BFP Retro F-150 First Drive Evaluation: Not an ’80s worth, however it’s a terrific ’80s look

CINCINNATI, Ohio — The motto at Beechmont Ford Efficiency is, “You think about, we construct.” Fans know fans don’t solely dream of power-to-weight or dollar-to-horsepower ratios. Some dream of eras, particularly autos they grew up with, or maybe drove in highschool. The mob of restomodded, six-figure pickups proves there’s an viewers for the late Seventies to the early Nineteen Nineties truck period, again when two doorways and a bench seat was the bacon and eggs of configuration. For these fans — this author included — there’s the BFP Retro F-150.

If we think about the 2023 Ford F-150 Heritage Version a light-weight little bit of dress-up on an XLT, the BFP model is absolutely accessorized cosplay. The previous’s a bedsheet-with-eye-holes ghost, the latter, Ghost Face.

Preserving in thoughts the “think about” ethos, BFP will construct a Retro on any F-150 with any engine {that a} buyer needs. However the inventory rig is constructed on a 4WD XLT for immersion, drivers invited to seize a fist filled with column shifter similar to the outdated days. Increased trims get Ford’s rotary shifter. BFP checks the field for the Chrome Look Package deal, too, Ford having used bygone F-150s to flex the automaker’s chrome sport.

The sixth-gen by way of ninth-gen F-150s had been particularly well-known for white-on-red and blue-on-white paint jobs. These are the Retro’s go-to mixtures, the impact created with a Satin Pearl vinyl wrap utilized over the bottom shade.

These outdated Fords weren’t well-known for beneficiant dealer-installed upfit. From the highest down, the Retro addresses that omission with a chrome mattress rack capped by KC Daylighter spotlights. Every gentle hides behind old-school yellow caps or understated black and white KC caps for many who suppose yellow is a mistaken flip down reminiscence lane.

If the shopper chooses Fox shocks, the truck will get a two-inch carry on a Fox 2.0 suspension equipment. Go along with Readylift, and there’s a three-inch carry. General towing capability isn’t affected, however the three-inch shaves a spark off the allowable tongue weight. Both suspension selection works a quartet of polished aluminum 17-inch retro-look Professional Comp wheels wrapped in 33-inch BF Goodrich A/T tires with raised white letters.

A 5.0-liter Coyote making 400 horsepower goes beneath the hood except the client requests one thing else. Watson mentioned BFP “recommends the V8 for the retro sound,” the exhaust be aware plummeting into the bass vary by an MBRP cat-back exhaust. An elective Whipple supercharger boosts Coyote output to 700 horsepower.  

We stopped by BFP to check out a naturally aspirated model of the Retro on the Readylift suspension. As a lifted truck on tall, squishy rubber, sawing on the wheel will get the delicate bob and weave such carry kits and rubber had been designed to supply, whereas retaining all of the composure crucial for each day driver obligation. We took a snaking highway all the way down to the Ohio River, and the roll by no means turned a distraction. In truth, essentially the most noteworthy merchandise within the cab was the MBRP exhaust be aware. There’s a much less rumbly Roush cat-back exhaust on the choice menu, however Watson mentioned he discovered prospects appreciated the vocal thunder. So did we.

On a truck like this, with all its modifications on the skin, the actual audition is static, not dynamic. Does it hit the fitting notes as you method it in a car parking zone — like, notes of Whitesnake on cassette and Drakkar Noir on flannel? Does it make you’re feeling such as you would possibly go on a vehicular rampage like James Brown, or just know you possibly can, like The Punisher? That’s the pop quiz, and for us, the Retro aced it. This factor makes us need to go soar stuff like vans used to do within the Nineteen Eighties primetime TV sequence’ we grew up watching — “The Fall Man,” “Simon & Simon,” “CHiPS.” We’d do it whereas carrying Aramis as a substitute of Drakkar, although.

The inventory Retro F-150 package deal provides $12,995 to the value of a donor truck. BFP says the common 400-hp model totals $75,110 earlier than reductions; the truck we drove asks $70,141. Every mannequin comes with Ford’s producer warranties, add-on elements convey their particular person warranties — even the vinyl wrap is roofed.

A construct may be reserved with a $500 deposit. You’ll must supply your personal cassette participant.

Or … one other, a lot quicker route down reminiscence lane

This has been a 12 months of surprises, the newest being this little black quantity — one other tackle classic vans, trying again 20 years when a Lightning-branded F-150 solely got here with one battery that produced 12 volts. A BFP buyer is constructing a road truck on a two-wheel drive F-150 XL, doing all of the work himself save putting in a supercharger, which he requested BFP to do. In went the Whipple. Up went the horsepower to 700. Since BFP didn’t have a supercharged Retro for us to drive, the proprietor kindly agreed to let Autoblog drive his challenge. We owe that proprietor a meal.

I by no means thought of road vans. I haven’t stopped fascinated by my quick drive on this one. There’s nothing extra to this construct in the mean time than an XL with the blower and Trailer Tow package deal. It was sufficient to persuade me that, though I loved the Retro, this right here is the previous I would wish to make new once more. Avenue vans are the go.

The Whipple is a caged hen that likes to sing, chirpier than the Roush superchargers we’ve flogged in BFP’s 700-horsepower Mustangs. Since we had been borrowing somebody’s dream, we didn’t set tires alight. However, the 245-section all-season Michelin tires connected effectively sufficient from a standstill to make it clear that stoplight beatdowns are coming to the unwary after a correct wheel and tire package deal will get put in.

Mash the fuel pedal when at partial throttle round 30 miles per hour, any nameless work truck fusses a bit earlier than discovering the fitting gear. Rise up to about 50 or 55, sharper reflexes will launch you towards the far aspect of 80 earlier than you’re conscious sufficient to say, “Oops.”

We’re unsure why we had extra enjoyable toying with the throttle of this hi-po work than that of most 700-hp automobiles we’ve pushed, however that’s what occurred. It’s like preferring to run the 100-yard sprint in DSW work boots as a substitute of Asics cleats. We all know that if BFP parked considered one of its go-fast Mustangs and that truck in our driveway, we’d ask if anybody needed something from Residence Depot and inform them to not wait up.