This 1956 Ford F-100 Looks Classic Outside but Hides a 525-HP V8 Surprise Under the Hood

Travis Milton’s 1956 Ford F-100 was named an Early Finalist for the Goodguys 2026 LMC Truck of the Year award, and honestly, it’s easy to see why. The build is outstanding, thanks to the craftsmanship of Rods N Mods for the bodywork and paint, along with Ceballos Customs for the fully updated interior.

Sometimes things come full circle—what our parents loved often ends up shaping our own passions. That’s exactly the case here, as shared by Fuel Curve and highlighted in photos from Forgeline and Rods N Mods.

“A big-window 1956 F-100 has always been one of my favorite trucks,” owner Travis Milton explained. “I’ve loved them since I was a kid. My father had one when he was younger, and he used to tell me stories about it.”

So when the time came to finally buy one, the biggest challenge wasn’t deciding what truck he wanted—it was finding the right example.

Milton spent years imagining the perfect build, but once the project started, the mission became simple: create a truck that still looked like a 1956 Ford, but with a fully modernized feel underneath.

The final result is not only impressive but clearly show-worthy, proven by its Early Finalist recognition at the Goodguys Rod & Custom Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The fabrication and custom metal work were handled by Rods N Mods, which also took care of the paint, while Ceballos Customs focused on the custom interior. But before any of that happened, the truck received a completely new backbone in the form of a modern Speedtech Performance chassis.

That setup includes independent front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, rear coil-over suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes for serious drivability.

The brakes come from Wilwood, while the eye-catching three-piece forged wheels are supplied by Forgeline, the Dayton, Ohio-based company known for lightweight custom aluminum performance wheels.

This truck rides on Forgeline DS3 Performance Series wheels measuring 19x10 inches up front and 20x10.5 inches in the rear, wrapped in Continental Extreme tires. The finish combines Hyper Silver centers with polished outer lips, giving the truck a clean but agresive stance.

The body keeps its classic look but includes several subtle upgrades. The grille was reshaped to better match the hood, the rear fenders were widened, and custom inner wheel tubs were added. There are also stainless steel bed strips, a rolled rear pan, and fully custom front and rear bumpers tucked neatly into the design.

The paint ties everything together beautifully. Rods N Mods finished the truck in PPG Ford Fighter Jet Gray, giving it a sleek and understated appearance that feels both vintage and modern.

Inside, Ceballos Customs transformed the cabin with a fabricated custom console and valance designed to integrate the Vintage Air climate system vents. The truck also gets modified TMI seats upholstered in Moore & Giles leather with vintage-style fabric inserts.

Additional upgrades include Dakota Digital gauges, a Sparc steering wheel mounted on an Ididit steering column, and touchscreen controls for the modern electronics.

So far, everything sounds perfectly acceptable for Ford purists.

But the real surprise is hiding under the hood—and it might make some die-hard Ford fans a little uncomfortable.

Instead of Ford power, this F-100 runs a GM Performance 6.2-liter LS3 V8 producing 525 horsepower.

It’s fitted with Speedtech headers, stainless piping, Stainless Works mufflers, and a Lokar sport shifter controlling the GM-sourced 6L80E automatic transmission.

Yes, it’s a Ford with a Chevrolet heart—and honestly, it works pretthy well.