In the 1980’s there was a State Farm agent in Grants Pass that was “Mr. Hot Rod” long before the industry and fashion had discovered making old cars drive like new ones. His name was Cliff Rucker and he was a fixture in the exotic and hot rod car community of Southern Oregon in the moment. Cliff probably has been through 50 cars since that time but like the old cars he customized, he is going through one final makeover. Everything except one car is being sold and down sizing is the current mantra.

This absolutely stunning, show quality 1956 Ford F100 is his last completed build. 40 years of buying and building cars educated Cliff on what and who he wanted to work with in the Southern Oregon area. The frame is a TCI IFS 4-Link Chassis which includes Independent Front Suspension and a 4-Link Ladder Bar Rear setup with a Ford 9” diff added. Everything was powder coated to match the Porsche Cream White color used on the upper body. Other major components of the Drive Train were ordered new from Summit Racing including the 5.0 HO V-8, Automatic Transmission and 4- Wheel Disk Brakes. The body work and paint were handled by Lonnie’s Auto and Truck Painting in Medford, Oregon and it is spectacular. You have never felt doors close better or more correctly on anything other than a new factory car. The interior was done in Connolly Leather by Greg’s Upholstery and it smells as expected. The bed was finished by John Heuring in Grants Pass using multiple coats of Poly Urethane and is wonderful.

There were no mistakes made, no redo’s, no closed shops or disappointments in the work sent out and finished, but a sophisticated no boxes missed exactly what he had in mind, finished truck. The end result is a 388 mile, stunning ’56 Resto-Rod Ford F100 ready to be enjoyed and driven. It has never been shown or displayed so that can be the pleasure of the next owner. With low miles it is ready for what plans or dreams come to it’s future.

I was took the ’56 out to shoot images and cannot over state how nicely it drove. It is a fuss free, rattle free and freshly completed driver with a few miles added to sort out the normal minor build issues that somehow always turn up.

Cliff left me with a huge folder of invoices which were for parts and do not include the $30,000 he spent for labor. These are a few of the big ticket items:

1. Summit Racing Blue Print 5.0 HO Engine
2. Summit Premium Coated Header
3. Summit Billet Electronic Ignition System
4. Summit Racing Sizzler Transmission
5. Summit Racing Ford Mustang GT Steering Rack
6. Summit Performance Converter
7. TCI Shifter
8. TCI Chassis
9. Wilwood Brake System
10. American Autowire Loom System
11. No Limit Engineering Tilt Hood
12. Dakota Digital VHX Gauge Kit
13. Deltron Paint and material
14. Vintage Air Mini Gen 11 System
15. SPW Power Windows
16. Lokar Control Pedals
17. Powder Coated Chassis
18. 20 or more Midwest Early Ford Invoices
19. Lonnie’s Truck and Auto Painting (breath taking invoices)
20. Greg’s Upholstery
21. Bumper Depot

The selling price is $76,995. VIN# FI0VG6L11891 and miles are 388. For other interesting bikes and collectable vehicles, visit our web site http://www.automaniagp.com , 541 479 8888 or come by and see us at 895 SE Gladiola Drive, Grants Pass, Oregon, 97526. Oregon Dealer DA1287

Automania LLC is a Consignment Oregon Dealer selling quality, privately owned vehicles including Aprilia, Buell, BMW, Citroen, Ducati, Harley Davidson, Honda, Hummer, Kawasaki, Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta, Nissan, Ossa, Piaggio, Suzuki, Triumph, Vespa, Classic Hot Rods, Buick, Dodge, Ford, Chevrolet, Lamborghini