AS SEEN IN OUR F-Series Builders Guide Summer 2026 ISSUE – Buy Now!
The Truck That Started an Obsession
Mr. Preston Hawkins, a known and respected local out of Idaho Falls, Idaho, owns this beautiful patina-clad 1974 Ford F-100 Series Ranger. When you think about Ford Rangers, you think prerunners, A-arms, and independent front suspension, but these older Rangers are a man’s truck. They were built for anything you wanted to do and looked good doing it with the squared body style of the 70s. Patina can be done in multiple ways: it can be bad, it can be legendary, and then it can just look pretty basic. But the patina on Preston’s truck? In my opinion, it’s the proper way to handle the patina look. It doesn’t have a ton of rust or crazy things going on, but it offers a true look back into time.
This Ranger is a truck you can take out any day of the week when you want a refreshing and relaxing drive. Just get in, start it up, and hit the road. By all means, this pickup may not be the average Ford F-Series purist vehicle, but who doesn’t like something that separates itself from the rest? This is no big lifted SEMA truck. You aren’t looking at a frame-slammed and notched truck. It also isn’t stock height like many others on the road. This truck is slightly lifted and has that relatable, rugged, blue-collar look about it. From front to back and side to side, this truck really speaks volumes for itself. It may not win best-of-show at SEMA, but it will stop a man in a parking lot and make him think, “Now, that’s a nice rig.” A truck like this isn’t created for the reward of trophies, but for the reward of recognition—the reward of knowing that it is your truck, your creation, and suits your personal taste.
Pumping the heartbeat of this workhorse is the original 1974 Ford 360 ci small-block. The older-style engine will definitely give you a healthy sound and tone when you want it to. My favorite part about this rig is the faint blue specs of paint that separate the maroon and grey primer patina. Setting the paint apart from the rest of the truck, the back of the cab and roof are painted white, which may throw some people off, but I think it fits this build perfectly for the image that it’s setting. When you go out and sit on a tailgate to watch the sunset or drive around your first date to the drive-in, this is the exact truck you would want to be cruising in.
With a Dana 44 and Ford 9-inch rear, do not mistake this truck for weak. It’s sporting axles that are still sought after to this day—over 50+ years later! It’s also rocking a set of disc brakes in the front on the Dana 44, and the rear is a drum brake system that still brings this big body machine to a stop whenever you need it to. Keeping the C in cruising is a C6 transmission—one of the most renowned Ford transmissions that is still used to this day in newer versions but keeps its original name. Underneath this rig is a new set of shocks, leaf springs, steering stabilizers, and more, which are all part of the Skyjacker suspension lift! Shining in the Idaho Falls full moonlight is a set of Lucid Forged Wheels wrapped in a set of Milestar Tires to really set this truck apart piece-by-piece. The rolling gear allows the truck to be a little flashy but with a tasteful design with the deep-dish feature. This rig screams originality with a bit of noticeable modern touches, such as the original bumpers, grille, headlights, and body style with no flares or body attachments.
Hopping inside the cab of this bad-to-the-bone Ranger, you will find a comfortable set of Cruiser Series seats upholstered by TMI in Idaho that keep the local businesses on the edge of their seats. We thank Preston for allowing us to feature his rig and be able to cover other rides of his along the way. He has a full stable of horses, and they are all beauties. Until the next one, tread on!