Franco Gonzalez went looking for a 1980 Ford F-100 in Argentina and found a 1976 instead. He bought it in 2010. Today, his family knows it as Nube, Spanish for Cloud.
The story
One trip explains why this truck matters. Franco and his seven-year-old son flew from Patagonia to northern Argentina to collect it, then drove more than 2,500 kilometers home in two days.
His son still carries the memory of that adventure and his love for the truck. For Franco, Nube became a way to share a passion, not just a vehicle to restore.
The truck
The restoration brought Gulf-inspired blue paint, black finishes in the cab, engine bay and bed, a lowered suspension and wide 15-inch wheels. Franco fitted a Toyota five-speed transmission while retaining what he describes as the original 3.6-liter 221 inline-six.
Front disc brakes, power windows, central locking, push-button start and a custom exhaust are among the changes. The result reflects his taste for a custom, racing-inspired Ford.
What comes next
Franco wants to keep improving Nube, keep making family memories and eventually pass it to his son. He hopes the old truck will help people remember the man who loved it.
Owner: Franco gonzalez | 1976 Ford
Follow the owner: @Frangonzalez077
Keep the old Ford story going
Find your kind of truck in our Dentside merchandise, or choose a year’s front end from the Grille Series.
Visit Highboy University for truck guides. Read Bumpside vs. Dentside: Ford Truck Generations Explained, then meet the people behind Zach’s 1975 Highboy: Built with Dad, Kept for Good.
Your truck belongs in this community, too. Share your truck story and photos.
