Restored by Hope

Custom truck enthusiasts understand the deep connection between man and machine, and they comprehend the sacrifice and reward involved in the build process. Wayne Wright knows this because his ’56 Ford F-100 embodies a lifetime’s worth of devotion. Wayne has had a love affair with the ’56 F1 model for decades, and he’s built several. For this particular ’56 he planned something exceptional. Life, however, has a way of rerouting our plans, but a man’s true character is forged by his response to obstacles.

In 2017, Wayne was diagnosed with cancer, and he faced a difficult choice. He could abandon his dream project and refocus his energy—he would have been more than justified—or he could continue to with his grand automotive plan. He refused to be thwarted. Wayne persevered and continued doing what he loved, building his dream truck.

Knowing that treatments would slow him down, Wayne enlisted the help of Fat Fender Garage (FFG). Together, he and the team made his vision reality. The culmination of their hard work is a genuinely special build, and it reflects the same passion, perseverance and resolve Wayne channeled to beat cancer.

The ’56 sits on a full chassis from Total Cost Involved (TCI). The custom unit uses 8-inch box tubing for added strength and rigidity. TCI’s packages are available in multiple configurations, but Wayne’s features independent front suspension and a 4-link rear suspension. The modern geometry allows the truck to perform lightyears ahead of its original capability. Ridetech RQ shocks dampen both the front and rear, for a capable yet comfortable ride. The chassis design allows for a much lower stance, and the Ford tightly hugs the road, boasting an optimized center of gravity and a much more aggressive stance. The cleanliness and quality of the TCI frame is hard to beat, which gives Wayne the confidence to go hard when the urge presents itself.

With the fresh mechanical grip, Wayne’s ’56 definitely required more rubber. To resolve this, he selected a set of handsome American Racing wheels. The forged rollers are finished in gunmetal gray to complement the paint scheme and are paired with super sticky Nitto NT555 tires measuring 245/40/20 front and 315/35/20 rear. The American Racing design is the perfect choice for the resto-mod Ford. The offset spokes mimic classic Shelby Cobra wheel designs, but their size and precision reveal their modern construction. Backing each wheel is a Wilwood caliper and rotor. The big brake system is designed perfectly to suit the TCI chassis and suspension. The black calipers offer a subtler appearance than the traditional red, and they blend in behind the American Racing wheels, offering understated detail. A Wilwood booster, master cylinder and stainless-steel lines manage the big brakes. The stopping power is plenty capable of taming Wayne’s choice of engine.

Wayne’s Ford is a perfect balance of business and pleasure …”

Behind the iconic grille, Wayne’s resto-mod is armed with a supercharged Coyote V-8. The Ford small-block was retrieved from a totaled 2013 Mustang GT and lives to fight another day under the F-100’s hood. The 5.0L is plenty potent in factory form but in this example is aided by a Roush supercharger. The additional compressed air is met with extra fuel thanks to dual Walbro pumps. The legendary Mustang tuner’s supercharger package is a superb choice for extra power and style points. The Mustang motor is hooked to a six-speed automatic transmission. A Twist Machine paddle shifter allows Wayne to stay in control of the driving experience and also provides a unique interior feature rarely applied to this model. The driveshaft hooks to a Currie 9-inch posi-rearend to round out the package.

Wayne’s F-100 demanded significant body modifications to keep up with the rest of the build, and FFG was up to the task. The crew smoothed the original steel to a pristine glassy surface. In the rear, they fabricated a custom steel roll pan, and an FFG-constructed aluminum cover rests over the bed. A Rick’s Tanks fuel cell, with the filler in its stock location, and a billet cap lay underneath the cover. FFG also constructed a one-off front bumper to match the styling of the wheel design. The chrome trim, mirrors and grille have all been restored to their original luster. The rear fenders were expertly widened to match the truck’s broader stance. Custom running boards meet widened fenders and are paint-matched to the lower body section. Recessed door handles from Kindig-It and retro-fit projection headlights complete the clean, updated resto-mod exterior.

After finishing touches, the ’56 was expertly shot with a two-tone paint scheme. The delineation line separates the upper third, with the top section in a Metallic Molten Orange and the bottom half in Tungsten Gray. Both paints were custom mixed from House of Kolor and laid down by FFG.

Wayne’s Ford is a perfect balance of business and pleasure, and the interior styling and features are no exception. Ceballo’s Customs in Tempe, Arizona, pieced together a gorgeous cabin. The bench seat, dash and door panels are wrapped in Garrett Avion Storm Cloud leather. The dash features a Billet Specialties steering wheel and Dakota Digital VHX gauges. Wayne keeps cool with a Vintage Air Gen II AC system and 3M Crystalline window tint. In addition to the modern mechanical features, the ’56 boasts modern comforts. Dash-mounted push-button controls activate the electronic parking brake made by e-Stopp. The center of the dash houses an Alpine touch-screen head unit with Apple Car Play wireless integration.

Wayne’s Ford is something special. It’s underpinned by a precision-built chassis and motivated by an advanced powertrain. It features stunning bodywork, paint and interior styling. It’s the perfect resto-mod muscle truck, a revival of an original, with well-executed updates. More than that, Wayne’s truck is special in what it represents. In the same way that the Ford is restored, yet strengthened, so is Wayne. Cancer tried to stop him. It tried to break his spirit and disrupt his dreams, but Wayne fought back. His resolve never wavered, and neither did friends or family who were dedicated to helping him. That same spirit is what sets his truck apart and has restored his hope.

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TECH SPECS

Wayne Wright
1956 Ford F-100
Phoenix, AZ

ENGINE 

• 2013 Mustang GT Coyote V-8
• Six-speed automatic transmission
• Twist Machine paddle shifters
• Roush supercharger
• Rick’s Tanks fuel cell
• Dual Walboro fuel pumps

Chassis & Suspension

• Full TCI custom chassis
• Independent front suspension
• 4-link rear suspension
• Ridetech RQ shocks
• Wilwood BBK
• Wilwood booster, master cylinder and stainless step lines

Wheels & Tires

• American Racing forged wheels, 20×8 front and 20×10 rear
• Nitto NT555 tires, 245/40/20 front and 315/35/20 rear

Body & Paint 

• Custom rear roll pan
• Custom front bumper
• Shaved wipers
• Rear fender widened 3 inches
• Custom aluminum bed cover
• Custom running boards
• Billet gas cap
• Retrofit projection headlights
• Kindig-It door handles
• Two-tone House of Kolor paint, Molten Metallic Orange and Tungsten Gray

Interior & Accessories 

• Custom upholstery
• Garrett Avion Storm Cloud leather
• Billet Specialties steering wheel
• Dakota Digital VHX gauges
• e-Stopp push-button e-brake
• Vintage Air Gen II AC
• 3M Crystaline window tint
• Alpine touch-screen head unit with Apple Car Play

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