Old Meets New—Perfectly

Building a classic is a constant struggle. How much of the original look do you leave untouched? How many modern aftermarket upgrades should you include? Jack Christian asked himself these questions a thousand times when he purchased his ’62 Ford F-100. The truck is a Texas original, first sold at Bishop Ford in Floydada, Texas, just 200 miles southwest of Jack’s hometown in Elk City, Oklahoma. 

Jack envisioned a truck with a naturally weathered patina coupled with modern performance and reliability. To get the job done, he contacted Brian Pope, owner/operator of Pope’s Hot Rods. Jack gave Brian and his team creative license to attack the project however they saw fit because he trusted their skill and vision.

What makes Jack’s ’62 nearly perfect is the juxtaposition of old and new. Underneath the unibody, with its natural patina, lays a host of refreshed or replaced parts.

Up first is a Fat Man Mustang II front-end conversion, which includes tubular upper and lower control arms. Ultra-high-performance coil-overs from Ridetech comprise the primary front suspension, attacking straights and corners with equal ferocity. The rear portion of the frame has been modified with a step-notch and the addition of a No Limit Engineering 4-link setup. An adjustable pan-hard bar works in conjunction with adjustable coil-overs from Ridetech, out back. The static suspension in the front and rear allow Jack’s truck to boast an attractive stance while capturing the simplicity of the factory look. Ridetech upgrades bring the stance to a respectable height and elevate the truck’s drivability into the 21^st century. The cleanliness of the ‘62’s underbelly is unparalleled. This kind of functionality, combined with the weathered exterior, is exactly what Jack had in mind, and the team at Pope’s delivered in full.

Jack envisioned a truck with a naturally weathered patina coupled with modern performance and reliability.”

A set of badass rollers from the pros at Billet Specialties further updates the ’62’s looks. The wheels on this truck are absolutely stunning and tie the whole package together. The Bonneville Gs feature a matte gray center finish with polished lips and outlines. The mixture of matte gray and polished billet complements the build theme. The wheels sport a classic hot rod stagger, measuring 19×8.5 inches up with polished lips and outlines. The wheels sport a classic hot rod stagger, measuring 19×8.5 inches up front and 20×10 in the rear. The wheels are complemented with Diamondback Redline Nitto Invo tires at each corner. The sticky rubber combo keeps the ’62 hooked to the pavement. Behind each of the billet wheels rests an 11-inch rotor and Wilwood caliper. A Wilwood master cylinder and proportioning valve allow for total control. The big brakes provide night-and-day stopping power well suited to this modern build.

The static suspension in the front and rear allow Jack’s truck to boast an attractive stance while capturing the simplicity of the factory look.”

Beneath the alluring patina that stretches over the hood lies a beast. The ’62 is motivated by a Ford 460 big-block V-8. The torque-happy motor is capable of making 500 ft-lbs with ease, and it’s been rebuilt and cleaned to perfection. After the process was complete, the Pope team restored the engine to its factory red color. The crimson matches the interior and accent pieces as intended. The red contrasts handsomely with polished billet valve covers, air cleaner and V-belt pulley system. The V-8 breathes through a modest 2.5-inch stainless exhaust for a healthy hot rod rumble. A custom, polished radiator keeps things cool. The motor is paired with a Ford C8 standard transmission, and out back, there’s an incredibly stout Ford 8.8-inch rearend equipped with 3:27 gears.

It’s the patina exterior that plays the leading role in Jack’s uni, though. As Jack puts it, “Mother Nature’s finest mod” accounts for the paint job. The original body has been left largely untouched. The truck is an original Deluxe model that sports a unique front bumper guard and rear bumper. The only major modification was to the bed floor, which was cut out and replaced with new sheet metal, raising the floor a total of 8 inches. The new steel was finished to mimic the natural patina on the rest of the Ford. The update allows for the modern suspension to move freely and keeps the factory appearance intact. A billet gas cap in the rear of the bed floor leads to the custom fuel cell.

The rest of the truck has been thoroughly refreshed to rival a brand-new off-the-lot build. All of the weather-stripping and windows have been replaced with fresh rubber and glass. Underneath the hood, the engine bay is comprised of custom steel inner fenders and a refreshed firewall. The bay is coated in clean white to show off the engine color. The custom bodywork, and its lack, truly create the special look of this ’62. The first impression is of original styling, but everywhere you look countless hours of careful modification and updating shine through. The overall cleanliness of the bed floor, undercarriage and engine bay tell the story of the world-class work involved.

The interior of Jack’s truck is consistent with the formula. It matches factory style with modern functionality and a fierce attitude. It’s been coated top to bottom in matte red to match the motor and Nitto tire accents. The cab’s interior was fully built so that the red paint coats every inch, including the dash. Custom red loop carpet spreads over the floor, and the door panel and custom bench are wrapped in red leather to round out the monochromatic scheme. A pop of polish comes via Lokar shifter and silver seat piping. Finally, Pope’s team updated the gauge cluster with a Dakota Digital VHX unit.

Jack’s truck is a brilliant example of original beauty preserved thanks to the natural patina, unique bumpers and clean lines of the unibody, perfectly complemented with an aggressive stance, powerful motor, dramatic wheels and bold interior. The truck benefits from modern hot rod improvements without sacrificing an ounce of authentic attitude.

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TECH SPECS

1962 Ford F-100
Jack Christian
Elk City, OK

Engine

• Ford 460 big block V-8
• Rebuilt and painted factory red
• Polished valve covers
• Polished air cleaner
• Polished V-belt pulley system
• 2.5-inch exhaust
• C8 five-speed transmission
• Ford 8.8-inch rearend, 3:27 gears

Chassis & Suspension

• Fat Man Mustang II front end
• Tubular upper and lower control arms
• Drop spindles
• C-notch
• No Limit Fatbar 4-link
• Adjustable pan-hard bar
• Ridetech adjustable front coil-overs
• Ridetech adjustable rear shocks
• Wilwood BBK
• Wilwood master cylinder
• Wilwood proportioning valve
• Cleaned and painted frame

Wheels & Tires

• Billet Specialties Bonneville Gs, 19×8.5 inches front, 20×10 inches rear
• Diamondback Redline Nitto Invo tires

Body & Paint

• Original Deluxe bumpers
• Original patina
• Custom steel bed floor finished to match patina
• Custom front inner fenders
• Tucked and painted engine bay
• Custom billet gas filler in bed floor

Interior & Accessories

• Interior painted matte red
• Custom red loop carpet
• Custom bench seat, red leather with silver piping
• Red leather door panels
• Lokar polished shifter
• Dakota Digital VHX gauges
• Rack-and-pinion steering conversion

Special Thanks: “Pope’s Hot Rods would like to thank Jack for allowing us to design the build and trusting us to do what we do without reservations.”

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