Veteran’s Special – Pete’s 1970 Ford F100
What’s better than a completely restored and resto-modded 1970 Ford F100 with 730hp? Building it for a Veteran-turned fireman. That’s exactly what happened at Classic Car Studio in St. Louis. What’s better is that Pete, a former US Marine, built the truck right alongside the expert craftsmen and women at Classic Car Studio.
After leaving the military Pete continued to serve his country as a fireman for 23 years. Still, after a long career, he wanted to continue learning. This time around, Pete worked on something for himself in the form of a vintage Ford pickup and as you can see, the results are stunning.
Noah Alexander and his team at Classic Car studio have completely overhauled the truck with Pete right there in the mix. The new heart of the machine is a Jon Kaase-built “Boss Nine” 520ci V8 with Borla stack injection sourcing plenty of fresh air for the thirsty blue oval big block.
Holley Performance engine management and distributor coupled with an MSD Ignition system keep the 730-plus horsepower monster firing on all eight cylinders. Rumbling down the road thanks to a custom Magnaflow exhaust, power is sent through a Centerforce clutch on to a Tremtec TKO 600 5-speed manual. That’s right, it’s a three pedal pickup.
The Boss Nine is stunning to look at, especially when you compare it to the motor that CCS pulled out of the Ford when they got their hands on it. Though the body of the blue pickup was in decent shape when Pete picked it up, the details left plenty to be desired.
With one-off (reclining) leather buckets, Pete won’t be missing that bench seat any time soon. And with a Kicker audio system and Q-Series speakers he’ll be able to hear some tunes over the big motor up front.
Of course, this pickup is a balanced build. It’s not just a good-looking high-horsepower monster. Underneath it all the team went to work with a Roaster Shop Spec Series chassis and suspension front and back. Inside B-Forged wheels by Billet Specialties (which measure 20×8.5 up front and 20×12 in the rear) you’ll find Wilwood disc brakes all around.
With custom parts like Classic Car Studio’s roll bar, headers, and completely custom sheet metal bed, this is a 1970 Ford F100 like no other. While incredibly built, it isn’t overstated in any way. From the outside this truck is a standout because of the clean simplicity of the build.
It’s low, mean, and hiding a monster of a motor. And when you get close to take in the details, you realize just how many there are. It’s a thorough build and Pete’s learned a lot through the process, too, picking up new skills along the way. As always, projects like this have a deeper meaning.
This 1970 Ford F100 is a work of art, and it couldn’t be going to a better home. Thanks for all of your service Pete and enjoy the ride!
