Shaquille O'Neal is a giant and not only in the literal sense. The talented 7 feet 1 inch 4-time NBA champion's success both on and off the court is something to be admired. On the court, Shaq was a dominant center while off the court he was a gentle giant. The former NBA All-Star's fun-loving, laid back personality captured the hearts of NBA fans all over the world. So when Shaq transitioned from a player to a pundit, it was seamless.
Playing in and analyzing basketball games is just one of Shaq's many passions, another one is cars. High-end, "tricked out" luxury cars to be specific, the kind that only Shaquille O'Neal would drive. Shaquille O'Neal is a true petrolhead with endorsement deals from car manufacturers and car insurers alike.
Shaquille O'Neal has done pretty well for himself. The former NBA all-star has a reported net worth of around $400 million, making him one of the richest NBA players to have ever played the game. His incredible wealth and deep love for cars have led to him owning an incredible car collection. His customized 7 feet 5 inches Ford F-650 is one of his favorite cars in his collection.
Shaq Rules
Gone are the days when Shaq would force the NBA to change its rules in order to give opposition players a fighting chance. Now, long after his retirement Shaq has redefined the meaning of "Shaq Rules". It now describes a set of rules that Shaq follows when buying a new car. The five main Shaq rules are pretty straight forward...
He needs to be able to drive the car every day
While most people would balk at the idea of driving around a Ford F-650 every day, Shaq revels in it.
If first, you don't fit, you customize it and try again
Most of the cars Shaq owns are custom made to accommodate his large stature.
The car needs to be unique
For a car, to Shaq-worthy it needs to stand out otherwise what would be the point.
The car has to be unpredictable
Shaq's car collection is filled with a lot of cars that you would deem "quirky", cars that you would only get away with owning if your name was Shaquille O'Neal.
Money is no object
When Shaq looks to buy a car he never looks at the price tag, that is one of the perks of being a multi-millionaire.
Shaq's Customized Ford F-650
Shaquille O'Neal is a well-known car connoisseur. The former NBA star has a wide variety of cars in his garage, ranging from his infamous Buick La Cross to his massive $124,150 Ford F-650.
How it came to be
A simple phone call initiated the purchasing of the F-650. Shaq called up Wade Ford in Georgia and asked, "Hey, do you have one of those F-650s I like so much?". In true Shaq spirit, the 4-time NBA champion wasn't satisfied with just a regular Ford F-650 he wanted something a little extreme.
The custom job was done by Wade Ford in collaboration with SuperTruck. The Augusta-based company is known for turning Ford's commercial F-series trucks into real-life behemoths that tower over almost anything on the road.
Only a handful of these custom builds are done a year and they cost a small fortune. What started off as a regular Ford F-650 was transformed into a Shaq worthy truck. The truck was built to Shaq's specifications and was worth every bit of the $124,150 that the 4-time NBA champion paid for it.
Ford F-650 Extreme Features
For someone who spends a lot of time in the public eye, Shaq has managed to keep some of the details surrounding his custom F-650 to himself. What we do know is that the truck was fitted with a new infotainment system with full navigation, Bluetooth, HD radio, heated leather seats, a pickup bed, updated suspension, and stainless steel fuel tanks.
Shaq has had his fair share of hits and misses when it comes to customizing his cars and his Ford F-650 certainly divides opinions.
Under The Hood
A regular Ford F-650 is pretty massive but a Shaq-sized F-650 is on a whole other level. The F-650 needed a massive engine to go with it, and the people at Wade Ford and SuperTruck gladly obliged. The Shaq-sized Ford F-650 is powered by a 6.7-liter Powerstroke diesel V8 engine that produces 330 horsepower and 750 lb-ft torque. That's more than enough pulling power for this Shaq-sized custom Ford F-650 and unlike its owner, this F-650 is anything but a gentle giant.