In 2017, my dad spotted a rust-free 1972 two-wheel-drive F-250 sitting at a trailer outfit. Originally from California which is a rare find in the Midwest. It had an automatic transmission, with its motor in pieces in the bed. He dreamed of converting it into a four-wheel-drive Highboy using his half-built 390 GT engine from a ’67 Mustang. For five years, he mentioned that truck constantly, but the answer from the owner was always the same: not for sale.
A Plan in Motion
One day, I mentioned the truck to my coworker Cory, who suggested, “Why don’t we try to buy it and surprise him?” I reached out to my dad’s friend Sammy, who knew the owner, and within days we struck a deal. I arranged for my friend Alex to haul it home and trying to keep the plan secret from everyone except a few trusted friends.
The timing couldn’t have been better. Just the day before, my dad had reluctantly decided to “let it go” and even started browsing for trucks online. He had no idea what was coming.
The Big Reveal
The next evening I got some help loading the truck. My stomach was in knots; anxiety, excitement, and a concerning sense of, “what if I’m doing something wrong”. We pulled into my parents’ driveway with the truck on the trailer and I headed down to the barn to ask my dad to come up to the house so he can show Alex where to drop off his truck. When my dad saw it, his face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning with a huge smile stretched across his face. My mom was stunned, and they both had a million questions, and they couldn’t believe I pulled it off.
That night, my dad got to work. He power washed off years of mold and grime, pulled out the interior, and unloaded a bed full of random engine parts. He immediately started searching for a suitable 1967–72 4×4 frame to swap under it.
Building the Dream
Six months later, the perfect frame arrived from Colorado. By April 2023, the teardown began, followed by late nights and long weekends in the shop. We aimed to finish in time for the 4×4 Jamboree in Indianapolis that September.
We completed the finishing touches the night before we left for the show. With barely enough sleep, we took it on an 8-mile test drive to fill up with gas, then packed up and hit the road for a 500-mile round trip. The truck didn’t miss a beat.
A Modern Interior with Classic Style
The interior is always a focal point in any build, and this one was no exception. For Christmas, our whole family chipped in to gift my dad a brand-new dash pad to replace the cracked original. The stock gauges were no longer functional, so we decided to give the truck a modern upgrade that still fit its classic style by installing an AutoMeter InVision Digital Dash designed specifically for the 1967-72 Ford trucks.
The digital dash not only gives accurate readings for speed, RPM, fuel, and temperature, but it also ties the build together with a sleek look that blends perfectly with the fresh interior. It’s the kind of upgrade that makes driving the Highboy even more enjoyable, whether it’s cruising down the highway or showing it off at events.
This Highboy isn’t just a restored classic. It’s the result of a five-year dream, a family project, and a surprise that turned into a lifelong memory.
"/>