The factory grille might be the most surprising part of Fat Fender Garage’s latest build. It is the only major exterior component the shop left unmodified on GT/FX, a 1956 Ford F-100 with a supercharged Coyote V8 and extensive changes to its steel body.
Unveiled at the 2026 SEMA Show, GT/FX takes its inspiration from the Ford GT. Fat Fender Garage says more than 15,000 hours went into designing, engineering, and fabricating the truck, making it the company’s most ambitious project yet.
Familiar Face, Different Proportions
Much of the work went into changing how the F-100 sits and looks. The roof and hood were flattened, and the cab was sectioned by two inches, reducing the height of the cab’s body. Wider front and rear fenders give the truck a broader stance.
Those changes required extensive metal shaping, with the all-steel body fabricated by hand. Custom running boards blend into the rear fenders, while a front air scoop and chin splitters bring some of that Ford GT influence to the nose. At the back, the shop worked a GT350 rear diffuser into the design.
The bed received its own treatment, including double-wall construction, custom flares, and a tailgate that drops at the push of a button. Flush-mounted front and rear glass and one-piece side windows clean up the cab’s appearance.
Carbon-fiber mirrors and custom LED rear lights round out the exterior changes. Fat Fender Garage also handled the BASF paint and hand-finished racing stripes in-house, with Cerakote coatings applied to the stainless bumpers, trim, and hardware.
Keeping the original grille gives all those changes a familiar reference point. There is still enough of the old Ford’s face to recognize what started this project.
A Supercharged Coyote Under The Hood
Fat Fender Garage rates the third-generation 5.0-liter Coyote V8 at 800 horsepower and 750 lb-ft of torque. A 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger supplies the boost, and Ford’s 10R80 10-speed automatic handles transmission duties.
The engine wears custom valve covers, and the shop fabricated a three-inch exhaust system using Borla XR-1 Raceline mufflers, JMD resonators, and electric cutouts.
That is a substantial amount of power for a classic pickup. The work underneath the body is an equally important part of the build.
A Modern Foundation
GT/FX uses Fat Fender Garage’s FF1 Performance Coilover Chassis. It gives the project a purpose-built foundation for the engine, suspension, and reshaped body.
According to the builder, the aim was to give the F-100 the responsive handling associated with a modern supercar. The suspension was developed to control body movement in corners and keep the truck settled during acceleration and braking.
Custom HRE wheels and Toyo Proxes Sport 2 tires complete the combination.
Modern Comforts, Carefully Tucked Away
The cabin follows the same approach as the exterior, with plenty of custom work and relatively little visual clutter.
Black upholstery, leather detailing, custom-covered bucket seats, and a leather dash pad set the tone. The climate-control system is concealed, feeding air through a hidden, one-piece vent.
Modern gauges and audio bring current conveniences into the old cab, while custom door actuators are integrated into the interior. The result gives the truck the equipment expected in a high-end custom without filling the dashboard with exposed hardware.
More Than An Engine Swap
Founder and CEO Jason Noel says the idea was to carry the Ford GT’s attitude through the entire truck. Fat Fender Garage handled the chassis, interior, fabrication, bodywork, paint, and final assembly.
That helps explain the hours invested in GT/FX. The team changed the truck’s proportions, built the hardware beneath it, and worked modern comfort features into a small vintage cab. The original grille is one of the few places where the shop let Ford’s 1956 design speak for itself.
