1978 Ford F150 – Luke P.

The story begins in 1977, when my grandfather, Sam L. Porter, custom ordered his brand-new 1978 F-150 Ranger from Westlie Ford in Camas, Washington. Finished in a sharp black-and-white two-tone paint scheme, the truck became a staple of everyday life on the ranch.

Originally equipped with a 351M engine, the truck eventually received an upgrade when my grandpa decided it needed a little more towing power. With the help of a mechanic friend, he built a 460 big-block pulled from a 1979 Ford Camper Special, right in his own garage. That same engine remains under the hood today, with only minor internal work over the years, and still runs strong.

For decades, this truck was anything but a showpiece. It worked hard on the ranch, hauled horse trailers, traveled throughout the Pacific Northwest, and accompanied my grandpa and my father, Sam J. Porter, on countless hunting trips. My dad even learned to drive in it. One of my favorite little pieces of its history is a Smokey Bear sticker that my dad put on the glove box when he was just eight years old. It’s still there today.

Around 1999, Grandpa retired the F-150 from regular use and parked it in his barn. Although it was occasionally driven to keep everything running, the truck spent most of its time tucked away. But to me, growing up, it was always something special.

I can remember visiting my grandparents and begging Grandpa to fire up that big 460, just so I could hear it rumble to life. As I got older, he started letting me drive it around the field. Those moments behind the wheel are some of my favorite childhood memories, and they sparked a love for these old Ford trucks that has never faded.

As I approached my 16th birthday in April of 2018, I started looking for my first vehicle. Of course, there was only one truck I truly wanted. I had asked my dad a few times whether Grandpa would ever consider selling me, or maybe even giving me, the old F-150. I never got much of an answer, just a lot of “maybes.”

Little did I know, my dad and grandpa had been working behind the scenes to get the truck ready for me.

The evening before my 16th birthday, my grandparents were coming over for dinner. I remember looking outside as two vehicles pulled into our driveway. One of them was Grandpa’s old Ford, wearing a fresh coat of its original black-and-white paint.

I was completely speechless.

The truck I had grown up admiring, the one I had spent years begging to drive, was now mine. Looking back, I don’t think I could have received a more meaningful gift. It wasn’t just my first truck. It was a piece of our family’s history that grandpa had entrusted to me.

Since that day, I’ve spent countless hours restoring and improving the truck, one piece at a time. From the engine bay to the interior and everything in between, it has been a labor of love. Every project brings me a little closer to preserving the truck that meant so much to my grandpa and dad.

Shortly after receiving the truck, I created an Instagram page called Dentsides Nation, hoping to connect with others who shared my passion for 1973–1979 Ford trucks. What started as a small hobby has grown into a community of more than 128,000 followers, where I share other people’s trucks, celebrate their builds, and hopefully inspire the next generation of classic Ford enthusiasts. I also created a personal page, Two Tone Dentside, which has grown to more than 20,000 followers and documents my own truck’s journey.

It’s incredible to think that one old farm truck, and the generosity of my grandpa, helped inspire something that now connects so many people who share the same passion.

Sadly, my grandpa passed away in the fall of 2023. While I wish he were still here to see how far the truck has come, I’m incredibly grateful for the memories we made together and the passion he passed down to me.

Today, every time I turn the key and hear that same 460 he built decades ago come roaring to life, I’m reminded of him. The truck still carries his hard work, my dad’s childhood memories, and now my own.

My hope is to someday pass it down to my children and grandchildren, just as grandpa did for me, keeping both the truck and its stories alive for generations to come.

This truck, and this story, are dedicated to my grandfather, Sam L. Porter. Thank you, grandpa, for the memories, the inspiration, and the greatest birthday gift I could have ever asked for. I would be extremely honored to be featured in the LMC Truck magazine! Please reach out via text/call/email if you want any other photos or information.