Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s RTR team has been busy showcasing their versions of Ford products at SEMA 2017. Alongside the 700-horsepower Mustang, Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s brainchild has also presented the slightly less powerful but still menacing 600-horsepower Ford F-150 RTR. This muscle truck is all kinds of menacing, but more importantly, it isn’t over-the-top or really exaggerated. In other words, it’s just as it’s supposed to be – masculine, yet easy on the eye.
Power comes from a slightly modified 5.0L V8 engine mated to a modern 10-speed automatic transmission. The 600 plus horsepower that it produces couldn’t have been achieved without the help of a supercharger, though. Furthermore, the setup sports a MagnaFlow exhaust system.
Based on the 2018 Ford F-150 4×4 Lariat SuperCrew which starts from around $45,000, RTR F-150 is made in order to do a little bit of everything. It’s not exclusively a performance truck, nor is it an off-road ute.
“The Ford F-150 RTR Muscle Truck Concept is a multi-purpose machine capable of performing the wide range of tasks all F-150’s can handle, including other performance benefits the RTR Lab cooked up,” said RTR marketing and communications director Michael Crenshaw. “Whether looking for some fun off-road, drifting around the next corner, getting some air, or simply cruising the streets with family and friends in style, the F-150 RTR Muscle Truck Concept is designed for all the fun you can throw at it,” he added.
The RTR F-150’s practicality is founded in the pickup’s heavily bolstered chassis. Modifications begin with enhanced travel coil-overs and rear dampers, carry over the extended double wishbone suspension and end with a heavy-duty rear axle and a bolstered skid plate underneath. The muscle truck also benefits from Currie Enterprise’s full floating hubs, RTR in-house Tech 6 off-road design wheels, and 33-inch Nitto Ridge Grappler tires.
Exterior visual changes aren’t nearly as extensive as they could have been, but the dark gray paint job, RTR badging and signature LED lighting grille and flared fenders still catch the eye. Inside, RTR has offered Katzkin leather upholstery and Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s signature upon the dash. The “Ready to Rock” crew still haven’t disclosed the pricing and arrival date of the Ford F-150 RTR, however. Knowing them, it won’t be long before it arrives and the upgrade shouldn’t cost more than 50% of the initial price.
