A custom 1956 Ford F-100 nicknamed “Snakebit” was unveiled at the 2013 SEMA Show by KISS bassist Gene Simmons and his wife, actress Shannon Tweed. Featuring styling cues that are a tribute to classic Shelby Mustangs, the truck is powered by Ford’s supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine.
The unit sends 550 horsepower to the 20-inch rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, so the Snakebit is not at all as tame as one would think judging from its friendly looks.
The truck’s wheelbase has been stretched five inches (127mm), while the bed has been widened and fitted with a billet machined floor that imitates wood. The headlights and sequential taillights are custom built, while the 18-inch front and the 20-inch rear wheels also draw inspiration from past Shelby Mustangs.
On the inside, Snakebit features handmade panels and two-tone leather, a leather-wrapped dash with custom knobs and a leather bench seat from Glide Engineering that matches the look of a Shelby Mustang interior.
The concept has a noble purpose in life, as it is part of a fundraising effort to build a children’s hospital in Tweed’s hometown of Saskatoon, in the province of Saskatchewan, one of only two Canadian provinces without a dedicated children’s hospital. The truck will go under the hammer next year at a Barrett-Jackson auction.
By Dan Mihalascu
PHOTO GALLERY
