1956 Ford F-100 | SNAKEBIT

A classic street rod-style 1956 Ford F-100 merged with a brand-new Ford Shelby Mustang

In 2009, Tom Foster, president of Industrial Machine & Manufacturing in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, suggested a team-building exercise for his company’s 55th anniversary. The idea: Build a project truck and auction it off to raise funds for the new Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan. The genesis of Tom’s idea came from a very personal experience—his newborn daughter’s healthcare—and the generally recognized need for a children’s hospital in the province.

Saskatchewan is one of only two provinces in Canada without a dedicated children’s hospital, and the fundraising campaign to build one started several years ago with the development of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. The campaign has received funding from both public and private sector sources and continues its drive to complete construction by 2016.

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Industrial Machine & Manufacturing developed the idea for a project, injected the first round of funds, skills and sweat equity, and the wheels were in motion. The project: A classic street rod-style ’56 Ford F-100 merged with a brand-new Ford Shelby Mustang; a unique challenge, one of a caliber that would attract the attention of car enthusiasts and investors across the country. The truck needed a design/rendering and the project needed a name. Bruce Williams, Saskatoon-based artist and auto enthusiast, took the grand vision and brought it to life on paper with his rendering. The project became Wheels of Dreams and the truck was christened Snakebit F-100, paying homage to the brand-new Mustang Shelby’s influence on an iconic Ford truck.

1956 Ford F-100

ONE-OFF BILLET WHEELS WERE DESIGNED BY BRUCE WILLIAMS, MACHINED AT INDUSTRIAL MACHINE & MANUFACTURING AND POLISHED AND PAINTED BY KELVIN’S WHEELS & TIRE.

President and CEO of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan, Brynn Boback-Lane, explains, “The Wheels of Dreams project symbolizes how this province is responding to the needs of our children and families in Saskatchewan by raising much needed funds for the new Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan. This project started, like the children’s hospital, as a concept and desire to do something better for our community. What began as a grassroots idea, the volunteers and supporters of the Wheels of Dreams have turned this fundraiser into a major international opportunity that will ultimately benefit our foundation and the children in Saskatchewan who will require the services and care of their hospital. Wheels of Dreams embodies the spirit of Saskatchewan!”

Saskatchewan’s Ford Dealer Association enthusiastically provided funding to the project and headed a long list of sponsors that have covered the costs associated with this very specialized build. The talented craftsman to assume the challenge of this unique and meticulous project is Saskatchewan’s own Byron Thiessen of Creative Concepts & Restorations. Byron, with help from Leslie Moskwa, was hired to transform Bruce’s rendering and concept into a 3D reality. Countless hours were invested in creating this masterpiece, including a tremendous amount of custom work by Industrial Machine & Manufacturing. The combined efforts of many individuals have brought us to the finished and very functional work of art we see today.

“Wheels of Dreams has been several years in the making and will remain a legacy to the drive, caring spirit and vision of a group of Saskatchewan individuals. ”

To bring local/celebrity attention to the project, Shannon Tweed-Simmons, originally of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, was contacted by the committee. Without hesitation, Ms. Tweed-Simmons agreed that both she and husband Gene Simmons of KISS fame would endorse and promote this project so vital to her home province. The philanthropic work of Ms. Tweed-Simmons and Mr. Simmons is well known and far-reaching, and the Wheels of Dreams project gratefully acknowledges their tremendous personal support.

interior on 1956 Ford F-100

Wheels of Dreams’ Snakebit F-100 was unveiled to the world on the Ford stage at the 2013 SEMA convention in Las Vegas. Ford executives welcomed Ms. Tweed-Simmons and Mr. Simmons, the Wheels of Dreams committee, Creative Concepts & Restorations and special guests from the Barrett-Jackson auction for the unveiling. The Snakebit F-100 has been generously scheduled for charity auction (a first for a Canadian charity) at the prestigious Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. Barrett-Jackson is renowned and provides the opportunity to sell the Snakebit truck to a worldwide audience of buyers. Saskatchewan’s Premier Brad Wall plans to attend, as will representatives of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan and Wheels of Dreams committee. Sponsorship has funded all costs to build the Snakebit F-100, so all funds raised from its Barrett-Jackson sale will directly benefit the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan.

Wheels of Dreams has been several years in the making and will remain a legacy to the drive, caring spirit and vision of a group of Saskatchewan individuals. Truest satisfaction will come with the opening of the doors to the new Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan. The Wheels of Dreams committee includes Tom Foster, Wayne Halabura, Lori Leach, David Pihach, Byron Thiessen, Bruce Williams and Vaughn Wyant. The committee would like to thank those involved with the buildincluding Artomotive Photo, Choice Auto Wiring, Creative Concepts & Restorations, Ford Dealers of Saskatchewan, Ford Motor Products, GP Coatings, Industrial Machine & Manufacturing Inc., Kelvins, PPG, Ripstitch Upholstery, The Old Car Centre, TCI Engineering, UFL Graffix and Wilwood.

Make sure to catch the Barret-Jackason Scottsdale Auction to see the Snakebit F-100 hit the auction block and raise money for the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. For a video feature of the Snakebit F-100 by Kappaco Films, visit Streettrucksmag.com.