Common Vision – Dennis and Saun Strobel’s 1950 Ford F1
Dennis and Saun Strobel got the itch to own a vintage truck after attending a Goodguys event in Norwalk, Ohio years ago. They embarked on a search for the right candidate, attending auctions and searching classifieds until they found a 1950 Ford F1 in North Carolina. “Dennis went for a test drive,” Saun says. “During dinner I told him to purchase the truck, or we are done looking!”
The Ford was an older resto with a Flathead V8 that served the couple well for ice cream jaunts and local cruises. They eventually decided they wanted a more comfortable and powerful custom hauler and began interviewing prospective builders, ultimately hiring Korek Designs to perform the transformation.
Ryan Korek and his team know how to build a distinctive custom, as evidenced by the ’58 F100 they built for Danny Bouchard that was the 2019 Scott’s Hotrods Truck of the Year Early. Armed with design direction from an Eric Brockmeyer rendering, they dove into the F1.
An Art Morrison chassis provided the pickup with a modern G-Sport front suspension, a four-bar rear suspension, and Wilwood disc brakes. The Strobels’ need for speed was fulfilled with a Roush Performance 427IR crate engine, a potent performer with eight-stack fuel injection that sends more than 570-horsepower through a Tremec TKO 600 five-speed transmission.
Subtle modifications abound on the body, starting with welded and smoothed front fenders with custom character lines matching the rears. The Korek crew also modified the body lines under the headlights, crafted shapely hood side vents, built a custom firewall, and eliminated the vent windows. Around back, a custom tailgate was framed by small round taillights, with one-off exhaust tips built in the bumper mirroring the hood nostrils.
The paint color was the most debated part of the build. Dennis wanted maroon, but Saun lobbied for blue from the beginning. Saun won. Korek mixed up a custom PPG hue that shifts from blue to gray and seems fitting for a vintage truck. The body is complemented by custom 18-inch Curtis Speed wheels that take design cues from ’58 Ford hubcaps. They’re wrapped in Diamondback whitewall radials.
John Miller at Hide Originals worked his magic inside, sewing brown Relicate leather with contrasting stitching over modified WiseGuys bucket seats and a custom console. Custom Dakota Digital gauges fill the dash, which is also home to a Vintage Air system, Ididit tilt column, and a Curtis Speed wheel.
It’s wonderful when you can tackle a vintage vehicle project with your spouse. It’s even better when you’re still married at the end! Dennis and Saun succeeded in finding a common vision for their truck, and the result is this fantastic custom 1950 Ford F1.
Photos by John Jackson & Damon Lee
