Old-School Grit, Modern Power: Dakota Kustomz’ 1953 Ford F-100

Dakota Kustomz Built 1953 Ford F-100

THIS 1953 Ford F-100, owned by Richard Mac, is a beast that looks as if it came straight out of the past but is built to tear up today’s roads. With a natural patina finish that’s come honestly over the decades, this serious street truck hails from Hazen, North Dakota, and got its upgrade treatment at Dakota Kustomz in Mandan. Over a solid year, they poured in nearly $100K to bring this classic back to life with a modern edge.

At first glance, the truck might seem like it’s still rocking mostly original parts, but the details are where the real magic lies. LED taillights give it a modern flash from behind, while the sectioned rear bumper fits up tight, giving the old-school body a sleeker silhouette without losing any of that vintage charm.

Under the hood, this build packs on some serious muscle with a 2006 all-aluminum 5.3L L33 engine. Kurt Zeller and his team at Bog Brook Auto in Lebanon, Maine, did the engine work, giving it a VCM camshaft from Texas Speed and Performance, LSA 863 replacement heads, and AC Delco EVG 4216 fuel injectors. The exhaust is a custom-built 2.5-inch dual rear exit that growls like it means business. They even dialed in a custom Dyno tune on the factory ECM to get every ounce of power it could deliver.

The upgraded dose of power gets sent through a 4L65E transmission, also from an ’06 Chevy, that has some aftermarket upgrades for smoother shifts and better handling. Dakota Kustomz also strapped in a Lokar shifter and a Circle-D torque converter, fine-tuning it to the perfect stall speed. The truck rolls on a Ford 9-inch Dutchman rear axle paired with a custom-cut driveshaft for a perfect fit.

To handle all that speed and power, Dakota Kustomz reinforced the original ’53 chassis with a boxed and plated frame, Mustang II rack-and-pinion steering, and a custom 4-link setup. It’s all cushioned by QA1 shocks and comes to a halt with Wilwood disc brakes on all four corners, along with a Wilwood blackout master cylinder. The truck rides on American Racing Outlaw II wheels wrapped in Cooper Cobra tires for a true muscle-truck look.

Inside, the TMI bucket seats and Dakota Digital HDX gauges give the cab a smooth, modern vibe while keeping a nod to the truck’s origins. There’s a Grant 440 Challenger steering wheel integrated with the original horn button, and a custom headliner crafted in-house by Dakota Kustomz.

This F-100 isn’t just built for show. It’s built to go. Dakota Kustomz geared it up to hit speeds of 140 mph, proving that, when done right, these old trucks can handle and haul like the best of them. The folks at Dakota Kustomz would tell anyone dreaming of a similar build to skip the hard stuff and start with a chassis ready to go.

Photo Credit: Kay Hopfauf