Smooth Ride in a Classic Shell: The 1965 Mercury M-100

A 1965 Mercury M-100 Designed to DRIVE

Sometimes the only reason needed to dive into an extensive truck project is simply wanting something cool to roadtrip in. While critics may have something to say about driving around in an “old” vehicle for an extended amount of time due to it lacking modern niceties, it takes dedicated and thorough builders like Jeff Hogan of Oakley, California, to prove them all wrong.

Yes, older vehicles can feel a little clunky to drive around in—especially when compared to modern cars that pretty much drive themselves now, but there are ways around that. Of course, Jeff is a fan of the overall comfort and reliability of a late-model ride, but for him, nothing beats the style of a vintage pickup truck. While it may have been true decades ago that an older vehicle would always feel like an older vehicle no matter how much work was done to it, the state of modern classic truck building affords today’s enthusiasts the opportunity to make the once impossible possible.

Jeff had a 1965 Mercury M-100 (a Canadian-badged F-100) he was looking forward to turning into a faithful driving machine that he’d be comfortable enough with to take across the country. Since he planned on doing just that, Jeff first started the project by scrapping the entire factory chassis and starting over with a much newer 2010 Crown Victoria frame instead. Jeff even took the extra effort to reinforce the frame with 1.5 x 3 steel stock for additional strength and rigidity. From there, the outright performance of the suspension system was upgraded with the addition of front QA1 coilovers and shocks, along with UPR Mustang adjustable rear spring mounts, KYB shocks and Metco rear upper and lower control arms.

To further increase the M-100’s chassis, Jeff then mounted a factory 2018 Mustang GT steering box complete with an electric rack and pinion steering conversion from Andrew’s Tuning and Performance (ATP). A set of Savini SVF04 20-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot All-Season 4 tires assist in increasing cosmetic appeal and performance purposes. Behind the rolling gear are front factory Crown Vic and rear Lincoln Town Car braking components with upgraded drilled and slotted rotors with performance pads to give Jeff the peace of mind of having responsive stopping power for all road and weather conditions. 

With the M-100 project showing signs of real promise, Jeff doubled down on his initial success by then scouting out a 2014 Ford 5.0L V8 to properly secure to the truck’s new frame with the use of Crown Vic motor mounts from Outcast Autoworks and a wiring harness from Power by the Hour. The much more potent mill was then given extra doses of muscle with a 90mm throttle body, JBA exhaust system, Flowmaster muffler, and an adequately beefed up 2014 6R80 transmission. A Fat Fender Garage shifter kit and Derale Electra-Cool transmission cooler were also added to ensure the Mercury’s powertrain was reliable enough to take long drives in stride. Jeff even added paddle shifters from Twist Machine to exponentially improve his driving experience.

The M-100’s main systems had been well taken care of, and it would soon be on its way to racking up miles from coast to coast. But before Jeff could set sail on a maiden voyage in his ’65, there were still a few more items that needed some attention. Apparently, a fresh paint job would not be one of them. The weathered original Tiffany Blue paint was just too good to buff over. Authentic patina like this requires decades of exposure, and Jeff appreciated the effort Mother Nature put in to create a finish this cool. The original long bed was shortened, and Holley RetroBright LED headlights were incorporated to the front end. Other than that, the Merc’s exterior remains largely unaltered.

Next on the docket was cleaning up the cab space, which gave Jeff the opportunity to focus on a shiny finish in the way of a painted dash and interior paneling. A TMI bench seat went a long way to creating a welcoming environment, as did Dakota Digital gauges and a Temsone steering wheel. Nu-Relic power windows were wired up to let the cool breeze in, and a Vintage Air climate control system was also added to provide the perfect temperature inside the cab when the weather isn’t so great outside. A Pioneer double-DIN receiver was then sunk into a custom center console to allow Jeff to rock out with ease during those long stretches of highway.

 Even though this ’65 pickup truck may look its age at first glance, its owner has done everything possible to guarantee that it rides as smooth as any other modern performance-minded vehicle. “This truck is so easy to drive,” Jeff says. “Long distance travel is no problem!”

 While this M-100 handles like a dream as-is, there is always room for improvement. “I’d like to add a Whipple supercharger in the future,” Jeff adds. “To make the next road trip that much better, I’d also like to add cruise control for an even easier drive.” 

TRUCK Specs

Owner

Jeff Hogan

1965 Mercury M-100
Oakley, CA
Old Skool Bay Area and California Classic Trucks Bay Area

 Engine & Transmission

2014 Ford 5.0L
Outcast Autoworks engine mounts for Crown Victoria
Ford Boss intake manifold
90mm throttle body
1 ¾-inch JBA performance exhaust
Flowmaster 50 Series muffler
2.5-inch exhaust system
Power by the Hour wiring harness
Fat Fender Garage ECU holder
2014 6R89 transmission w/ modified Crown Vic mounts
Fat Fender Garage shifter kit
Ididit shifter steering column
Twist Machine D9 paddle shifter
Derale Electra-Cool 15900 transmission cooler
Custom Driveshaft by Drive Line Services of Stockton, Stockton, CA

Chassis & Suspension

2010 Crown Victoria P71 frame stiffened with 1.5 x 3 steel for strength
QA1 front coilovers and shocks
UPR ’05-’14 Mustang adjustable rear spring mount kit
KYB rear shocks
Metco rear upper and
lower control arms
w/ Watts link kit
Stock 2018 Mustang GT steering box / electric rack and pinion
Andrew’s Tuning and Performance electric power steering conversion
2001 Lincoln Town Car 8.8 rear axle
1996 Ford Bronco 33-gallon fuel tank

Wheels, Tires & Brakes

20-inch Savini SVF04 wheels
Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4 tires
Stock Crown Victoria front brakes, Lincoln Town Car rear brakes
Drilled and slotted rotors w/ performance brake pads
Wilwood master cylinder
E-Stopp electric parking brake

Body & Paint

Original Ford Tiffany Blue paint with natural patina finish
Bed shortened
Stock 1965 grille
Holley RetroBright LED headlights

Interior & Stereo

TMI bench seat covered in dark smoke gray and blue plaid vinyl/cloth upholstery
Dakota Digital instruments
Temsone steering wheel
Pioneer double DIN stereo
Nu-Relics power windows
Vintage Air climate control

Photo Credit: Bart Cepek