New Again

The area surrounding Detroit, Michigan, is home to many American automobile manufacturers and a host of entrepreneurial companies that support the automobile industry. The Detroit suburbs are also home to a good number of automotive aftermarket companies, such as ididit Incorporated in Tecumseh, which manufactures a variety of steering columns for street rods, street machines, and custom classic trucks.

Everyone in our hobby and the street rod/specialty car industry has heard of ididit, and many also know how the steering column company came by its unusual name (see www.ididitinc.com). The deep blue and pearl white '65 Ford F-100 pickup on these pages is owned by CEO Ken and CFO Jane Callison, owners of ididit, and is a long-overdue labor of love. However, patience is often rewarded with the greatest results.

Like many stories we hear, Ken originally wanted a shop truck that he could drive. But as time went by, modifications to the affordable '65 Ford longbed took it to a much higher level than a daily driver. To say this F-100 is a custom pickup is a huge understatement. But viewers will have to examine the chassis and bodylines closely to see the many subtle modifications. Project manager and builder Chris Dixon of Toledo, Ohio, and Tom Rose of Manchester, Michigan, are two names that dominate the technical fact sheet provided by Ken.Upgrades to the original Ford chassis include boxed framerails with a stainless steel 17-gallon Tanks fuel tank. The custom motor mounts and transmission mount were fabricated by Tom Rose. They locate a Ford 351W V-8 backed by a C6 Ford transmission. Additional engine details include custom headers by Wounded Knee Motors, which lead to Bazzani stainless steel mufflers. Under the engine is a Fatman Fabrications IFS unit with Classic Performance Products ventilated disc brakes and a chrome-plated master cylinder. Below the bed is a 9-inch rearend suspended by a TCI four-link complete with Air Ride Technologies airbags. All the extra chassis holes were filled and smoothed before painting.

Ken and the two craftsmen, Chris and Tom, created many custom mounting brackets and minor body modifications, beginning with a very clever 4-inch top chop that includes hardtop-style doors. As we examined the front fenders and hood, Ken explained how the fenders had been narrowed 2 inches precisely in the curved character line to make the body design lines less bulky. The smoothed hood is reasonably stock with the emblems removed, and Tom Rose fabricated the custom floating grille bar surrounded by round tubes. Also notice how the windshield wipers retract to hide behind the hood and custom cowl. Access to the chopped cab is accomplished via a Ford push-button system flush-mounted in the exterior door-skin.

Dick's Body Shop in Tecumseh, Michigan, performed some minor bodywork, but it was Chris Dixon who handled the assembly prior to painting. When Chris was satisfied with the assembly and fit of the body panels, they were prepped to perfection and the flawless House of Kolor paint was applied by Rocky and Dean Mattoni (and crew) of Rocky's Body Shop in Toledo, Ohio. Finally, the truck was turned over to Rob Barrera for the unique graphic separating the two-tone paint scheme.

The plush interior also has received the full design treatment, with a custom dash employing aluminum trim that curves into the door panels--the curves neatly mirror the outside graphic treatment. LED Dakota Digital instruments provide vital engine information and are a close color-match to the exterior House of Kolor Majik Blue paint. Mr. Bill's in Perrysburg, Ohio, customized the bench-seat frame and custom- fabricated the door panels. He also covered the custom console fabricated by Tom Rose. Interior materials are a soothing combination of Garret/ Aveon Pearl trimmed with Mystique Chardonnay, accented with caramel-colored Mercedes fine-tuft velour covering the floor.When asked about some of the problems of building his truck, Ken revealed that there were several time-consuming setbacks. The first involved the already customized bed; it was damaged when a mishandled load of steel tubing was dropped on it. Thanks to Bill Mullins, a replacement bed was located in Arizona. A second setback resulted after September 11, when business came to a standstill for weeks. The custom F-100 truck project was postponed for some time as a result.

All car and truck restoration projects encounter problems--perhaps not quite as significant as these, but as each obstacle was tackled head-on it was overcome. The team's results are spectacular and the delightful reward was seeing the great deal of attention the truck attracted and hearing the well-deserved compliments paid to the Callisons at the 2005 SEMA show, where the custom classic F-100 was debuted. Once again, Ken can utter those now famous words, "I did it...with a little help from my many talented friends!"