Matt Atkin’s Ford F-150
Although it took seven years to get his 2001 Ford F-150 to its current state, Matt Atkin knew it was all worth the effort. After riding dirt bikes off-road, Atkins built a 1995 Extended Cab Ford F-150 to drive to the local sand dunes and have fun. After learning fabrication, the real transformation from truck to prerunner began.
He pieced out some of the suspension, buying lower A-arms and trailing arms, but he built everything else on the truck, including the chassis and spindles. He then added King 3.0 coilovers and 3.5 bypass shocks, rolling on 39-inch diameter BFGoodrich Baja T/A Tires.
The prerunner chassis was outfitted with McNeil Racing fiberglass fenders and hood, under which a stroked 418 cubic-inch LS3 V8 now resides, attached to a TH400- automatic and out to a Ford 10-inch rear axle. “I drive this truck all the time around the Dumont Dunes and I feel I can get through just about anything,” says Atkins.
Inside the cab, a set of Mastercraft seats and PRP harnesses holds him in while he blasts off the dunes to catch big air and prepare for a soft landing. Atkins also built the interior dash and center console, adding Autometer gauges, a Momo steering wheel, and Rugged Radios communications.
Atkins has been involved with the Terra Crew since its beginnings and is also a SCORE fan since attending the early days of the Henderson 250 and other early Nevada races held there. “Me and my buddies are hooked on SCORE racing and one day we plan to go down there and enjoy them in person.” SJ
