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BangShift Question Of The Day: Are You Cool With Dealerships Building What The OEMs Won’t?


BangShift Question Of The Day: Are You Cool With Dealerships Building What The OEMs Won’t?

See that 2017 Ford F-150 regular cab right there? Yeah…with the side pipes, one-off wheels, and a badge that dates back about fifteen years or so? It’s not the work of some dreaming hopeful that bought a stripper regular-cab Ford, dreaming of what could have been. Nope, this is the work of Pioneer Ford in Bremen, Georgia, and they have put together their take on a modern-day Ford Lightning pickup truck. You’ll remember the Lightning in it’s two original forms: the 351-powered 1993-95 version and the supercharged 5.4L packing 1999-2004 variant. Both trucks were built to move out first and ask questions later, and the supercharged Lightning could be whipped into an absolute killer with just a little bit of work. But Ford hasn’t gone for a hot F-series truck since 2004, when they didn’t include the option for the upcoming eleventh-generation truck line and that’s where Pioneer Ford stepped in. It’s got a Roush supercharged Coyote under the hood, is tuned to a very healthy 650 horsepower, and since Pioneer Ford is an authorized Roush dealer, all of the warranties, rebates, incentives and other goodies that come with a brand-new pickup truck are intact. It’s not even that bad of a cost, at just a tick under $50,000.

Oddly enough, you’d think that fans of the Lightning would be all over this in seconds, but reading through comments on the Internet, I was surprised to see a lot of negativity…even by Internet standards. I’ll spare you individual quotes, but the effect is the same that plagued the 2004-06 Pontiac GTO: the truck is too plain and too much like the standard F-150 XL, the wheels aren’t flashy enough, there’s no stepside, and so on. With that in mind, here’s what we want to know: does a build like this phantom Lightning work for you as a dealership build? From where we sit, Pioneer Ford put together a hell of a package for the enthusiast, but are we wrong?


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26 thoughts on “BangShift Question Of The Day: Are You Cool With Dealerships Building What The OEMs Won’t?

  1. 4 nomor

    The internet is full of a bunch of whiners that do nothing but whine in order to feel relevant….

    This truck is HOT! The original Lightnings had mild styling updates with increased power under the hood…. This truck fits that to a “T”!!

    I like it!!

  2. Clark

    While normally when dealerships do this they go over the top to the point that there is a “cheezy” feel about them. Not this one, they did well!

  3. doug gregory

    Lightnings always had a look that was understated or toned-down. Classy performance without smacking someone in the face. There is a large contingent of folks these days that prefer the bold and even the gaudy. Other than the grille styling of the newest Fords….this truck looks like a home run. Be nice if more did this kind of thing.

  4. Matt Cramer

    Personally, I think it’s Ford’s call what should leave the dealership with a Lightning badge – the dealer should have made up their own badges, or maybe put a Roush badge on it.

    That said – this looks EXACTLY like what I think a 2017 Lightning ought to be! They absolutely nailed it, from looks to performance.

  5. Mike Brooks

    I think they nailed it! I love the subdued look. I’m not one for all the stripes, stickers, spoilers, and do-dads that Ford slaps on some of the Mustangs. For me, less is always more.

  6. Jason

    It works for me… tho I don’t need 600+ hp in a truck. . . the dealer nailed it. Hope they sell enough to be rewarded for their efforts.

  7. Bob

    I don’t like a bunch of tacked on stuff so the plain “stocker” look is perfect for me. I would take off the lightning emblem and go have fun.

  8. jerry z

    Lose the supercharger. Even if the truck had close to 400hp will make it a fun vehicle. Plus the price would be lower. Win, win.

  9. Roger

    Not the first 5.0L XL 4X2 I’ve seen available with a supercharger (there’s a dealer in the Akron,OH area that’s sold a few) but the first I’ve seen with Lightning badges. IMHO a perfect tribute truck.

  10. D nagy

    Well it looks like the Dodge boys don\’t get it. One I own dodge products. Price if under 50 is cheaper than the oh mighty demon. Now think about this it\’s a aluminum body on cheap ass base model pick up 650 hp. Keep that in mind dum ass!
    One not that hard to bang up the boost, strip the base ass bitch down too lower the weight . Bye bye air bags . Heavy ass seats , air conditioning bumper
    reinforcements etc. Next get the bitch to hook. Cal tracs, 4 link and coil overs or what ever track device works for you,the same sticky ass tires that the runs demon runs to be fair. And it\’s still under the high price demon. Better bang for the buck . Oh install a legal Nhra cage for you Don, t get the boot for out running the oh might demon..if my old boss can take a old 62 ford pu. Small block single turbo and run 8.56 on shake down run I think this truck could could run a number a lot faster than you think. Remember the Buick grand national and what happen when a little tiwn turbo Buick hit pro stock.

  11. D nagy

    Well it looks like the Dowdge boys don’t get it. One I own dodge products. Price if under 50 is cheaper than the oh mighty demon. Now think about this it’s a aluminum body on cheap ass base model pick up 650 hp. Keep that in mind dum ass!
    One not that hard to bang up the boost, strip the base ass bitch down too lower the weight . Bye bye air bags . Heavy ass seats , air conditioning bumper
    reinforcements etc. Next get the bitch to hook. Cal tracs, 4 link and coil overs or what ever track device works for you,the same sticky ass tires that the runs demon runs to be fair. And it’s still under the high price demon. Better bang for the buck . Oh install a legal Nhra cage for you Don, t get the boot for out running the oh might demon..if my old boss can take a old 62 ford pu. Small block single turbo and run 8.56 on shake down run I think this truck could could run a number a lot faster than you think. Remember the Buick grand national and what happen when a little tiwn turbo Buick hit pro stock.

  12. F.R.O.

    This truck is perfect! V8, supercharged, regular cab, and short bed. This is the type of truck I want. I may have to look in getting a white one sometime in the spring.

  13. Alexi Repoff

    Hell ya! Don’t forget it was dealerships back in the 60’s doing the same thing that let manufacturers to produce hipo versions of their products.

  14. Patrick U

    Absolutely! I think this dealer knocked it out of the park with this one! It reminds me of the first gen so much it hurts. Plain F-150, nice wheels and some go fast goods. I’d love to have one!

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