Ford Truck Gets Washed for the First Time in 17 Years, the Detailer's Heart Skips a Beat

This is a 2003 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning, the brainchild of the Ford Special Vehicle Team. No, not the electric pickup truck of our times, but one powered by a V8, coming as a high-performance version of the popular F1-50. Ford brought the Lightning nameplate to the market to mark its 75th anniversary of the first-ever Ford factory-built truck, the 1917 Ford Model T.

The 5.8-liter V8 that operated under the hood pumped out 240 horsepower. A heavy-duty four-speed transmission, carried over straight from the F-350, put the power to the ground.

To distinguish the anniversary truck from other models in the lineup, FoMoCo came up with an anniversary package, which included an argent-painted step bumper, stripes, and badges that made things clear: it was a special edition. Ford retired the SVT Lightning in 1995.

But the Lightning made a comeback in 1999 in the shape of the second-generation F-150 SVT Lightning. The automaker was selling it with a starting price of $32,460. The model was completely redesigned and came with a 5.4-liter V8 engine, which pumped out 380 horsepower (385 metric horsepower) and 340 pound-feet (461 Newton meters) of torque.

Once again, the transmission from the F-350 was planted into this truck as well. Ford kept the special version in production until 2004, when it retired it to make room for the Raptor SVT.

It may not look like it can pull this off, but the model was capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) in just 5.2 seconds and ran the quarter mile in 13.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 149 mph (240 kph). Those numbers made it one of the quickest in the segment at the time.

The new owner has been trying to buy this Ford for over a decade

Ford rolled out 28,000 such units between 1999 and 20024. This 2003 SVt Lightning is one of them. But the model comes with a somewhat sad story. The vehicle had been abandoned for 17 years in a back yard when Tom from Ace Tire Ridgefield found it. He had been trying to buy it for ten years.

And he finally did it! But detailing it isn't exactly a walk in the park. The vehicle looks bad and smells even worse, the new owner says. The cabin has been a palace for rodents for years, so that explains it.

The truck is painted in Shadow Gray over a gray interior with Alcantara and comes with the 5.4-liter V8. So it sounds like it's got potential. Larry Kosilla is the detailing expert who takes it to the studio for the transformation. Tom and Larry wear protective suits and respirators. It is the only way to survive/prevent fainting when detailing this mouse trap on wheels.

The two of them start by removing everything from the cabin. Once Larry starts unclipping and unbolting components, his heart skips a beat. A mouse runs out from under the driver's side trim, while others have found their resting place on board the Ford.

Tom is responsible for the mechanical part, because he wants to get the F-150 SVT Lightning running. For starters, it will need a new fuel pump, a fuel filter, and spark plugs. Larry tells him that new carpets would be in order, too. Otherwise, they would never be able to get rid of the horrific smell. "It's next-level smell," he complains. He starts with an ozone machine, hoping it will help with the terrible odor.

More unwelcomed inhabitants on board the Ford

And the mice are not the only residents of this Ford. Larry finds an army of ants inside the cabin as well. Powerwashing would be the next step. It will get the layer of dirt covering the body of the vehicle that had been abandoned for almost two decades out of the way.

A few hours later, the truck already looks lightyears away from what Larry picked up in the morning. However, the gray paint is still far from being perfect. He proceeds by vacuuming the interior, together with the food supplies the unwelcomed inhabitants brought. He uses plenty of disinfectant on the leather, plastics, and on metal floorboards.

Mice had built nests using all sorts of materials: vegetation and newspapers included. Years of filth are not easy to get rid of. Lary even uses vinegar to convince the mice to run away. They are supposed to hate the smell. The mice urine led to the oxidation of the floor, so Larry cleans it up as much as possible before sanding and adding primer.

Meanwhile, a fabric cleaner first, then warm water and microfiber detergent should do the trick on the Alcantara seats. A steam stain remover also works wonders on the fabric. The expert uses a razor to remove the dreadlocks of the material.

Larry also works on the flaws of the body. The paint is peeling off every here and there, while dirt penetrated it. He resorts to polishing and admits it is one of the hardest cars he ever had to deal with. He spends an hour doing half of the hood. But at the end of the day, all the work was really worth it.

Tom put the truck through a thorough inspection, drained the fluids, and installed new ones in it. He also came up with new spark plugs before the tried to fire it up for the first time in 17 years. The V8 engine comes to life with no hesitation. The 21-year-old goes for its first drive in all that time. The vehicle gets new wheels and tires. It really needed them! Tom does some burnouts to make sure the old tires are just right for going straight into the trash.