 Being able to simply jump...  Being able to simply jump in your pickup and drive it anywhere with confidence is a liberating experience. Jeff Kingdom has a beautiful 48 Ford pickup that he can enjoy the way it was intended. |
 The ride height is a bit higher...  The ride height is a bit higher than most street-rodded trucks, and there are no billet parts. Wow, isnt that cool? |
 The original steel floor was...  The original steel floor was removed and replaced with custom wood and polished stainless steel strips. |
 The original engine was rebuilt...  The original engine was rebuilt and painted matching body color. The truly impressive aspect is detail, detail, detail. Even the inner fender panels were powdercoated. |
 To keep road noise down (something...  To keep road noise down (something they didnt care about in 1948) and to make the ride more comfortable, the Hot Rods & Custom Stuff staff fully insulated the interior of the cab before finishing it off. |
 Autos International in Escondido,...  Autos International in Escondido, California, handled the interior makeover with a tan leather. |
 The front suspension is stock,...  The front suspension is stock, but every piece (including the frame) was powdercoated. |
 Kingdom wanted to cruise in...  Kingdom wanted to cruise in comfort, so air conditioning was a must. The crew at HR&CS designed this bracket to hold a Sanden 505 air compressor. It looks stock. |
 It could be 1948 all over...  It could be 1948 all over again if you squint your eyes a bit. Jeff Kingdom knew exactly how he wanted his truck to look, and the results are impressive. |
 A 57 Ford truck 9-inch...  A 57 Ford truck 9-inch rearend was a direct bolt-in. The final drive ratio is 3.50:1. Oceanside Drive Shaft connected the rearend to the rebuilt stock transmission. |
 Original-style wheels have...  Original-style wheels have trim rings and caps to keep the truck period-perfect. |
 The dash was restored to like-new...  The dash was restored to like-new condition, and the steering wheel was brought back to life with loving attention. The original gauges were converted to 12-volt. |
 The tailgate had to be restored...  The tailgate had to be restored to original condition. Polished bumpers adorn the front and rear of the truck. |
This 48 Ford was originally owned by a Mobil gas station in Boulder, Colorado. It worked hard for 14 years until Jeff Kingdoms dad purchased it in 1962 when he was 58 years old. The young Kingdom used the truck to haul his band and equipment all the way to New York. Jeff remembers hauling dirt, antique dental cabinets, and more in the truck, always ready for a cleanup with a special broom behind the seat that had the handle cut down. The truck passed to another sibling for 10 years and eventually spent another 10 years sitting in a field. In May 1997, at the age of 58 (the same age at which his father bought the truck), Jeff Kingdom brought the truck out to California. After a small tune-up and a frontend rebuild, Jeff and his wife Janet drove the truck for a while, then decided to let the crew at Hot Rods & Custom Stuff in Escondido go at it with a vengeance. Just a little more than a year later, the truck was fully restored (with a few extra creature comforts added) in time for its 50th birthday. Now the Kingdoms are riding in style. Oh, and the original cut-down broom is tucked neatly behind the seat.