When you first lay eyes on this 1956 Ford crew cab, you might be inclined to do the same thing this writer did: pull a quick U-turn and flag down the driver to get a closer look at the mammoth purple beast that presents more like a Matchbox toy than a streetable truck. And despite how radical your reaction, chances are Ron Lowrey has seen similar.
» Engine: Fuel-injected 460 engine
» Paint: House of Kolor four-stage purple paint with flames
» Exterior: 1949 illuminated Pontiac hood ornament, Pro Star wheels, Ford F-550 side mirrors, 45-gallon fuel tank recessed in the bed, dual cab
In the three times he’s had the truck out on the street since finishing it last year, he’s been chased by drivers and stopped by pedestrians. Some even hope to get him to park it long enough to take photos. A private collector with an eye for deals, Lowrey doesn’t just make a hobby out of collecting cars. In his own words, which follow with a laugh, it’s become a “sick hobby.” With 44 vehicles, ranging from 1912 to the present, Lowrey counts out the years of his automobiles like he’s playing bingo — ’55, ’57, ’25, ’23, ’32, ’35, just to name a few. Lowrey owns street rods, tractors, antiques, pro stock race cars and trucks. Ask him what his thoughts are on the 2010 Camaro and he also has an order pending.
“Pretty much every couple of [model] years, I’ve got one,” Lowrey said of his fleet of vehicles.
So leaving the work of narrowing it down to one vehicle to review falls on Lowrey, who knows that no one vehicle is more exemplary in his collection than his latest acquisition. The 1956 Ford was purchased at the world-famous Barrett-Jackson automobile auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., back in 2007. Lowrey had the truck shipped to his house and has since been smoothing out the rough edges to show off a truck of unique craftsmanship.
But uniqueness is an understatement. Seeing this truck in person, it’s hard to imagine the ride is even streetable. The high-rise cab is an original feature on a ’50s Ford pickup. What isn’t so original is the fact that the first owner put together a second cab and welded it to the first, making for extended seating accommodations. Lowrey opted to modify the Hugh Hewitt:41686752:41686752:Hugh Hewitt50 chassis with an Hugh Hewitt:41686752:41686752:Hugh Hewitt50 front suspension and dual steering stabilizers, the advantage of which is improved handling on the road. The truck, which features dual wheels on both sides in the rear, had only an outer set of fender wells, so Lowrey had metal custom-bent to create inner fenders, which give the look of one long fender on each side. Flowmaster exhausts replaced the mufflers, and Lowrey upgraded to a 3-inch exhaust system that spans the entire length of the vehicle. Once the truck was beefed up and the mechanics checked out, Lowrey moved on to cosmetics, adding touches like Ford F-550 side mirrors and painting the truck purple with airbrushed flames on the side.
But uniqueness is an understatement. Seeing this truck in person, it’s hard to imagine the ride is even streetable. The high-rise cab is an original feature on a ’50s Ford pickup. What isn’t so original is the fact that the first owner put together a second cab and welded it to the first, making for extended seating accommodations. Lowrey opted to modify the Hugh Hewitt:41686752:41686752:Hugh Hewitt50 chassis with an Hugh Hewitt:41686752:41686752:Hugh Hewitt50 front suspension and dual steering stabilizers, the advantage of which is improved handling on the road. The truck, which features dual wheels on both sides in the rear, had only an outer set of fender wells, so Lowrey had metal custom-bent to create inner fenders, which give the look of one long fender on each side. Flowmaster exhausts replaced the mufflers, and Lowrey upgraded to a 3-inch exhaust system that spans the entire length of the vehicle. Once the truck was beefed up and the mechanics checked out, Lowrey moved on to cosmetics, adding touches like Ford F-550 side mirrors and painting the truck purple with airbrushed flames on the side.
But perhaps most interesting is the way the truck handles. At 6,000 pounds and with a 460 motor tucked under the hood, Lowrey said his ’56 Ford ran with surprising civility. At highway cruising speeds, there’s no need to hug the slow lane or resist the urge to turn up the A/C for fear of mechanical failure.
Lowrey plans to keep the truck for some time. Next on his list are a few international truck shows to see how well he fares against similar trucks. Although there’s likely nothing “similar” save the classification.
What do you drive? A 1956 Ford crew cab.
What makes this truck so special? It was a ’56 Ford and the original owner took two cabs, cut them in half, and he started the mold work of putting the two cabs together. All I did when I got it was correct some stress cracks and the metalwork that really wasn’t in that great of shape. It’s just different. You won’t see a ’56 Ford crew cab that is a three-door pickup. One of the doors in the rear does open up for access.
What is your most memorable driving experience? The most memorable experience was driving in Ocean City when we went to the Harley-Davidson show and we won the show there on a Wednesday night in May, got our pictures taken, and then won the 50/50 raffle. We were the center of attention there for about three hours.
What was the first car you owned? The first antique historic car I owned was a 1969 Camaro I bought from the original owner in Baltimore, and he had purchased it on June 3 of 1969. And I was born on June 3, 1963. I totally restored the car and had it for about five years before I sold it. I wish I still had it.
What music are you currently listening to in your truck? I listen to country.
And your first ticket? What was it for? It was for speeding. And that was also in Baltimore.
