Frank Sinatra said it first, but Hanapepe Heights resident Randy Simao is definitely in harmony with him, at least with regard to his 1955 Ford F-100.
Simao had been looking for a classic truck “for years,” and he wanted a 1955 model because that’s the year his wife was born. While attending the Good Guys Southwest National Car Show in Scottsdale, Ariz. back in 2010, he spotted just what he had been looking for — a 1955 Ford F-100 in the right color, chrome yellow and with the right interior, a bench seat upholstered in tan ultra leather. A new air conditioning unit had been installed in the dash. Under the hood was a late-model Corvette LS1 engine, backed by an overdrive automatic transmission. Four-wheel disc brakes were in place. Everything that had been done to the truck was exactly as Randy would have done it.
The truck was unfinished, but that fit perfectly into the scheme of things for Simao. He wanted a truck to which he could add some personal touches. Of course he bought the truck, and you have to believe it brought a smile to his face — old trucks tend to have that effect on people. Locating a few shops that specialize in street-rod fabrication, he left the truck in Arizona with instructions to finish it to his specifications. Simao favors the “resto-mod” approach to fixing up old trucks. He wants the body to be mostly original, but with an updated drive train, custom wheels, modern interior, and a flashy paint job. Some of that had already been completed, but the balance of the project also had to be done “his way.”
General Motors, Ford’s chief competitor, had introduced newly designed trucks and pickups in 1947. Thus, GM led the industry with “post-war styling.” Responding to the challenge, Ford Motor Company introduced the F Series of trucks in 1948, a series that has been in production for over six decades. The first generation, including the F-1 half-ton, lasted through 1952. FoMoCo promoted the F-1 by emphasizing the “living room comfort” of the cab, with coil-sprung seating, a one-piece windshield and even an ashtray. The second generation of the F-Series, produced from 1953-56, was dubbed the F-100. While many F-100 enthusiasts prefer the ’56 models with the “wrap-around windshield,” the earlier Ford trucks have rapidly gained favor, especially as “vintage tin” gets more and more scarce.
The first personal touch Simao ordered was to install curly maple in the pickup bed, finished with five layers of automotive clear coat. Between each strip of maple is a rounded, polished stainless steel bed strip. The front grille was chrome-plated, and ’50 Pontiac taillights, a custom car staple because of their clean design, were inserted into the rear rolled pan. He added a dark tan double pinstripe to highlight the body lines of the truck, and mounted a set of polished 17” Boyd Coddington 5-spoke rims.
If the Ford Motor Company thought their 1955 F-100 was a nice truck with a comfortable cab, they should see what Randy Simao did to make it even better. To be fair, however, it should be noted that the ’55 Ford F-100 had a base price of $1,580, while Simao estimates the value of his truck to be around $60,000.
You will likely see Randy and his truck at Kaua‘i Classic Car Cruisers events. The group displays some of their rides at Bubba Burgers in Kukui‘ula Village in Po‘ipu on the second Friday of every month. The third Friday, you’ll find them at Hanapepe Art Night. Check them out — you might find a smile on your face, too.
• Wheels in Motion is a weekly feature showcasing interesting island vehicles and the unique people who own them. Email wheels@thegardenisland.com if you would like to suggest a vehicle that should be in the spotlight.
