A few weeks ago, I noticed a very odd sight in a YouTube video shot during the recent Illinois Route 66 Motor Tour. Alas, the video contained no information, and I’ve been unable to track down that clip again.
However, this popped up on YouTube in recent days. You’ll just have to see it:
The truck has gained attention all over central Illinois and the Internet worldwide. This week, the Bloomington Pantagraph tracked down its owner — it’s Rick Sullivan, who owns Kathy’s Collision in Clinton, Illinois.
Sullivan told the newspaper he got the idea after receiving a call to transport a Ford Ranger pickup that had overturned.
In its simplest form, “this one” is a 1991 Ford Ranger pickup truck with a 1995 F-150 pickup truck body placed over the top — upside down — complete with spinning tires. At first glance, it looks like a red and white Ford pickup on its roof.
“I’ve seen it a couple of times now, and saw a picture of it online,” said Clinton resident Tim Hudson. “But I never get tired of staring at it. It feels like your brain is trying to play tricks on you.”
Sullivan said it took about six months and help from two employees to put it together. And, yes, it’s street-legal.
News of the truck went viral after its appearance at the Route 66 motor tour:
Three days later, someone called him.
“They said I needed to Google ‘upside down Ford F-150 pickup truck,’ ” he said. “I did and found that an Australian newspaper ran an article featuring a picture and information about the truck through some Australian tourists that had seen it.”
It didn’t take long for the truck to become a hit on social media; it’s received more than 111,000 “likes” on the Facebook page of Stacey David, the host of the TV series, GearZ on MavTV.
Naturally, the truck gets all sorts of attention wherever it goes, and wins trophies at car shows, to boot.
It’s not Sullivan’s first crazy custom job. He also built a large, driveable Radio Flyer wagon.
Sullivan says he has another project he’s working on, but is keeping it a secret for now.
Rick is a great guy, who brings his cars to all kinds of events to raise money for charities. He brought his Radio Flyer car to our Cruise-In on the Route 66 Square in Carlinville, IL last year to help raise money for our local schools. Our next Cruise-In is in 2 weeks– Saturday, July 26– and we’re hoping Rick can bring the upside-down truck this time!
That’s certainly one of the most unique custom truck bodies that I’ve seen. It’d be very eye-catching to see something like that driving down the road. Though, I have to wonder how often bottoms out when they’re pulling into parking lots or going over dips in the road. As neat as it is, it doesn’t seem like the most practical of choices when it comes to truck bodies.
KEARA It is on air ride suspension and can be adjusted from drivers seat ….RICK