Chris Church’s European-inspired 1940 Ford pickup is not only a show winning truck, but it also took home the award for Best SEMA SUV/Truck by Toyo Tires at the 2018 SEMA show.
Chris found the truck at a swap meet for $6,500. It was covered in black tractor paint, had orange wheels, and didn’t have an engine or a transmission. Chris’ wife Angela is a fan of the early 1940 for trucks, so he bought the truck as a project vehicle.
Carolina Kustoms in Portland, Oregon replaced the rusted sections, shaved the door handles and drip rails, straightened the body, welded the hood seam, added 1939 Ford coupe headlights, built new bumpers, and made a honeycomb shaped grill out of aluminum. The cab was modified to accept a single-piece windshield, and a big rear window from a 1952 Ford F1 pickup. New bed pieces were resourced along with the Mar-K bed floor that was customized to open in the center. The rear was topped off with a race-inspired fuel filler, and frenched in Throwback Designs custom taillights. With all of the bodywork done, the truck was painted Porsche PPG Sport Classic Gray.
Schroeder Speed & Custom built a new frame for the truck that uses a Mustang II style IFS front suspension, Wilwood dropped pro spindles, and a set of Slam Specialties SS6 airbags. The rear axle is a Moser 9-inch rearend held in place by a 4-link suspension and Slam SS8 airbags. The truck rolls on a set of two-piece forged VF498 American Racing Wheels with Toyo Proxes R888R tires, all backed by 12.9-inch Wilwood disc brakes for stopping power.
Power comes from a Wegner Motorsports built 376ci LS3 engine with a Whipple 2.9 supercharger. Utilizing all forged internals and a Holley Terminator management system, this engine is a complete beast that puts out 935 hp and 800 ft-lb torque. Delivering that power to the rear wheels is a 4L80E transmission with billet torque converter put together by A-1 Performance Transmission. Controlling the transmission is done with a combination of the push button and paddle shifters from Powertrain Control Solutions. A QA1 carbon fiber driveline transfers power to the rear axle. Gases flow through a set of silver ceramic coated 321 stainless steel headers custom built by Ultimate Headers. The 3-inch collectors are attached to titanium-wrapped Borla exhaust, and the sound is tamed via Borla XR1 mufflers. A C&R Racing cooling system complete with an intercooler and custom radiator help keep temperatures in check.
Modernizing the interior is a host of red leather and carbon-fiber inserts. Jim’s Custom Upholstery customized a set of TMI Products seats and covered them in leather with stitching to tie in the honeycomb design. For improved functions, an ididit steering column with Billet Specialties wheel was installed. The dash has been enhanced with a custom bezel that holds the Dakota Digital HDX gauges and Restomod Air A/C vents. Cruising tunes are provided by a Rockford Fosgate system controlled by an Alpine Halo9 touch-screen head unit.
Video:
More Photos:
Click the photos to enlarge. Click the arrows to load more.
About The Author
Growing up, my father always believed that every family needed a truck—there’s just something about having a vehicle capable of hauling anything at a moment’s notice. That philosophy stuck with me, and it’s been the foundation of my lifelong passion for Ford trucks.
While I’m best known for my work with Ford Rangers, I’ve owned a wide variety of Ford trucks over the years—including F-150s, F-250s, F-350s, and even larger rigs like the Ford Excursion, Ford Expedition, and a 1982 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile camper van. I’ve used these vehicles for everything from family transportation to towing car trailers and campers, and each one has fueled my love for Ford’s versatility and durability.
I especially enjoy the styling of 1970s and 1980s Ford trucks—the bold designs, rugged presence, and classic charm are timeless. Sharing my passion for Ford trucks, vans, and SUVs with other enthusiasts online brings me a great deal of joy, and it’s why I created Blue Oval Trucks.
This website is dedicated to helping Ford truck enthusiasts explore, learn about, and celebrate these incredible vehicles. While I share my expertise and experiences here, Blue Oval Trucks is an independent enthusiast site and is not affiliated with Ford Motor Company.
