Gasser Royale: A Classic Truck Transformed into a Gasser
Custom classic trucks come in a variety of styles. There are many subcategories, from factory-condition restores to radical restomods and Pro Touring builds. One subcategory that doesn’t get nearly the attention and fandom we think it should lays somewhere in between. We’re talking about the gasser hot-rod style, and this beautiful 1957 F-100, owned by Francis Bolduc III, is everything right about the classic subculture.
Gassers gained in popularity on drag strips across the country during the 1960s. Some places even continued to use the style into the 1970s. But, with the advancement of technology, this style became less popular. These gasoline-only dragcars are still recognizable today because of their look and stance. They have maintained their status as an iconic subcategory in the hot-rod industry.
Gassers are still a part of the hot rod story, even though the culture has changed over the years. They can be seen at car shows, drag races, and cruises. More times than not, if you come across a gasser, it’s probably in the form of a Chevy Tri-Five model or a Ford Shoebox—not a late ‘50s pickup. What’s the fun in being a part of the traditional crowd? Enter a truck named “Bombs Away” to shake things up!
Built as part of an ever-growing collection of impressive classic pickup trucks, Bombs Away is Francis’ nod to the gasser subculture. This meant that the truck would have to have a rough exterior, a lot of power and, of course, the iconic stance.
The All About That Look
The perfect stance when it comes to creating a gasser is an important part of the process. For his F-100, Francis achieved this look by re-arching the truck’s front springs while leaving the rear springs stock. This helped put a 6-inch suspension lift up front built off of the truck’s factory frame. Francis also used a Borgeson steering box 525, heavy-duty steering components and an additional steering stabilizer to make his truck a gasser.
Raise the front suspension of any classic vehicle and you’re one step closer to having a gasser, but there’s a little more to it. Gassers must have a specific look. Francis’ version was created by removing his front bumper, hood and tailgate to save weight. He then painted the truck brown primer, with prominent white grilles and headlight surrounds. John Foster’s hand-painted graphics add more flare to the truck. They pay homage to classic wartime propaganda, while also introducing the truck in bold red lettering. Of course, we can’t forget about the gasser’s red window tint, which leads the eye nicely to the fully custom interior.
While the outside of the truck may seem simplistic, the interior of the truck provides plenty of eye candy—even for the most discerning. The aluminum split-bench seats, door plates, and headliner all feature hand-tooled custom pieces of art with diamond pleating, dimpled hole, and rivet detail throughout. Even the rear-window surround is handmade.
The truck’s exterior is beautiful, but its interior would stand out at any show. There is no radio, plush interior, or unnecessary gadgets to distract Francis from the open road and the Hurst shifter in his hand, but his truck only needed one more thing to give it that true gasser status—a bigger engine, of course!
Power To the Pavement
The removal of the hood was a choice made to reduce weight and add style. It also allowed for larger engines and intake stacks which led to more competition at the drag strip. For Francis, this made easier work of fitting his Ford with a Chevy 350ci V-8 crate engine—a special nod to all those purists out there. The Edelbrock Performer inlet manifold was added, along with a Holley Performance Avenger crate carburetor. Schoenfeld exhaust headers were connected to a Cherry Bomb exhaust which exited the truck behind the front fenderwells.
The crate engine’s power is pushed to the truck’s rear axle by way of a turbo 350 automatic transmission featuring a B&M shift kit, heavy-duty red bell clutch, and an Allstar torque converter equipped with a 2200 stall. The truck has a Speedway Gasser Unit in the front and a Ford 9.-inch unit in the back, both with a locker and 3.0 gears. Kumho tires wrapped around Rocket Racing 15-inch wheels with 10 spokes are used to secure the truck on the road. The front drums and discs combine to provide braking power.
Bombs Away is a truly unique Ford F-100 that pays homage to both the form and function of the famous gasser era, while still maintaining its relevance and driving ability on today’s streets. That doesn’t mean there won’t be upgrades added to the truck in the future. As Francis told us,“[it] needs a blower!”
TRUCK Specs
Francis Bolduc
1957 Ford F-100
Mims (FL)
Chassis & Suspension
Original 1957 Ford
F-100 frame
Front suspension lift 6 inches
Rear-arched front springs
Chromoly heim joints
Borgeson 525 steering box
Heavy duty wall steering components
Steering stabilizer
Wheels & Tires
Rocket Racing 15-inch 10-spoke wheels
Kumho Tires
Engine & Drivetrain
Chevy 350ci crate engine
Don Garlits Street induction intake
Edelbrock Performer intake
Holley Performance Avenger carburetor
Schoenfeld Headers
Cherry Bomb exhaust with fenderwells exit
MSD ignition
Kevko pan oil
Spun aluminum fuel tank
Turbo 350 automatic transmission
B&M shift kit
Heavy-duty red bell clasp
Allstar 2200 stall torque converter
Hurst Shifter
Speedway gasser axle
Ford 9-inch rearend 3.0 gears
Rear locker
Front drum brakes and rear disc brakes
Body & Paint
Bumpers, hoods and tailgates removed
Brown primer body paint with a white primer grille
John Foster’s hand-painted graphics
Interior & Stereo
Custom-made aluminum split bench seats, door plates and headliners, including the rear window surround.
Window tinting in red gasser style
The post Bombs Away, A Gasser Remake for the 1957 Ford F-100 was first published on Street Trucks.
