This past December, longtime NASCAR Ford factory driver and Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen sadly passed away at the age of 89, leaving behind quite the legacy. Under the Holman-Moody banner, Lorenzen racked up 26 wins across the 1960s, and in 1963, he became the first driver in NASCAR history to bring in over $100,000 in prize money in a single season. As one of the very first superstars in that particular sport, Lorenzen has his fair share of fans, even today. In fact, this 1972 Ford C700 ramp truck was built specifically to pay honor to the late legend.
This 1972 Ford C700 ramp truck is set to be auctioned off at Mecum’s upcoming Monterey, California sale next week, and it’s a cool piece of kit for Blue Oval and Lorenzen fans, in general. It has been restored and modified in a wide variety of ways, which include its unique bodywork. There, one will find a tribute blue and white livery paying homage to Holman Moody and Lorenzen himself, along with hand-lettered “Competition Proven” and Ford No. 28 graphics, to boot. Additionally, the doors sport LaFayette Ford lettering, a dealership in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Inside the cabin, one will find a black interior that’s pretty simple with a bench seat and mostly original gear, save for a few updates. Those include AutoMeter gauges and a JVC stereo head unit, which are nice touches amid a sea of vintage goods. Otherwise, the interior is pretty much what one would expect to see in a ramp truck of this vintage.
Under the hood lies a modified 428 cubic-inch Ford V8, which has been treated to an aluminum intake manifold and heads, along with headers and a custom exhaust system, which undoubtedly have it sounding better than before.
The engine also utilizes an MSD ignition and is mated to a five-speed manual transmission and a two-speed rear axle. Up front, there’s also a Warn winch, in the event that one needs to rescue any stuck vehicles before loading them on the flat bed. Overall, this Ford C700 would make the perfect vessel for doing just that – or hauling around a cool car for show purposes, if nothing else.
AI did its research this time. Surprisingly.
Looking like it just rolled off the showroom floor.
Hope you like dark-themed exterior accents.
Talk about weight reduction!
The Explorer Sport Trac and a parked car were the only victims.
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Pretty nice restoration. Ford "C" series known for its reliability and sturdiness. Mine is "Matchbox" yellow and tractor of a semi-truck.