Hank Williams Jr. once sang, "So don't ask me, `Hank why do you drink? / `Hank why do you roll smoke? / `Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?' / ... it's a family tradition."
Although not quite the same mantra as Hank's, when it comes to Boss Perryman and his family they have a tradition all their own: '56 Ford F-100s.
It started back in the early '60s when four of Boss' brothers purchased a '56 big-window Ford. It wasn't long before Boss joined in. He purchased this '56 Ford back in '72. The truck was stock and in fair condition, but that soon changed--and changed and changed again. Throughout the years Boss' Ford has transformed more than Pamela Anderson. The latest style is the crme de la crme. It goes a little something like this.
Underneath the round, flowing design of the Ford lies a re-worked stock frame. Instead of keeping things traditional with the not-so-driver-friendly road manners of the stock straight-axle, Boss outfitted the frame with a late-model-style frontend. Giving him the convenience of power steering, disc brakes, and road manners is a front clip from a '79 Volare. Boss also swapped the spindles for a set of 2-inch drop spindles to give the truck a little more attitude. Out back the stock rearend was ditched for a Ford 9-inch with a posi unit. He complemented the front disc brakes with a set of disc brakes for the rear end as well. To clear some room in the cab a 21-gallon gas tank has been mounted between the rear framerails. It's a good thing the tank is large, because it has to feed a thirsty 500ci Cadillac motor. Another tradition the brothers have besides owning '56 Fords, is that each has to be powered by a dropped-in 500-inch Caddy motor. Boss' Cad motor has been decked out with a billet air cleaner, chrome valve covers, Mooneyes breathers, and custom, chrome inner fender panels to showcase the motor in all its glory. Backing the motor is a 700-R4 tranny.
The outside of the truck is a concoction of sleek and smooth, mixed with factory cues of a Ford F-100. As the F-100 has been a big part of Boss' life, he wanted to leave the truck in its intended form--at least for the most part. For that reason factory items such as door handles, locks, mirrors, and various badges have been left intact. Blending into the overall exterior is the fact that more than what meets the eye has been shaved clean. Things such as fender and hood ornaments, antenna, cowl vents, tailgate chains, and more have been hacked off. Also customized is the tailgate, which sports another Perryman tradition: louvers. Just below the tailgate is another feature you will find on each Perryman truck, '73 Dodge taillights, which are synchronized with the turn signals. Bringing life to the Ford is the deep red color that was laid down by Inglewood Autobody. They also sprayed the Gaylord tonneau cover and the disc brake wheel covers that sit behind the ShowGun wheels--20x10 out back and 18x8 up front.