FACTORY EXPERIMENTAL! The F-100 XL Prototype Drag Truck
Ford commissioned this one-off F100 XL prototype in 1963 to compete in NHRA's Factory Experimental class. This truck was built by Dearborn Steel Tubing, a shop that was known for its factory drag car builds, including the famous Ford Thunderbolt. But before the Thunderbolt project came along, DST built this 1963 Ford F-100 XL factory drag truck. It featured Ford's 427ci 425hp FE engine, a T10 four speed transmission and 4.86 gears inside the 9 inch rear end housing. The truck ran in the 12's, which was right on the mark for the B/FX class in 1963.
DST built the truck and had one of its employees handle the driving duties during a 10-track tour to prepare for the NHRA Nationals in Indy. After breakage at Indy, the truck was sold with a bill of origin to Jack Whitby, a Ford dealership owner in Delaware. He raced the truck for a short time, claiming 17 wins in 17 races. He then listed it for sale. Bill Naudain had put down a deposit on a Ford Thunderbolt, but decided to buy the truck instead. He raced it for a few years and then stuffed it in his barn. Ford sent numerous letters to retrieve the truck, as it was not to be sold to the public. Bill bought the truck with a Delaware title, so he held onto the truck and kept it in hiding for many years.
Eventually, with the help of a friend, he dragged it out of the barn and got it running again. Unfortunately, Bill passed away, leaving the truck to the fellow who inspired him to get it running. The truck now lives on as a tribute to Bill's legacy and it's certainly a piece of Ford Racing history, as it is the one and only 1963 Ford F100 XL factory drag truck prototype.
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