The Restoration
Frame-Off
Restored Cleanly and Correctly from the Ground Up
The frame was taken down to bare metal and rebuilt exactly as Ford designed it. Every bracket, mount, and surface was stripped, refinished, and reassembled with attention to original fit and finish. Bringing the truck’s heavy-duty foundation back to its proper form was straightforward, satisfying work, and the result is a chassis that looks honest, clean, and true to its 1966 origins.
Priming & Prep
Body Panels Stripped, Prepped, and Made Ready for Paint
During this stage, the cab, doors, and individual body panels were all separated, sanded, and primed one by one. It’s the point in the restoration where you really see how much work goes into getting the finish right. Watching the truck come together from bare panels was a reminder of how much detail goes into a correct repaint.
Exterior Finish
Precision-Matched to Ford’s Original Caribbean Turquoise
The truck was refinished in its original and correct factory color, Caribbean Turquoise (Paint Code B). The process involved stripping the body to bare metal, correcting panel surfaces, and applying a finish matched precisely to Ford’s 1966 specifications. Care was taken to replicate period-correct textures, gloss levels, and masking boundaries throughout.
The result is a factory-accurate exterior!
The Engine
Rebuilt to Preserve the Truck’s Original Character
The truck retains its original 352 FE V8, rebuilt to stock specifications with no modifications or modern upgrades. The goal was simple: keep the engine’s factory personality intact. Everything was cleaned, refreshed, and restored so it starts easily, runs smoothly, and feels exactly like a correct mid-1960s Ford V8 should.
Transfer Case
Back, Rebuilt, Restored
Breathtaking, this is one of my favorite parts of the truck!
Bed Installation
Bringing the Major Components Together
Here, the restored bed is fitted to the frame and cab. Seeing these main components come together was a satisfying moment, and it’s the point where the truck really started looking whole again.
Details
Close-Up Views of the Restoration Work
These photos highlight various components as they were restored and prepared for final assembly. They show the kind of careful, piece-by-piece work that went into bringing the truck back to its original 1966 condition.
More Details
Further Progress as the Truck Moves Toward Completion
Custom Cab
Identifying the Truck’s Rare Deluxe Trim Level
The “Custom Cab” emblem is the correct badge for Ford’s upgraded 81B trim package, which included the full gauge cluster, premium upholstery, padded dash, bright exterior accents, and additional interior refinement.
Most Crown-converted crew cabs were built on basic fleet-grade platforms, making this truck’s Custom Cab specification partic-ularly uncommon. The emblem shown here is original and reflects the higher-end trim level the truck carried from new.
Winch Restoration
A Fully Functional, Period-Correct Accessory
The truck’s original winch was rebuilt and refinished, preserving its factory design and dual-control setup. It can be operated from the cab or from the front bumper, exactly as intended. This restored winch adds both authenticity and capability to the truck.
R & D
Verifying Every Detail for a Factory-Correct Restoration
A significant amount of time went into tracking down original manuals, parts references, and period documentation for this truck. The goal was simple: restore every component—especially the interior—exactly as it would have appeared when the truck left the factory in 1966. Finding this information wasn’t easy, but having the correct reference material allowed the restoration to stay true to Ford’s original specifications in every visible detail.
Air Conditioning
New-Old-Stock 1966 Ford System Installed as Original Equipment
Sourcing a correct air-conditioning system became one of the most challenging parts of the restoration. Rather than installing a modern unit, we searched specifically for a new, unused 1966 Ford air-conditioning system—the same optional equipment that would have been available when the truck was new. Eventually, an authentic NOS unit was found, still in its original packaging. Installing this period-correct system was a major victory and an important part of keeping the truck true to its original specification.
Upholstery Fabric
Recreating the Original 1966 Materials to Exact Specification
Finding the correct seat fabric turned out to be the most challenging part of the entire restoration.
After extensive research, we located the original mill that produced the woven upholstery material for Ford in 1966.
Using their archived pattern and the original machinery, we commissioned a new run of the fabric specifically for this truck.
We also sourced the correct vinyl and the proper Ford hot-stamp die to reproduce the factory logo on the upper seat sections.
The process was slow and exacting—nearly fourteen months from start to finish—but it allowed the two bench seats to be rebuilt with materials that precisely match what Ford used when the truck was new.
Final Details
Completing the Hard-to-Find Finishing Touches
These photos show the truck in the final stages of the restoration, with the last components coming together and the overall look of the truck nearly complete.
At this point, the work shifted to small but critical details—items that are easy to overlook but essential for accuracy.
One of the most satisfying discoveries came late in the project. After a long search, we located what appeared to be the only correct set of 1966 door pockets available in the country.
Along with the restored grille, completed seats, and polished interior trim, these rare pieces allowed us to finish the interior exactly as Ford built it.
With these final components in place, the restoration reached the point where the truck truly reflected its original 1966 form.
Completion
A First Look at the Fully Restored Truck
Finally! Here is the truck at the end of the restoration, with the major mechanical, interior, and exterior work complete.
The engine bay, dashboard, and exterior panels all return to the exact 1966 specifications we set out to achieve.
The engine bay, dashboard, and exterior panels all return to the exact 1966 specifications we set out to achieve.
Wow!
A full set of final photos and videos is available on our dedicated gallery page.
A full set of final photos and videos is available on our dedicated gallery page.
