Another restomodding company seemingly pops up every week these days, as the modern era of crate engines and 3D printing and social media marketing makes an incredibly complex business proposition look all too easy. But actually, the sheer labor required to transform a ratty vintage vehicle into a modernized performance machine typically outstrips the wide eyes of eager business people who witness an Icon 4×4 or Singer 911 and decide to throw a hat into the ring. That’s not to mention the rare artistic vision and borderline OCD attention to detail required to produce an appealing restomod at even an entry-level price point.
Icon 4×4 arguably inspired the industry with one-off masterpieces from a true craftsman, then Singer Vehicle Design began re-imagining Porsches, and the rest is sort of history. All the way at the other end of the spectrum sits Velocity Restorations of Pensacola, Florida, which pioneered new strategies for producing restomods quickly via assembly line production methods, standardized parts, and even online build configurators.
Velocity initially made a name building Broncos, and now features a wider lineup of custom and spec models, many of which customers can either configure personally or buy in ready-to-rumble form right at this very moment. I’ve now driven five different Velocity builds and before this F-100, the Bronco definitely stood out as the best. Perhaps practice makes perfect—or, at least, partially tolerable—but the F-100 now takes Velocity’s capability to a whole new level.
As I drove the raked and roaring truck around West L.A., I started to get the inkling that maybe, just maybe, that assembly line has finally turned a corner.
Revisiting Velocity’s Trucks, on the Mean Streets of L.A.
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The F-100 “Street Series” rides on a Roadster Shop chassis, with independent front suspension and a 9-inch Ford rear end. Velocity drops in a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 from Ford, good for around 460 horsepower, plus a 10-speed automatic transmission that comes as part of a package from the factory. Baer brakes handle stopping duties, not to mention part of the overall cosmetic package that likely attracts most customers in the first place.
This specific truck pretty much maxes out Velocity’s full catalog, with a two-tone paint job that inspired the nickname “Bitchin’ Blue.” A woodgrain bed floor, powder-coated rims, chrome trim, plus that exhaust system all round out the exterior. The interior features full leather upholstery, billet for the trim and steering wheel, vintage-style gauges with digital readouts, air conditioning, and a modern double-DIN head unit equipped with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
For a “vintage” truck, theoretically from 1967, just about anybody with a driver’s license can just climb into the F-100 and start rolling. No speeches about carburetors or sensitive clutches, or warmups and lumpy idles required. In fact, this F-100 comes just about as close to being an entirely new vehicle as possible—for better, though I’d also argue, for worse.
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Starting with the powertrain, the third-gen Coyote engine is just a known quantity by this point. With low-end torque for days, plus plenty of spirit at the top end, the 5.0 sounds great, looks great under the hood, and provides predictable throttle modulation.
To a professional automotive journalist, that 10-speed auto, actually developed in partnership with GM (something of an hilarious teamup for the monopolistic ages), also seems fairly ubiquitous. From Silverado pickups to F-150 Raptor Rs, Broncos, and Mustangs, the trans manages power and efficiency with almost too many gears. But as is often the case with these crate engine packages, this F-100 tends to shift a little clunkily, especially at low speeds, under light braking, or with just a toe into easy throttle. Then again, maybe I just needed to drive harder.
The suspension and steering setup served as more of a highlight, in fact almost a revelation from Velocity. That Bronco rode too choppy on Pensacola roads, reminding me of a leaf-sprung truck, and the light steering despite a smaller steering wheel lacked any sort of feedback or precision. In short, despite the modern updates, the Bronco felt dated—and was still a standout among Velocity’s builds.
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The Best Build from Velocity Yet
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Not this F-100. Here the steering weight, ratio, and feedback coalesced perfectly to simply evaporate into the back of my mind. Body roll, meanwhile, nails a perfect balance between confidently planted, so as to avoid the pendulousness nature of old trucks, and enough compliance necessary to absorb bumps and cracks in the road without ruining the fun.
Then there’s the aesthetics. I’d call this truck a solid 5-footer, as in most viewers can get fairly up close and personal while thinking everything looks great. Until a more discerning eye starts to pick apart the finer details, that is. Unfortunately, I’m that OCD type, so a few panel gap issues bugged me at first, then the headlight surrounds started to stick in my craw.
For essentially a new vehicle, and especially at this price point, I’d prefer a bit more uniform work to prevent the wavy and uneven finish of the metal, which also doesn’t match the rest of the brightwork nor the angular LED headlights. The mottled finish might actually stay true to an original F-100—but we’ve come such a long way from there.
Sliding onto the bench seat, I definitely squinted more than once at the gauges once they lit up. Simpler analog displays would be my advice. The same for climate controls, and especially the touchscreen—though there’s no real solution for this from any company that I know of, since aftermarket head unit and radio manufacturers have zero taste, or maybe even less than zero.
Only Porsche restomods benefit from PCCM (Porsche Classic Communication Management), and those few visionaries, like the mad scientists at Vigilante 4×4, who rewire existing switchgear to handle Bluetooth connectivity in secret behind the dash.
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The worst of the worst: that rearview mirror, which simply sets my nails-on-chalkboard goosebumps alight. Just find a simple mirror with a thin metal surround, guys! No need for this plastic trash from a late-model Ford Taurus. Yet despite my complaints, as already mentioned, this F-100 was the best Velocity build I’ve experienced, even managing minimal wind or tire noise intrusion thanks to substantial window and door seals. Second best? A massive F-250 built for the company’s owner—obviously, the shop crew needed to get that one done right.
Built Fast, and in Big Numbers
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But most of the finer nits that I picked, the kind that might bug a more serious classic car nut, aren’t really the point at Velocity. Forget about Coyote engines blowing cylinder No. 8 regularly. And nobody cares about concours-winning finish quality, clearly. Not many manual transmissions ordered, either. Instead, Velocity cranks out hundreds of quick restomods a year, all of which are meant for being seen.
Think of turning heads while cruising South Beach or San Diego more than the connoisseurs of Malibu or Martha’s Vineyard. The exhaust pricks ears, the sound system better bump, and the rest sort of needs to hit all the right cues just rightly enough that eyes gloss smoothly over that glossy paint and shiny chrome, turning attention to the owner, elbow hanging out, one hand atop the steering wheel, tinted Ray Bans—or maybe even Persols—gleaming…
This is restomods turned big business, catering to a culture of instantaneous gratification, eminently Instagrammable and perfect for pulling indiscriminate tail. Available now! For an easy payment of $349,900! Even if the real car guys at any corner shop can spot the posturing from a mile away.
Velocity Restorations Ford F100 Restomod Specs
- Engine: Gen III 5.0-liter Ford Coyote V8
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic
- Horsepower: 460 hp
- Price: From $349,900
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