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It was last year that we learned the reason Ford officially abandoned the F-150 Lightning in 2004: The truck simply got too big. That hasn’t stopped one dealer in Georgia from making its own version, though. Pioneer Ford in Bremen, Georgia, is selling new 650-hp supercharged F-150s that ape the original Lightning’s looks for just $ 50,000.
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The dealer has only built two Lightning tributes so far, but a post on Facebook showing off the trucks has gone viral, and they already have additional orders. Amazingly, this truck comes with a full Ford warranty, since its 5.0-liter V-8 is fitted with a Roush supercharger and Pioneer Ford is an authorized Roush installer. It qualifies for Ford factory rebates, too.
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Pioneer is offering its Lightning tribute only in two-door short-wheelbase form, and it comes with side pipes and five-spoke wheels, just like the model built from 1999–2004. The Lightning tribute also gets a lowered suspension, and Pioneer plans to build more examples based on the new 2018 F-150 with the 5.0-liter V-8, which comes with a 10-speed automatic.
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Pioneer Ford general manager Robby Winiarczyk told us that the 1999–2004 Lightning was his “dream truck” and he decided to build a modern tribute just for fun. That truck, the red example shown below, sold within days.
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Winiarczyk plans to offer an updated version with a more modern infotainment system installed, as Ford sells the two-door F-150 only with a basic radio. He’s sticking with regular-cab models only for now, since the original truck wasn’t offered in crew-cab or extended-cab versions.
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This is both a loving tribute to one of Ford’s greatest creations and proof that people want a new Lightning. The next two examples Pioneer plans to build already are sold, and you can bet more orders are pouring in.
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This story originally appeared on Road & Track.
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