline. Whilst noticeable. The new roof line doesn’t look out of proportion. The sheet-metal has been smoothed off with all mouldings, badges and bumper bars now a distant memory. Moving rearward from the reworked cab reveals a tray that is simply a work of art. Keeping the F100’s original-styled rear guards, Chris reshaped the tray to include the wheel tubs and clearance for the rear end when the air is let out of the bags. The stamped tailgate is no longer operational, not that you’d want to lower it to put stuff in the back now anyway! The complete rear of the truck is now smooth and has a recessed MORTAL numberplate, LED brake lights and a trick centre-mount exhaust opening. Matt King at Kings Customs in Kunda Park in Qld, finished off the metal work and applied the silky-smooth Titan Silver from the Honda colour chart.

Thank God the F100 has a big engine bay, because there’s more than 900 ponies hiding under that big bonnet!

In stark contrast to the body colour, the interior has been restyled and covered in a mix of Red Elmosoft leather and Alcantara suede that now covers the big bench seat, door trims and headlining. The Mercedes square weave carpet blends in nicely with the material and internal metal that has been coated in Nissan Red. The standard issue dash facia now holds a bunch of late model gauges and was sourced from Dakota Digital. The tilt billet steering column is topped by an old school wheel in black and to keep the floor space uncluttered, a column mount shifter has been used. Dave reckons that even with the roof chop, there’s plenty of space inside the cabin, even for his sixfoot frame! Cameron Hayward at North Coast Custom Trim handled the top shelf stitch work.

In stark contrast to the body colour, the interior has been restyled and covered in a mix of Red Elmosoft leather and Alcantara suede...

It’s obvious that there was no expense spared in the build of this custom truck. Vehicles like this rarely get offered up for sale, and Dave wants to send a special thank you to his wife Kerry for encouraging him to do what makes him happy. When Dave showed Kerry the F100, she pushed him into buying it, despite the hefty price tag. Good work Kerry! Though spare time is at a premium for Dave, he tries to get the truck out occasionally for a cruise. There’s a couple of show appearances coming up including Killer Rides Live #4 in August. But for Dave, it’s not all about driving it and showing it. He did admit that he enjoys cleaning it and just looking at it. Much the same way you would sit and stare at a prized piece of artwork in a gallery.