BSI’s 1956 Ford F-100 Restomod Offers Timeless Lines, Modern Tech

In an era when anyone can walk into a dealership with good credit and a yearning to go fast and drive out in a 500+ horsepower sports car, owning and driving something truly unique has become a challenge. With that in mind, the craftsmen at Los Angeles-based Bodie Stroud Industries (BSI) have come up with something truly special – a brand new line of hand-built, turn-key pickups with the looks and sheet metal of an American icon, subtly massaged and fitted to a modern chassis and powered by the latest engine, transmission and electronics from Detroit. The result is the world’s first all-new, turn-key 1956 Pickup: the BSI X-100.

“When most people think about classic trucks, what comes to mind is usually the 1956 F-100, it’s one of the most timeless designs of all time,” says BSI founder Bodie Stroud. “I thought, wouldn’t it be cool if someone put that truck back into production, preserving the truck’s basic look, but with modern suspension, a brand new Ford Racing motor and transmission, and the interior and gauges from a late-model F-150. Then we decided to just go ahead and build the X-100 as a limited run production vehicle.”

Stroud is well-acquainted with the classic lines of the Ford F-100, having built several award-winning custom trucks in the past, as well as a series of show-stopping extreme customs that fused modern tech and classic lines, like the “Real Thing” Mustang powered by SOHC 427 from a Mario Andretti race car and the “Scarliner” 1960 Ford Starliner powered by a real Ford GT engine.

BSI craftsmen begin each build with a rust-free F-100 body, which is then customized by chopping the hood and extending the body meet the running boards. A larger rear window vastly improves sight lines and further distinguishes the X-100 from a standard truck. Other exterior cues include rounded-off door corners and a one-piece tubbed bed with a hidden gas filler neck. The rollpan cleanly houses ’48 Chevy taillights, and after all the custom work the entire vehicle is massaged using time-honored sheet metal methods to make it perfectly straight and smooth, before flawless paint is laid down in the BSI booth.

The ’56 X-100 cab sits atop a custom BSI chassis that features a high-strength boxed frame, tied to a custom center section with an integrated driveshaft hoop. The front suspension is fully independent and uses BSI-designed control arms with patented EZ-Aline adjusters. This configuration allows control-arm length to be adjusted to easily set caster and camber. This unique setup not only improves vehicle handling and driver control, but also accommodates large modern wheel and tire sizes. The rear suspension uses a BSI-designed four-link setup with a Currie Enterprises nine-inch axle. Vehicle dynamics controlled by adjustable coilover shocks; a programmable airbag system is an available upgrade for owners who want to adjust ride height on the fly. Attention to detail includes cleanly routing plumbing, wiring, and an all-stainless BSI by MagnaFlow exhaust system through the frame rails.

To power the X-100, customers can choose from either a naturally aspirated 5.0L DOHC Ford Racing Coyote crate engine, which produces 412 horsepower, or they can opt for a 630 horsepower supercharged Ford Racing Aluminator 5.0L Coyote. The F-100’s powerplant is mated to a smooth and durable Ford 4R70W automatic overdrive transmission. Steering is modernized with power rack-and-pinion tied to an adjustable Flaming River column and a Flaming River steering wheel. Modern high-performance rubber is mounted to a set of custom-cut billet wheels measuring 19×8.5 front and 20×15 rear. Stopping power comes from 13-inch rotors clamped by six-piston calipers on all four corners.

The X-100 interior is again a fusion of classic style and modern convenience. The dash retains a factory look, but is custom-fabricated by BSI to accept Ford King Ranch gauges. Rather than traditional bench seating, the truck has modern fully adjustable high-back buckets for driver and passenger and is divided by a custom center console featuring a modern F-150 shifter. Vintage Air climate control keeps the cabin a comfortable temperature, whether driving in the hellish heat of Las Vegas or the frosty temperatures of the Midwest. If the vehicle ever needs service, the stock modern Ford OBDII port is located under the dash, and the entire driveline can be serviced at any local dealer, anywhere in the world.

For those who view classic trucks as the embodiment of American rugged individualism, but need something with the power, handling and convenience of a modern sports car, the BSI X-100 offers the best of both worlds, all at a reasonable price because of the program’s small-volume manufacturing process. From the moment an order comes in, to the moment the vehicle rolls out the door, everything is hand-made and hand-assembled by expert fabricators and craftsmen. The BSI X-100 is the culmination of Bodie Stroud’s decades of customizing experience and work for many celebrity clients. Passion and precision combine to make it the ultimate pickup.

For more information on Bodie Stroud Industries, visit www.bodiestroud.com.