PHATSO – JEFF WATT 1954 FORD F100
Ask anyone to name their top five iconic American cars and you’ll hear classics like the ‘32 Ford, ’57 Chevy, Cadillacs, Corvettes, Mustangs—or even Hemi ‘Cuda’s. A Tucker, Hudson Hornet, or J2 Olds might make an appearance for the obscure set. But the Ford F100 pickup? Rarely. Americans have long loved their pickups, and F100 devotees are among the most loyal. Once seen mainly as workhorses, F100s have left a mark on almost everyone’s automotive memories.
South Aussie Jeff Watt was planning his F100 experience when opportunity knocked. “I’m selling my F100 and you guys have got first dibs,” rang the phone call from fabricator and friend, Chevy Shane. That was all the convincing Jeff needed, with a green light from wife Sharon. “You better get your arse around to Shane’s house and buy it,” she said.
But this wasn’t a case of walking into a freshly finished truck. Jeff was signing up for an eight-year project with only a fraction completed. Shane, a well-known Adelaide collector, fabricator, and engine builder, had acquired the farm-fresh ‘54 Effy in truck form. He stripped the chassis, leaving the cab in his driveway for months, before marrying it to a clapped-out HJ Holden panel van—keeping the Holden floor, firewall, suspension, steering, and brakes intact while channeling the F100 body over the top. The result? A seamless blend that on the road looks like an F100, though Shane nicknamed it PHATSO.
“I’d always loved F100s,” Jeff admits. “I was even looking for someone to bring a truck in from the USA as a cruiser. I didn’t imagine what I was going to do with this one—it went from one extreme to the other.”
Another friend, Lochie, inspired further mods: “He said we need to roof chop it, customise it. He cut 5” out of the roof, and that kicked off the project you see today.” Instead of squashing the original roof, Lochie sliced the top off an XY Falcon in Jeff’s backyard and used it for the F100. Jeff recalls, “I reckon we upset a few Ford boys in town.”
When Lochie left town, the project stalled for two years, until Adam at Southern Classics and Customs stepped in. “When Adam first saw it, he said, ‘I’ve got to finish this truck!’” Jeff recalls. From there, Adam, Patrick, and Rob spent months transforming it into a ride worthy of paint.
The chop is obvious, but keen eyes will spot the one-piece side glass, lack of rain gutters, and removed cowl grilles. Rear ’48 Ford fenders and a custom tray complete the all-steel body. Adam also tweaked the front wheel arches for better proportions, a move Jeff’s wife Sharon backed despite the cost.
The front windscreen proved the biggest headache—five attempts and $1,700 later, Grant Hackett, aka Dr Chop, nailed it. Jeff left much of the bodywork and paint to the pros but handled many smaller fabrication and mechanical tasks, guided by Shane. “I made the exhaust, crossmember, and LPG tanks, keeping everything tucked up high,” Jeff says.
The small-block Chevy was modified to run on LPG. JRM Transmissions rebuilt the Turbo 700 auto with a 2,200rpm stall, and Steve Hillman handled the 3.55 limited-slip rear. Suspension is all rebuilt HJ Holden, with a two-inch drop at the rear. “It looks like it’s dragging on the ground, but it’s legal,” Jeff confirms.
Inside, it’s functional, with ‘Phantom’ Autometer gauges and fast glass, and an XG Falcon bench to seat three comfortably. Adam at A.J. Trim created the interior colour scheme, while cabinet maker Mark ‘Choco’ Johnson handled the rosewood tray to perfection.
Jeff admits the bodywork budget blew out, but performance was never the goal. “The low-compression small block and Turbo 700 are perfect. I had a supercharger once, just for show, but I want to drive it interstate, so we kept it simple.”
PHATSO is a testament to friendship, craftsmanship, and the loyalty of F100 fans. Alongside Chevy Shane, Adam, Patrick, Rob, Grant, Steve, Jimbo, Stuart Rolls, and Parts SA, Jeff and Sharon now enjoy a truck that’s more than a classic—it’s a family cruiser with plenty of personality.
