Owner: Brian Stephenson
Occupation: Mechanic.
Age: 34.
Ride: 1977 Ford F100.
Back story:
Stephenson's dad, Chuck Stephenson, 60, bought the F100 new in Tucson.
"I remember the day he bought it," Brian said. "It was a rainy day in March."
Brian remembers riding on his dad's lap as a kid and being allowed to take the truck around the block in his early teens. When Brian turned 16, his dad gave him the truck.
"It's probably worth nothing to somebody else," he said. "I hope to one day give it to one of my kids."
Engine upgrades: The truck's original engine was a six cylinder. In 1997, Brian switched it out to a 351-cubic-inch V-8. In 2000, he went to a 468-cubic-inch big block. Last year, he beefed it up even more to a 472-cubic-inch turbo-charged.
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He's done a lot of the work himself, but said he couldn't have done it without his childhood friends and fellow gear-heads Rusty Weining, Jamie Braden and Lonnie Worthey.
The experience: Brian estimated the truck's body has some 400,000 miles on it.
In areas on the outside, like some rust in the bed, the tan truck reveals its age.
Under the hood, though, is a gigantic chrome engine that roars and rumbles.
"It's a real sleeper," Brian said. "It'll run with bikes."
Pride: Brian has kept up his dad's old truck to ensure it stays in the family for generations. "It's just sentimental to me," he said.
– Kevin W. Smith
• Massive engine.
• Raised lettering on the roof's interior that reads, "Ford."
• "Hollywood Tan" paint.
Tell us why your ride is Especially Awesome
Show off your ride. We don't care if you own the biggest rust-bucket on the planet or the sleekest, most tricked-out Mitsubishi; if you're proud of it, tell us why. E-mail your entries and pictures (if possible) to ksmith@azstarnet.com.
