Alluring Sterling Silver 1956 Ford F100: Don & Peg Butler’s Family Farm Truck Turned Show-Stopper
When it comes to embarking on a hot rod project, finding the perfect classic truck can sometimes feel like a game of chance. The starting point depends on your individual expectations and preferences. Whether you desire a pristine original with faded factory paint, a reliable driver, or a fully customized masterpiece, each vehicle has a unique story to tell. For Don and Peg Butler, farmers from Cozad, Nebraska, their enticing ’56 Ford F100 showcased on these pages has taken them on a dedicated journey to breathe new life into it.
Don’s earliest memories are intertwined with the family farm, where he recalls the excitement of driving his dad’s ’51 Ford F100 for the first time. It was a defining moment when he could finally reach the pedals and learn the art of maneuvering a manual transmission. As the late ’60s rolled around, the roaring sounds of muscle cars captivated his attention, ultimately leading him to immerse himself in the scene. He eventually acquired a ’69 Mercury Cyclone with a formidable 428ci V8 engine, ready to take on any challengers in town.
Fast forward to the early ’90s, and Don’s lifelong fascination with the classic lines of the ’56 Ford F100 prompted him to embark on a search for a suitable base for his custom build. After scouring local advertisements, he stumbled upon a promising lead for a truck located in Omaha, about four hours away. However, as is often the case, the true condition of the vehicle remained uncertain until he saw it in person. The old Ford truck had weathered decades of abuse, leaving it in a non-running state. Despite its flaws, Don saw potential and struck a deal, exchanging cash for the truck’s keys. He brought it home and tinkered with it for a while before parking it in one of his buildings, where it remained untouched for the next 20 years.
Although the truck lay dormant, Don never lost sight of the day it would have its chance at a new lease on life. While attending various local car shows, he began noticing a series of impeccably restored ’50s-era Ford F100s, all of which had been expertly crafted by the team at Dynamic Rides in Kearney. Intrigued, Don reached out to Randy Lofquist, the owner of the shop, to discuss his project. Both Don and Randy shared a vision of elevating the truck to the next level by striking the perfect balance between style and performance, ensuring it would stand out in any crowd. They struck a deal, and the F100 was transported to Dynamic Rides, where it underwent a thorough evaluation.
Since the original frame was structurally sound, it was meticulously cleaned, reinforced, and smoothed. The team then added custom crossmembers and extended the wheelbase by four inches. To achieve the desired stance, a Ford 9-inch rear end with 3.55 gears was installed, featuring Moser Engineering 31-spline axles and a custom triangulated four-link suspension system paired with billet Ridetech coilovers. For exceptional handling, a No Limit Engineering Wide Ride Independent Front Suspension was employed, incorporating custom tubular upper and lower control arms, 2-inch dropped Z.G. spindles, a sway bar, and billet Ridetech coilovers. When it comes to stopping power, a dual power Wilwood master cylinder pushes fluid through steel lines to 12.19-inch drilled-and-vented rotors with four-piston calipers at the rear and 11.75-inch drilled-and-vented rotors with four-piston calipers at the front. Tying it all together are a set of Budnik Muro
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