Tek-Style Vr Supercharged Ford F-150

In the rest of the world, the distinction between a sports car and a truck is clear, but in the United States we're not so quick to accept such a simple demarcation. We like a truck that does what the sports car does, in addition to doing what a truck should do. Hence the Tek-Style VR: a supercharged '97 Ford F-150 that looks like the midpoint of a computer morph between truck and sports car.

Tek-Style is a brand name of the Design Automotive Group's (Dept. MT, 1410 W. Fullerton Ave., Addison, IL 60101; 708/628-6300) tonneau cover business and, driven by the rabid pen of designer Dave Tucker, it has received several design awards for aftermarket vehicles. The body parts on the VR (for "Valley Racer"-like, totally) are prototypes for components to be added to Tek-Style's catalog of custom one-offs. In fact, the grille shell, grille insert, rear pan, side steps, massive rear wing, and front bumper cover are all one-offs. The only true production piece is, naturally, the tonneau cover, though a bumper cover design similar to the VR's is produced by Keystone Restyling Products of Toledo, Ohio (800/643-4785). The paint is DuPont Hot Hues Tangerine, an orange pearl that can appear to be anything from glowing red-orange to soft copper.

Mechanical changes were limited to Vortech's supercharger system for the 4.6-liter SOHC Ford V-8, a Borla stainless-steel exhaust, a good slam toward the planet, and the fitment of specially adapted 18-inch BBS RSII wheels in Pirelli P Zero rubber; 255/45ZR18s up front and 285/40ZR18 in the rear. As wonderful as the P Zeroes are (Ferrari uses slightly narrower versions on the F355), they could hardly be less appropriate for a truck. As if we Americans care.

With only a maximum of about 6 psi exhaling from the centrifugal blower into the engine, the supercharged 4.6 is up probably about 80 horsepower over the stock 220. As on other Vortech-wearing engines, the big change is up high in the rev range where the stock truck starts wheezing. The 0-60-mph time of 7.0 seconds is 1.8 better than stock, but the big improvement is in the quarter-mile trap speed, which went from 81.1 to 88.4. The times would sure have been better with a transmission more suited to the task at hand; Ford's AOD-E is just too soft-shifting for this performance application.

Of course, this F-150 is now nearly useless as a truck, and the slow steering and mass keep it from being a true sports car. But it's got overwhelming American style to burn.

Tek-Style did a lot of custom bodywork, including this rear wing. In the interior, the seats were reformed with more aggressive side bolstering and reupholstering.