When Trish and Tom decided to get married, Trish wanted an old Ford instead of a wedding ring or a big wedding. They already had a few trucks. This one would be hers.
The story
Tom began the search. They stripped a donor truck down to its drivetrain, then found the brown ’79, sitting on 45-inch tires and enormous leaf springs. They could not even see into it from the ground.
After trailering it home, Tom spent nine months in the garage putting the two trucks together. Trish says nearly everything had to be custom-made, including the engine-bay fabrication. He even 3D-printed a dashboard so they could retain the 1996 wiring while keeping the 1979 look.
They had an agreement: they would not get married until they could drive the truck to the wedding. Once it was finished, Trish booked the DMV and the justice of the peace for the same day. They registered the Ford, then drove it to get married.
The truck
The 1979 body now sits on a 1996 F-350 chassis with a 7.3 engine. Trish says the original paint, bodywork and interior remain in great condition. It is usable as a daily driver, though she saves it for nice weather.
What comes next
People have flagged her down to ask whether she will sell it. The answer is no. Her plan is to drive it for the rest of her life. As she puts it: this truck is her wedding ring.
Owner: Trish & Tom | 1979 Ford
Follow the owner: @trishlongworth754
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 Deven’s 1978 Ford: Keeping a Promise to Grandpa.
Your truck belongs in this community, too. Share your truck story and photos.
