Words: Avery Finnivan     Credit and Photos: Kustomrama

Way back in the 1950s, the famous Ed Roth purchased a ’56 Ford F-100 truck. He airbrushed a mural on the tonneau cover and painted red flames on a white background at a number of key areas on the truck. The truck worked as a very success full marketing tool for Roth, as many people began asking him to paint flames on their vehicles after seeing his impressive work on the F-100.

Towards the end of the ’50s, Roth traded the Ford away to Zain “OZ” Bradshaw, who moved to Okla. shortly afterward. Bradshaw painted the truck green (though he left the flame-painted grille as it was) and used it on his farm. After some time, Bradshaw retired the truck to his barn, along with a number of other hot rods and classics.

When Bradshaw passed away, his kid took over ownership of the farm. Larry Braswell was out buying a different car from the kid when he discovered the truck, still sitting in the old barn. While Braswell wasn’t familiar with the F-100, he recognized it as a Roth and so got in contact with Galpin Auto Sports’ Beau Boeckmann, who purchased the Ford.

The Galpin Motors team, led by Dave Shuten, refurbished the old truck with period-appropriate parts and NOS. They repainted it in the original flaming pattern, and even added the airbrushed picture on the tonneau cover. At last, the restored F-100 made its debut appearance at the 2017 Grand National Roadster Show.