Ford F-Series Pickup Popular Among SEMA Customizers
Will Some SEMA Ideas Make Production?
LAS VEGAS: Fords new F-Series was a pretty popular car at the SEMA specialty show here, with various aftermarket firms doing their best to show how they could customize the new full-size pickup.
But no one did a better job than Ford itself of showcasing the F-Series, turning out a bunch of project vehicles highlighting various aspects of the pickups skills with various members of the parts industry.
None was more interesting than the F-150 Everest, which eschewed the normal truck-type attitude in favor of something more street-wise -- a stand-alone wireless network that allows every person in the vehicle to have their own personal work station. Among other things, this means you could e-mail your backseat driving comments to the driver or look for directions without actually asking someone in person.
Everest also had a running board that deploys when a door is open, 22-inch wheels, Range Rover-like headlights, a lowered front fascia with projector lamps, and generally a more upscale appearance.
This is all in aid of helping Ford promote the point that its gone to a lot of trouble to make its F-Series easier to outfit with non-production parts than ever before. Ford provided CAD files to aftermarket firms in advance of the pickups launch, which allowed them to design and fit aftermarket parts in advance.
Normally, aftermarket firms use a process which they like to call "reverse engineering". That means buying a truck and taking it apart to measure the bits they want to replace or add on to or whatever.
So already there are about 100 aftermarket parts available for the F-Series, with a lot more undoubtedly to follow.
Along with the Everest, some of the customized 2004 F-150s on display at SEMA included:
-The Iron Man F-150 by DeBerti Designs, which "takes Built Ford Tough to a new level, featuring modified fenders, tailgate, inner bed, grille, rocker panels, skid guard and exhaust." It also features a complete color change and a custom DeBerti interior.
-The Stainless by Classic Design Concepts, which is meant to be the ultimate go-kart hauler, with a Magellan Navigation system and custom pop-up screen, high tech storage, pull-out shelves, Eurovox/Rockford amplifiers and speakers, and modified fascia and lower body cladding.
-The Super Wagons F-150 by Hulst Customs is a high-end utility truck that hauls a custom toolbox and is supposed to be "at home on the work site and to look good at a show."
-The F-150 LSC (Low, Smooth, Cool) by Air Ride is for "truck owners who want to arrive in style" and in a hurry, thanks to a Roush supercharger and sprung with a full Air Ride suspension with remote control, with musical accompaniment from a 5,800-watt Kicker Stereo.
-The Canyon Crawler by X-Treme Toys features Off Road Unlimited tub bumper guards, Borla exhaust system, Amp Research retracting entry steps, Stillen fender flares and Budnik M-6 wheels.
-The F-150 by Foose Design "adds European flair to Ford tough truck style in this all-wheel-drive Euro-inspired F-150 design."
-The Roush F-150 shoots for a Mustang GT-350 look with a restyled bumper, roll pan and hood, modifying the engine air intake adding nitrous oxide injection, lowering the suspension and adding aftermarket wheels and tires.
-The Fast and Ferocious by Wings West features a customized 5.4-liter three-valve Triton V8 with custom paint and details.
-The Big Sky by Performance West is a loaded four-by-four sport truck that "merges an active lifestyles needs with show-stopping appearance."
-The American Muscle by Street Scene is a sport "tuner" truck for a road racer, with a Whipple Super Charger, a lowered suspension, custom steering wheel and dash, a Street Scene urethane front spoiler and a fiberglass wiper cowl and hood.
-The SCOUT by BFS Mobility includes the IntelliRide air adjustable suspension that increases ride height, KC Daylighters that illuminate the darkest of paths and the Bombardier Traxter, which can be remotely lowered to the ground.
-The bonspeed Banshee F-150 "pushes the limits of a pickup by adding four-wheel independent suspension tuned by Detroit Speed & Engineering," powered by a 32-valve supercharged motor and six-speed transmission, while enveloping passengers in luxury with specially dyed leather, an entertainment system, and heated power seats.
-The Shine F-150 by So-Cal Speed Shop comes with a long list of custom features, including wheels, working side exhaust, lower grille diffuser, "Brushed Aluminum" paint, and louvered tailgate and box sides.
Expect to see these items and many, many others on F-Series pickups near you on the street soon. And if they get the wireless internet connection thats in the Everest, theyll be able to argue about whos got the coolest truck by e-mail.