John Mata Jr. July 24, 2023 Buyer’s Guides
We’ve all daydreamed about how cool it would be to combine the modern comfort, reliability, and performance of a new truck with the timeless, nostalgic look of a true vintage pickup. While this idea isn’t exactly groundbreaking on its own, successfully executing it is the epitome of today’s standard of a customized classic.
What he envisioned is marrying the façade of a classic Ford pickup with the prowess of a Raptor…”
In the last few years, an influx of builders have acted on this same exact dream and fabricated some incredible builds—but nothing quite like what we’ve seen from Sweet Brothers Restomods out of Upton, Wyoming.
Dan Hart of Sweet Brothers has championed the concept of combining old and new, but his approach that has made all the difference in creating a style of truck is radically different from the rest. While it is common practice to swap a newer motor into an older truck or to incorporate some other later-model parts into a classic build, Dan has gone a few steps further while building the trucks he always dreamed of.
What he envisioned is marrying the façade of a classic Ford pickup with the prowess of a Raptor, which is an amazing pairing. Simply swapping in a Raptor powerplant under the hood would leave the new/old mixture somewhere along the lines of an 80/20 figure. Dan was looking to level the playing field to at least half and half.
The truck you see here is equal parts 1979 F-150 and 2012 Raptor, although it may look more like an updated classic at first glance. Granted, most of the Raptor components are underneath truck or inside of the cab. Either way, Dan has figured out a way to accomplish what he set out to do only with better results than he probably initially imagined possible.
The frame is 100% Raptor (including the wheels) with the only exception is that it has been lengthened to 151 inches to properly fit underneath the ’79 crew cab body. The 6.2L engine and 6-speed transmission are both stock 2012 Raptor equipment—exactly how Ford offered them to the consumer. Before long, Dan had accomplished the first feat on his agenda by fusing a rolling chassis together, but there was much more work to do to make the transformation complete.
The next order of business was to spend some time on the classic side of the fence with the ’79’s exterior. Cool Customs Body and Paint in Torrington, Wyoming, worked out the necessary kinks from the body before the Sweet Brothers team stepped in to incorporate more factory Raptor touches into the truck’s surface. A keyless entry pad has been installed into the driver door, as has a factory-equipped rear back-up camera into the tailgate.
Raptor fender flares blend in surprisingly well with Ford’s 44-year-old design, but Dan passed on even trying to make Raptor power side mirrors make any sense—good call there. Once the blue and white PPG paint was applied, it’s tough to imagine a cooler OEM-style landscape for a beefy truck like this.
As amazing as the truck was starting to take shape, the real kicker of this particular build is the incorporation of the full Raptor interior inside of the cab. The term “full” is not used lightly here as not only have the seats have been included into this project, but everything from the dash, gauges, center console, flooring, door panels, headliner, and even the door latches that trigger the cab lights.
Even that annoying dinging sound reminding you to put your seatbelt on still functions, which is actually pretty cool to experience inside of a truck of this vintage. Road noise usually associated with older trucks has been neutralized here thanks to the Sweet Brothers’ team tireless effort to trick the driver’s brain into thinking they are driving a late-model pickup.
While this is not the first Raptor conversion that Dan Hart and Sweet Brothers’ Restomods have completed (they have also have another ’79 F-150 and a killer ’79 Ford Bronco that has graced our cover before), it sure won’t be their last. The guys have enjoyed the experience building these things while receiving the trophies and accolades that have followed the debut of each of their creations but will eventually offer them up for purchase with even more on the way!
Now, the price tags attached to them will be substantial, but brand new Raptors aren’t exactly cheap to begin with. What would you rather have—a new truck all around, or a totally finished classic Ford pickup or SUV with the inner workings and spirit of a Raptor at the core of the truck? For some, this will be tough decision to weigh out, but for others there will be zero hesitation to choose the latter.
With the popularity of these builds by Sweet Brothers Restomods spiking dramatically, it’s a sure bet that demand for some type of waiting list for potential future orders may begin to form. The guys may even look to bring these trucks to the auction block as they are completed—it’s hard to say for sure. Either way, it would be wise to reach out to Sweet Brothers directly to express your interest or follow them online through their social channels for updates. The dream of getting behind the wheel of a perfectly modernized classic performance truck could become a reality much sooner than expected.
Owner
Dan Hart/Sweet Brothers Restomods
1979 Ford F-150
Upton, WY
Engine/Powertrain
Chassis/Suspension
Shop: Sweet Brothers Restomods, Upton, WY
Wheels, Tires & Brakes
Exterior & Paint
Interior & Sound
Shop: Roy Keith Classics, Hot Springs, SD
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