It's astonishing to see how far we've come in a relatively short amount of time. Ever since the turn of the millennium, it seems like the scene has kicked it into high gear by churning out vehicles that push the envelope of creativity year after year. Yet in the years leading up to Y2K, the evolution of automotive customization moved like molasses. There's no formula that will guarantee a showstopper, simply the notions of creativity and execution.
But building winners comes a little easier for some than others, which many consider is a trait that one is born with rather than learns. Cliff Leeper is regarded as one dude that simply gets 'it', as his creations have not only won awards, but have graced both the big and small screen. This particular 1965 Ford F250 is the latest project he's breathed life into, as it serves time as Sony Xplōd's demo vehicle and tours across the US.
If you're a fan of Leeper's work, you're probably also familiar with Syndicate Automotive Concepts, an operation he heads in sunny San Diego, CA. The company, which he runs alongside his friend Joe Hegener, specializes in being able to take anything to the next level - whether it's a show car, street car, or even off-road machine. The Ford F250 presented Leeper with a very unique platform, as one would be hard pressed to remember ever seeing such a classic on the scene.
Exterior-wise, the truck was torn down and built from the ground up. Leeper enlisted thehelp of Russ Conway to build the truck along with David Chappelle for the intricate suspension and chassis work and Nathan Chulberg, who shaved the handles, mirrors, drip rails and bed seams.
But as flawless as the F250's paint and body work is, most would agree that the truck's suspension system is what really shines. The front end accommodates a complete '76 Camaro suspension, with custom air bags and shock mounts. The rear is home to a Camaro 10-bolt axle, as well as a custom triangulated four-link using Firestone airbags. The setup also features a boxed rear frame with an insane 10-inch deep step notch. The frame was also fabbed with trick mounts for a pair of three-gallon air tanks and Firestone 9210 compressors.
Bolted onto the hubs are 15-inch US Wheel Smoothies sporting classic Denman white-wall tires. Measuring only six inches (front) and 8 inches (rear) in width, Leeper has the rollers wrapped in the G78-sized bias-ply rubber to get him from one corner of the show grounds to the other.
Beneath the hood lies a 350CID motor donated by a 1976 Chevrolet Camaro. This classic Ford with a Chevy heart
transplant runs like it just came off the assembly line thanks to the rebuild job performed by Brandon Luffe in
his very own garage.
Fitted with flat-top pistons, Edelbrock mild R.V. camshaft, and 650cfm carburetor, you can
bet your lunch money that this small block will out-muscle almost anything on the road.
The exhaling process comes via Patriot 57 headers and a custom exhaust system. Leeper slimmed the 2.25-inch exhaust piping down to 1.75-inch duals with glass packs and Harley Davidson fishtail tips.
When looking at customizing the interior, Leeper took the vehicle to Roger Starkey for some plastic surgery. The
stock dash was shaved smooth, while the headliner was updated with black perforated material. The seat bench was
reupholstered with black vinyl and silver metalflakeinsert, and the old carpet was tossed in favour of black wool
carpet with silver piping. Silver metalflake accents the rest of the cabin, as the Mooneyes steering wheel and
skull shift knob sport the shiny hue finish.
System status is displayed via an assortment of Stewart Warner Wing
Series gauges, though engine speed comes via a Mooneyes half-sweep tachometer. Speedway Motors was called upon for
the final piece, as the polished stainless steel steering column is the perfect finishing touch.
As the project was going to serve as one of Sony Xplōd's showcase vehicles, Leeper was supplied with the latest products in the lineup. Major attention was paid to creating an earth-shaking low-end, as four Sony XS-LD 125 P5 12-inch subwoofers are installed in a custom enclosure in the rear. Power generation for the subs comes via the quartet of Sony XM-SD61X amplifiers installed in the custom amp rack that surrounds the fuel cell in the rear frame. A pair of Sony XS D170Si 6.75- inch component speakers reproduces the mids and highs, relying on a Sony XM-SD22X amplifier for a steady stream of power. The system is controlled up front with a Sony CDX F7715X head unit, while Stinger goods (including a Stinger SP1700 battery, front fuse holder, power wire, and distribution blocks) provide a clean path of power distribution. The stereo install and final touches on the project were performed by Leeper himself.
We were fortunate enough to catch up with Leeper in Daytona Beach, FL, where the truck was displayed in the Sony booth for Spring Break Nationals. Actually, we were even luckier that Sony's spokesmodel (the lovely Nikki Zeno) joined us for this rooftop shoot. A big shout out to Syndicate Automotive Concepts for making this project a reality, and thanks to all those individuals involved. The F250 will continue to tour the country for the rest of the year, or you may be able to catch it in the Syndicate showroom in San Diego. We would personally like to thank Leeper for performing some serious mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the '65 Ford and bringing it back to life.
Reprinted with permission by Performance Auto & Sound Magazine
