The Ford F-100 is not just a delightful icon, but also a true classic. Dropped in the 1980s due to model overlap with the F-150, the F-100 is one of the most expensive classic vehicles on the market; it would turn heads on the streets. But this 1978 Ford truck is more than just a head-turner, especially because it’s an electrified concept with NASCAR driver Hailie Deegan behind the wheel.
From NASCAR F-150 To Street-Legal F-100 EV
If there’s someone who would love to drive a classic F-100 truck on the streets of Los Angeles, California, Hailie would be it. After all, she races trucks in NASCAR. Daughter of former X Games athlete Brian Deegan, Hailie was the first female driver to win races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. She drove for Ford Performance-sponsored David Gilliland Racing in the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Following a call from Ford Performance, Hailie dragged buddies Chase and Moe across the country to California. Arriving in the City of Angels, they found themselves staring at a 1978 Ford F-100 that Ford Performance modified to become a classic truck with a high-tech powertrain as well as an equally modern interior. The opportunity to drive the F-100 Eluminator concept on the streets of L.A. was just too good to pass, so Hailie readily grabbed the steering wheel.
Classic Electric Truck With Custom Exterior And Interior
The F-100 Eluminator concept is a demonstration truck sans the internal combustion engine. Instead, Ford Performance Parts’ all-new Eluminator e-crate motor is serving as its core. With two e-crate motors powering the front and rear wheels, the F-100 Eluminator is an all-wheel-drive affair, offering 480 hp of output and 634 lb-ft of instant torque. Street-legal in all 50 states, each Eluminator e-crate motor offers 281 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque.
The F-100 Eluminator sits on a custom chassis from the Roadster Shop and features an exterior in Avalanche Gray with Cerakote Copper accents. Inside, the F-100 Eluminator features a billet aluminum dash from JJR Fabrication and avocado-tanned leather upholstery from MDM Upholstery. It rides on Forgeline custom 19x10 inch billet aluminum three-piece wheels shod with Michelin Latitude Sport 275/45-19 high-performance rubbers.
Touring Los Angeles In The F-100 Eluminator
Hailie practically grew up in California, specifically in the city of Temecula, which is just south of L.A. Her visit to L.A. is essentially a homecoming, so they took their sweet time visiting familiar places. It seems Hailie enjoyed the trip the most, as she was to drive the F-100 Eluminator.
Source: Hailie Deegan on YouTube, Ford