The modern pickup truck is a marvel of engineering. These machines can pull almost unfathomable amounts of weight, achieve respectable fuel economy, and cocoon their occupants in comfort all at the same time. But what these trucks often lack is the retro looks everyone loves so much nowadays. One man has found a way to get the best of both worlds. Meet the Steamboat, a new Ford Super Duty with the meaty Godzilla 7.3 engine and all the modern features of a new Super Duty, but with the body of a 49-year-old Ford F-700 medium-duty truck.
I found the marvelous Steamboat at the 10th Annual Galpin Car Show this weekend. At first, I thought the truck was just a restored F-700 with a custom bed. Then, I started looking further and realized it’s way more than that. The shop that built it expertly blended new and old in a way that still has my heart fluttering.
There’s a certain kind of romance to an old truck.
Decades ago, trucks weren’t luxury cars and they didn’t have grilles that spanned multiple zip codes. These were vehicles made for hard work and part of their beauty follows their function. The owner of this custom F-700, Daveed, agrees, and fixing this problem was his motivation for this build. He wanted a truck that looked 50 years old, but didn’t want to give up the chassis, power, or features of a new truck.
If you’ve ever driven a really old truck, you know the butterflies in your stomach can be tempered by the driving experience. Old trucks tend to be slow, thirsty, bouncy, and have steering vaguer than an episode of Seinfeld. Their capacities also don’t quite match what a new truck can do.
Daveed created his dream truck with the help of Upton, Wyoming-based custom truck shop Jack’d Up Trucks. This small shop has been building custom retro trucks since 2022 and the Steamboat was a project kicked off in 2023.
Steamboat started life as a 1975 Ford F-700 medium-duty truck. These were trucks that were never sold with beds and weren’t really available to the Average Joe. Instead, these trucks were straight trucks, tow trucks, utility trucks, and emergency vehicles. Ford says the F-Series has been America’s best-selling vehicle line for 47 years. This F-700 is in the generation of trucks that made that statistic happen.
As for Steamboat itself, Daveed told me it lived out its original service life as a military truck in Wyoming before being sold as surplus. He told me that one particularly hard part about this project was just finding the cab. Lots of these old medium-duty trucks were scrapped at the end of their service lives and most of the ones that did survive are worse for wear 50 years later.
This truck was found to have very light corrosion and it still had good paint. The cab you’re looking at here is largely unchanged from the way it was found, seen below:
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The other part of the equation is the donor Super Duty. In this case, the underlying truck is a 2023 Ford Super Duty F-350 with four-wheel drive and a 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 gas engine. Daveed tells me the engine is in stock tune, which means an output of 430 HP and 475 lb-ft of torque. That’s delivered to all four wheels through the Super Duty’s stock 10-speed automatic. The Steamboat was equipped with a 361 V8 when new, and that engine made about half of the horsepower of today’s Godzilla.
Jack’d Up Trucks lowered the F-700 cab onto the chassis of the F-350, but the real magic is in how the shop integrated the old truck into the new truck in a way that you might think it was factory.
As I mentioned earlier, medium-duty F-Series trucks do not have pickup beds. So, how does this one have a bed that works so well? Jack’d Up Trucks took a bed from a lower-level 1975 F-Series and adapted it to fit the Steamboat. Part of the factory look comes from the fact that the Jack’d Up Trucks team took two F-700 front fenders, cut them, and inverted them before welding them together and attaching them to the bed.
Then, the Jack’d Up Trucks gang tried their best to color-match the bed to the cab. While the paint on the bed looks new compared to the patina on the cab, the color is right on target. The result, at least in person, is that this gigantic F-700 looks like it came from the factory with a bed.
I also love how Jack’d Up Trucks integrated the F-350’s features into the F-700 cab. Pop open the door and you’ll see the F-350’s steering column is present, but there’s so much more going on. The F-350’s power adjustable pedals, automatic headlights, remote start, and steering wheel controls survived the transplant. Jack’d Up Trucks also integrated the F-350 into the F-700 with a custom hybrid digital and analog instrument cluster.
These trucks have a screen in their instrument cluster where you can view fuel economy, towing data, the truck’s vitals, or a digital inclinometer.
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That screen is there on this build, but now it lives in a little alcove on the left side of the dashboard. The analog gauges from Dakota Digital look like they belong in the truck, but they’re custom gauges that read the F-350’s data. The goal here is to have as close to an OEM build as possible and I think Jack’d Up Trucks achieved that. You don’t even notice the custom gauges until you stare at them for long enough.
Daveed tells me that this is very much like having a brand-new truck with brand-new truck features, handling, and comfort, but with the looks of a 49-year-old work truck.
He says it handles just like a new F-350 would and fuel economy is about as you’d expect from a lifted F-350. All of this is great because it means he can own what looks like an old truck but without most of the downsides.
Jack’d Up Trucks even kept the truck’s towing equipment, so it could still tow 18,000 pounds from the hitch receiver. Toss on a lift kit plus 42-inch tires and this thing is simply a monster truck. Sure, the bed is now far too tall to truly useful. I mean, I’d have to lift an object over my head to get it over the bedside. But, golly, I’m so in love.
I agree with Daveed here that this truck might be the best of both worlds. So many people are into vintage style right now, but don’t want to deal with old-school technology. The Steamboat has already been on more than one road trip, including the one that saw it drive from Wyoming to California. It’s not a pretty show truck that gets trailered everywhere, but a dream truck that Daveed is driving great distances in already.
Yes, I know the Steamboat isn’t the perfect truck. It towers so high it could drive right over my Honda Beat without noticing. The lift kit jacked it up so much that you’d need a ladder to use the bed. All of that is true. And yet, out of all of the hundreds of vehicles at the Galpin Car Show, which included Beau’s Vector and a rainbow of Porsches, this big truck remains my favorite and, given the chance, I’d love to drive it. I hope it serves Daveed for a long time.
(Images: Author, unless otherwise noted.)
“These were trucks that were never sold with beds and weren’t really available to the Average Joe.”
Where do people get this idea that you can’t buy a commercial vehicle? It may not be marketed to you, a private non-commercial motorist, but there is absolutely nothing stopping you from waltzing into your local Ford dealership and driving away in a chassis cab F750 today.
Also: that rear suspension? There’s at least $200k in that pickup, including a LOT of money in the front suspension. But for the rear suspension, they couldn’t do better than some $100 18″ tall lift blocks, with the considerable handling, ride, longevity, and potentially safety problems that come with such a lazy suspension modification?
“fuel economy is about as you’d expect from a lifted F-350.”
A 2023 7.3 F350 lifted on 42s will likely never see double digit fuel economy. I’d guess 6-7mpg around town. In other words, the fuel economy is probably not improved even a little over a 1975 F700.
I can’t say that I’m a huge fan of body/chassis swaps. They’re great if you hate every part of driving an old pickup EXCEPT for the look, and you love every part of driving a new pickup EXCEPT for the look. They’re great if you want to drive a new pickup but want to look like you’re driving an old one.
And I like driving old pickups. Not just looking at them. So I can’t imagine throwing away 3/4 of what I live about my old pickup and replacing it with new car stuff. If I wanted to drive a new car, I can just drive a new car.
i’ve seen some older ford pickup bodies put on crown victoria frame/chassis. I always thought that would be interesting. not sure if i would do it myself but it would at least be interesting.
ouch. And “took two F-700 front fenders, cut them, and inverted them before welding them together and attaching them to the bed.” and while I like most of it, the inverted fenders don’t work for me
The rear suspension confused me as well. It looks like they added trailing arms to leaf sprung suspension? I assume because blocks that obscenely tall allow for a little bit of axle walk? It seems like a lift this big definitely calls for new rear springs, not giant blocks.
fuel economy is about as you’d expect from a lifted F-350. All of this is great because it means he can own what looks like an old truck but without most of the downsides.
Oh I’d say the fuel economy of a lifted 350 is a downside, especially in California. The terrible safety is also a downside but he knew the job was dangerous when he took it.
How about the emissions equipment, was that carried over is is it belching nasty like the original engine?
It’s extremely safe to assume that the exhaust system is all stock 2023 f350. I don’t know what 1975 stuff they could possibly have carried over, considering they never had a 1975 f700, just a cab sitting on the ground.
They did mention it’s in stock tune which I think would need the ECU, thus the rest of the emissions equipment to work properly. If this is registered in California it’s going to need it.
Looks good. I’m impressed.
I dig it. Going after a OEM-adjacent experience is always far more of a slog than a SEMA special or “rat rod” build with screens and gauges and custom panels/door cards/upholstery everywhere, but I prefer it since I like that retrofuture, zeerusty future-we-were-promised vibe.
The single worst “taste” thing about this truck? The black ice little tree air freshener. That stuff smells like….well…its terrible lets just leave it at that.
Otherwise, fully onboard. Pretty bitchin build. I have a 71 Travelall on an 02 Tahoe chassis. If I were building a fullsize truck it would be the same generation IH Travelette pickup, but I’m ok with a 6 foot bed.
what is black ice supposed to smell like? an accident? the product never made sense to me. and yet they sell a shit load
I’d have done it a bit differently, but he got what he wanted, which is amazing.
Yes, modern trucks are better than the older ones in most areas, but design is not one of them. Old trucks just looked better. That’s the reason that builds like this exist. Sure, modern safety standards have to be followed for production trucks, but you can’t tell me that if Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or even Toyota and Nissan started making modern trucks styled like old trucks they’d sell out like crazy.
Maybe that’s for the Bishop, designing “new” trucks that look like “old” trucks. I’m thinking 75 Ford, a 72 Chevy pickup (particularly the orange/white, which I learned to drive in), 70 Dodge, 76 Datsun, 83 Toyota for starters. I’m sure others would have different/better suggestions.
actulllly … I think modern commercial trucks while safer they are held to a lower test. Ambulances are the only commercial vehicles that are roll over tested and safe
Did a step ladder tailgate like most modern Superduties not make the swap?
I personally would choose a less radical build-out, but the concept is great. Old body-on-frame cabs with all of their character are just begging for a new chassis and running gear. This would’ve been my favorite at the show, too.
Old body-on-frame cabs with all of their character are just begging for a new chassis and running gear. This would’ve been my favorite at the show, too.
Agreed but I’d go with a PHEV system with V2H capability. There’s a lot to be said for a truck that also can provide whole house heat and power in an emergency.
I met a guy this year who bought a brand-new Cummins Ram cab/chassis to adapt under a ’65 GMC, he and his ol’ dad did such a good job (slightly-lengthened cab, shifted wheelwells on and on) that I walked past it twice thinking it was just resto-mod stock. The featured Ford’s whacked-out-at-both-ends suspension kinda takes it from good driver into art-project-land but it does look like fun.
Maybe I missed it but any mention of final price? To each their own but thinking could’ve bought a house for what this cost all in.
That and can’t use the bed, can’t park it easy, not easy to get in to, seats could kill you, steel dash where there were airbags, just not getting it.
If you have to ask….
Think of what you’re looking at as vision and effort…appreciate that and dollar costs are the owner’s business.
so he paid too much.
Those lift blocks in the back look sketchy. To each their own, but someone spent a lot of money on something that seems of little practical use.
It is pretty standard on Bro dozers vs actual offroad worthy trucks.
Tall lift blocks are pretty common, yes. 18″ lift blocks? Not usually. Because even brodozers have some concept of safety and handling.
Another big-azz truck. I know I’m not the prevailing opinion, but there it is. It is cool for what it is, which is not a road vehicle, but whatevs. 😀
All that and I still have a lap belt and a seat that stops below my shoulders? No thanks. Should have swapped in some more of the modern F350 interior.
That was my thought as well. Was really digging it until I saw the lap belts. No lap belts/no head rests are fine for errands around town, car shows, parades, etc….but a car that I’m actually road tripping and using, no thanks. Also, I wonder if the airbag has been deactivated. From what I recall, airbags are life savers with seatbelts, but can pose a hazard without. Not sure how the airbag/lap belt combo would play out. I have to imagine the statistics on that combo are pretty barren.
Airbags are, as their original design, a replacement for seatbelts. They will likely save your life if you don’t have one, and if you are wearing one, they provide a much less dramatic benefit. As you said, however, you are more likely to be injured by the airbag if you’re not wearing a seatbelt.
designed to be better/safer. can’t not put on and better than the motorized belts. Talley Industries had a patent on the charging unit. an explosive. they were forced to sell the plant in Mesa AZ by/to TRW who said sell or we crush you. TRW should have been paying more attention to the space shuttle
yep, impact, no shoulder restraint, face going forward, air bag goes boom. drivers want to be as far as away as is comfortable from the wheel. When I see drivers hunched over the wheel I almost shudder. that lack of confidence driving posture combo with actual posture can result in death
Interesting and kind of cool, but proving once again that you can never have too much money.
To everyone who complains that because most modern trucks come in full crew cab variant, they aren’t actual trucks intended for work; look right here. Crew cabs used to be only available for the most work oriented, heavy duty, capacity-over-comfort variants of trucks. Back in ’75 the crew cab wasn’t available on anything smaller than a F350. Back then I think it was only Dodge and International offering crew cabs on lowly 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks. It’s way easier to add cargo capacity to a truck with a big cab than it is to add legal/safe passenger capacity to a small cab truck.
I think what most people lament with a modern truck is the lack of a full size/usable bed. Not so much the crew cab itself.
This still has the full bed. (Of course, it could never be used because you’d need a staircase to reach it.)
Every 3/4 and 1 ton truck is available with a crew cab and 8 foot bed.
Expecting a crew cab long bed in a 1/2 ton is not realistic because that option was rarely or never offered by anyone.
Also, it does seem like most people complain about truck size, which has not changed much over decades.
This is patently false. Every Half ton truck on any given farm in Iowa in the 70’s was a 2 door with eight foot bed and some sort of cross box tool holder taking up the 2 feet closest tot he slider rear window.
Where did I say anything about 2 door trucks anywhere in my post?
And those same farms in Iowa aren’t buying them today. You can still get an F150 or Silverado in regular cab long-boxes. You almost never see them anywhere.
I agree that they are not the norm these day, but the statement that they were not at one time available in 1/2 and 3/4 ton form as the norm is false. Prior tot the 60’s long beds were not the norm, but they were most step side beds. then stepsides were for sport and offroad truck trying to compete with Jeeps. Now those are all gone too. But hey, they existed and were readily available up until the turn of the century.
Did you miss where the other commenter said crew cab long beds were never the norm? They’ve never been the norm.
Regular cab long beds were once the norm. But not crew cabs. Ever since crew cabs have gained popularity, it’s been a race towards shorter beds.
AH, yeah I was thinking regular cab long beds. long bed 4 doors were and still are just to long to really use in any city space.
Though at this point as tall as the stock bedsides seem to be from the ground, most beds regardless of size are less and less useful anyway.
Not only that, but you can get a Silverado, and F150 in 1/2 ton, regular cabs with long boxes.
No one fucking buys them.
This is an HD truck and the big three still all offer 8′ beds on their 3/4 tons and up. Ford and GM still offer 8′ beds on 1/2 tons too. People just want to complain.
GM had C20’s in Crew cab form, but most of the vitriol is related to the ag trucks many dealt with as kids. They almost always had 2 doors, sat 3(uncomfortably, or 10 if you counted throwing the fam in the bed) and had low enough to the ground 8 foot beds. 4WD was actually not all that common until later in the 70’s. which is probably the only reason IH lasted as long as they did.
Looks great! Also illustrates the idea that when configured the same old trucks are still quite similar to new trucks dimensions. The trucks got too big! Lol
The footprint on that thing isn’t too far off from a 1975 four-door long bed F350.
It is cool but I would prefer it at around stock F700 height. Not low to the ground but not massively high.
My father had an F700 that we used for hauling grain and whatnot around the farm. It had the 360 4v and a 4 speed manual with a 2 speed rear end. It was not anywhere near quick with a full load but it never complained.
I’d prefer it much lower, too. But the owner got what he wanted and it’s so cool, so no complaints from me. 🙂
Certainly is cool!!!
Is that a P-50 in the last photo? How you gonna quietly drop a Peel in a photo without even a mention? I bet it could drive all the way under that truck, did anybody try?
That last photo is my favorite.