Around 1993, Bob Marion purchased a ’40 Ford cabover cab, but at the time he didn’t have anything he could do with it. He didn’t worry about it; he just thought of plans here and there, and after a full decade of on-and-off planning he finally decided it was time to do something with the old cab. He took it to Rich Brandl Sr. at Superior Custom Classics Inc. (SCCI, 727/697-2951) in Hudson, Florida, and asked him to build a car hauler. Brandl and his sons, Rich Jr. and David, along with fellow employees Frank Narcisi and Jimmy Weber, set about the large task of building the rough cab into a big, cool street rod.

Once the folks at SCCI had the cab, they faced the daunting challenge of building the rest of the truck around it. They began with the frame, and since the truck’s role was to be that of a car hauler, they had to make it stout. The builders began with 2×6-inch thick-wall tubing and then installed a Mustang II suspension that Fat Man Fabrications had built custom for this truck. The suspension had to be extra stout to deal with the increased weight of the truck compared to a standard street rod, so all of the Fat Man components are just beefier than in a standard production part. Instead of coil springs, SCCI opted to install Air Ride Technologies Pro Series air springs and QA1 shock absorbers. This suspension lets the truck sit low while still driving comfortably—even though it’s built for hauling hot rods, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t look and act the part of one itself. Stainless Steel Brakes Corporation built the three-piston billet calipers that slow the truck, while Fat Man supplied the steering rack and the sway bar.  Naturally the Ford needed big wheels, so 20×10-inch Donz Brasco rims fit the bill nicely. A big wheel demands a big tire, and the wheels seem pleased with the selection of 295/40ZR20 BFGoodrich KDW rubber.

From the front wheels, the frame spans all the way back to a 2000 Ford F-150 rearend to create a 148-inch wheelbase. A Trac-Lok differential and 3.90 gears send power to the massive 20×12.5-inch Brasco wheels and 305/55R20 BFG All-Terrain T/A tires. Another set of Air Ride Technologies air springs and QA1 shocks provides the same benefit as those in front, as well as making it easier for the truck to adapt to load conditions. A Ford sway bar helps keep the heavy rear relatively level through the turns, and SSBC brakes provide the stopping power.

The engine that sits below the cab might not be what you expect, though it’s still a great choice for such a ride. You’d want such a car hauler to have plenty of torque, but don’t look for a big block in this ride. Instead you’ll find the supercharged mod motor from an ’03 Harley Davidson-edition F-150. The 5.4-liter, SOHC engine gets much of its power from the Eaton Roots-style M112 blower that sits between the cylinder heads. In stock form, the engine makes 340 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque, but after the addition of Ford Racing headers, Flowmaster mufflers and some custom tuning from SCCI, the output is closer to 500 hp.

The transmission behind this powerplant is a Ford 4R70W automatic. This transmission is the direct descendant of the AOD and the AODE, but with a wider spread of gears. A-Tex Transmissions of New Port Richey, Florida, prepped the automatic and SCCI installed it, pairing it with a Baumann TCS transmission controller. A B&M fluid cooler prevents excessive heat buildup.

The builders at SCCI began the project with only the cab, and it was in poor shape at that. Lots of metal work brought the cab back to the shape it was meant to be, and the addition of a custom internal frame keeps it in that shape, preventing flex. PT Cruiser headlights replace the stock pieces, and behind the wheel arches sit custom running boards with stainless steel strips. New square-stock grille bars provide a lot of shine at the truck’s nose. Thanks to accessories such as door handles, windshield wipers and grab bars to get into the tall cab, the truck is a lot more functional than the average street rod, too. SCCI handled all the heavy bodywork and then sent the cab to Car Classics in Port Richey for finish work. Car Classics prepped the body for paint, then applied the DuPont Jet Black paint.

But as far as the body goes, the cab is only part of the story. The ramp and sides are actually a much larger piece. SCCI designed the bed, then sent the specifications to Weld-Built in Wyandanch, New York. Weld-Built fabricated the entire bed from aluminum and sent it back to SCCI, where the builders assembled it to the truck with no problems whatsoever. The next stage of the build, though, was the less-than-fun task of polishing the enormous bed sides. But while this chore may have been arduous, the result is a mirror-like reflection from any angle.

The final step of the build was the interior. SCCI handled this work, too, upholstering the cab in a mix of black and light gray leather. The custom bench seat wears this material in a pleated design, with a similar theme applied to the door handles and the headliner. Also in the headliner are three TV screens hooked up to cameras that take the place of the Ford’s rearview mirrors. The dashboard is stock but painted black to match the body, and with a custom billet insert that houses a pair of Classic Instruments All American gauges. To the left of the gauges is another aluminum panel, this time containing the Retro-Tech electronic push–button shifter. A Grant Banjo steering wheel tops the Flaming River tilt column. Additional touches include Lokar pedals and billet door handles. Climate control from Hot Rod Air keeps the passengers cool or warm as need be, and a complete Kenwood stereo system keeps them entertained.

Superior Custom Classics Inc. completed the ’40 in January ’07 after a two-year build. It runs down the road like a new Lincoln, yet it can still smoke the huge rear tires, and it’s more than capable of hauling any of Bob Marion’s hot rods or restored John Deere tractors. The truck turned out so nice that Marion will face a tough decision at any rod run he attends—should he even bother to unload a car, or just drive this one?