Shine Speed Shop is bringing history back to life with a one-of-a-kind 1955 Ford F-100 military truck, originally built in October of 1955 in Richmond, Virginia for the U.S. Army. Now, nearly 70 years later, this piece of American military heritage is being transformed into a modern, high-performance tribute.

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The all-steel body sitting on the factory but “step boxed” chassis for rigidity. The build sits low and aggressive thanks to a full Scotts Hotrod coil-over suspension front and rear. Scotts suspension components consist of an I.F.S. system in front and a 4-bar rear, all on Aldan coil over shocks. Power comes from a BluePrint 347 cubic-inch small block Ford, that puts out an honest 415 HP, giving the classic F-100 a heartbeat worthy of its battle-born past. It has a narrowed 9” Ford rear end with Trac-Loc 3:50:1 gears from Currie Enterprises. Transmission is an A.O.D. built by the Pirano’s at Westminister Performance Transmission. The truck sports a tilt hood, a shaved front bumper, and a custom BedWood bed featuring a handcrafted American flag inlay. Rolling stock includes bold 18” red steel rims from Wheel Smith in Corona, CA wrapped in Diamond Back custom 18 “Red Stripe” tires, tying the build to both its vintage roots and hot rod style.

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Our favorite part of the truck is the dash. Inside, the dash remains untouched, proudly displaying the original Army stenciling:

 

“THIS VEHICLE COST 1025.08

          DON’T ABUSE IT”

 

along with “TP32” and “MPH55.”

 

The owner, Don McKeehan—a proud Vietnam veteran—is honoring the truck’s service by preserving its original dash and repainting it in authentic Olive Drab green, the same color it wore when it rolled off the Richmond line in 1955.

 

This build isn’t just about horsepower and style—it’s about legacy, respect, and carrying forward the story of a truck that once served America.