Many restored and modified American classics we encounter follow a predictable recipe: shiny paint, modern interiors, and upgraded powertrains. This 1978 Ford F-250 Highboy, however, showcased at SEMA by Fat Fender Garage, takes a refreshingly different approach. While it’s been thoroughly reimagined, it still carries much of its original charm—gritty and unapologetically true to its roots.

The first thing that makes this F-250 Highboy stand out is the exterior. This Ford truck has lived out its entire life in Arizona and over the decades, the red paint has developed a deep patina that the owners wanted to retain. As such, Fat Fender Garage has decided to leave the paint untouched and focused its efforts on the pickup’s interior and its powertrain.

Gone is the original engine, and in its place sits a 7.5-liter rebuilt Lincoln V8 with 245 hp and enough torque to spin the Earth. This engine features a custom exhaust and a rebuilt transfer case has been installed. Elsewhere, the truck benefits from a set of Dana 60 axles at the front and rear, lifted from a 2022 Super Duty. The original tank has also been replaced with a Boyd fuel cell, offering improved reliability and capacity while modernizing one of the truck’s most essential systems.

Promising to improve the truck’s off-roading credentials, as well as improving comfort, are new Fox performance shocks at all four corners. Modern brakes are also included and craftsmen at the shop have also replaced the entire electrical system.

Shift your focus to the cabin and you will notice lovely saddle brown leather as well as seats, door panels, and sun visors trimmed in multi-colored fabric designed to mimic the colors of desert sunsets in Arizona. The Ford also has a new square-weave carpet, a Gen-5 Vintage Air HVAC system, custom burl walnut wood accents, and billet aluminum window cranks.

“Arizona inspired us to restore a vehicle just as majestic and rugged as the desert landscapes where we found it basking there in the sun,” the truck’s owner Harrison Woodruff said. “This truck is a tribute to desert trucks and a celebration of the absolutely spectacular Grand Canyon region where we restored it and brought the vehicle back to life. What we found so interesting in restoring this truck is that the exterior and interior express two different sides of the same story of its life out on a ranch in the Arizona badlands not far from the Grand Canyon.”

Of course, it won’t come as a surprise that all this craftsmanship and attention to detail come at a price. In this case, the privilege of owning a 1978 Ford F-250 Highboy that balances vintage grit with modern refinement will set you back a cool $95,000.