Some of the most impressive builds at SEMA involve six-figure budgets and elaborate custom fabrication, often resulting in vehicles that look more like works of art than something you’d actually drive. Matt Johnson’s 1985 Ford F-250, on the other hand, started as an $800 farm truck that had spent years sitting in a field, slowly deteriorating.
Johnson, a mechanical engineer who runs Doc Johnson Restorations in Klamath Falls, Oregon, originally bought the truck to use around his shop. Unfortunately, the engine immediately started overheating, eventually blowing its radiator and leaving the old Ford parked behind his workshop.
That might have been the end of the story if Johnson hadn’t made a phone call to Ford Racing Parts. As he explained in an interview published by Ford, a conversation about swapping an EcoBoost engine into a Toyota Land Cruiser eventually turned into something much bigger.
How much bigger? Well, what you’re looking at here is a 575-horsepower, Raptor-inspired F-250 that’s now displayed at the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Despite its transformation, the truck still has much of what made Ford’s boxy 1980s pickups appealing in the first place.
A $500 Ford Inspired the Build
View this post on Instagram
Johnson’s attachment to these trucks goes back to a $500 F-250 he drove during college. He used it for commuting, working, and even taking his future wife to the beach, where he proposed.
When Ford suggested using a powerful Heritage V8 for his Land Cruiser project, Johnson had another idea. He showed the team his neglected bullnose F-250, and Ford Racing product manager Michael Goodwin immediately recognized its potential.
A 575-HP V8 and Serious Suspension Upgrades
The centerpiece is Ford Racing’s 460-cubic-inch (7.5-liter) small-block V8, producing 575 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a Ford six-speed automatic transmission, giving the old pickup far more muscle than its original powertrain.
John Carrick of Carrick Customs helped reengineer the truck’s Twin Traction-Beam front suspension for improved off-road capability. The original chassis remains, while 37-inch Mickey Thompson tires complete its aggressive, period-inspired stance.
Built in a Small Oregon Garage
Most of the work happened in Johnson’s home workshop, with friends helping out when necessary. Even the paintwork was handled by a talented hobby painter rather than an expensive specialist shop.
The project was initially intended for the Carlisle Ford Nationals, with just 40 days available. Ford subsequently asked Johnson to turn it into a SEMA contender, dramatically expanding the scope of the build.
A Truck Worth Driving
Johnson says the project arrived at a time when he was questioning whether to continue running his recently opened repair shop. Returning to his home garage reminded him why he loved working on vehicles.
Unlike many heavily customized SEMA machines, this F-250 still has its original chassis and familiar bodywork. With 575 horsepower, serious off-road hardware, and the unmistakable look of an old bullnose Ford, it’s the kind of SEMA build you’d want to drive straight out of the exhibition hall and onto a dirt trail.