Long Lost Custom Vintage Ford Pickup is Being Restored

Galpin Auto Sports has announced it will restore the famed and long lost Ed “Big Daddy” Roth custom 1956 Ford F-100 pickup truck.

As the first noteworthy custom truck ever done by the famous Rat Fink designer, this particular 1956 Ford F-100 was used as advertising for Roth’s pin-striping business and is powered by a Packard V8 engine. For more than 30 years, the truck had been stored in a barn in Oklahoma before its owner contacted Galpin Auto Sports. Despite its age, Roth’s signature red flame pinstripes, a mural on the tonneau cover and chrome-plated parts can still be seen on the truck.

SEE ALSO: Galpin Fisker Rocket Drops the Top at Pebble Beach

Galpin plans on completely restoring the truck, although for now, it can be seen in its current condition for a limited time. Eventually, the team will be led by Dave Shuten to fully restore the F-100 using new old stock and period correct parts and equipment, with a plan to debut it at the 2017 Grand National Roadster Show.

Galpin also announced that finding the long lost Ed “Big Daddy” Roth pickup has inspired it to begin a search for the first-ever “Galpinized” vehicle, a 1952 Ford Convertible. The company is offering a reward for any information that will help locate the car, which was last seen in the San Fernando Valley in the 1950s.

“We pride ourselves on finding orphan rods, the ones that seem lost forever,” said Beau Boeckmann, president of Galpin Motors. “There’s something so incredibly special about bringing a major piece of automotive history back to life and we couldn’t be more thrilled to restore the Roth truck like we have done with so many others. For now, we invite enthusiasts to come down to Galpin Auto Sports and check it out as is – it’s truly a legendary sight to see!”

Discuss this story on our Ford Forum