Family's 65-Year-Old Panel Truck Gets Transformed | 3 Generation Reveal
This is The Duomo - a 1956 Ford F100 panel truck that's been in the Castellano family for three generations, and we just finished transforming it into what might legitimately be the world's nicest panel truck build.
Steve's grandfather bought this truck sixty-five years ago to haul furniture for the family business. It got passed down to Steve's father, who drove it through high school and took Steve's mother on their first date behind its wheel. Now Steve carries forward the family tradition, and we got to reveal the finished build to all three generations of Castellanos who've driven this truck.
THE BUILD DETAILS:
Gen 3 Coyote 5.0L sitting under a custom tilt hood, paired with a 10R80 automatic transmission and 9" Currie diff rear end. Custom side-exit exhaust system letting that Coyote breathe. Fresh Porterbuilt chassis giving this panel truck the stance and handling it deserves, with Wilwood disc brakes and Schott 5-spoke wheels (245/35/20 fronts, 315/35/20 rears).
The custom burnt orange paint shifts from deep copper to bright orange depending on the angle - a BASF custom mix with FFG side graphics. Cerakoted accents and custom tilt hood complete the exterior transformation.
Inside, we built a full custom interior kit with wood flooring, dual A/C system, Dakota Digital gauges, and Sony ES touchscreen audio. Custom fabrication throughout to make sure every detail honored this truck's legacy while creating something that can compete anywhere.
WHY THIS BUILD MATTERS:
Panel trucks are rare. Finding one with this kind of family history is even rarer. Steve's grandfather christened it "The Duomo" after the cathedral in Milan - a masterpiece that took six hundred years and generations of craftsmen to complete. That name stuck through every Castellano who's held its keys.
The Castellanos have been a pleasure to have in the shop, and Steve was great to work with throughout this entire build. The reveal to all three generations was everything we hoped for. Watching them see the finished truck together, knowing what this panel truck represents to their family - that's what these builds are really about.
These commercial Ford trucks were workhorses back in the day. Most got worked to death and scrapped. Finding a surviving panel truck is tough enough. Building one to this level? We haven't seen another panel truck build that compares. The enclosed cargo area and unique body style make these some of the most distinctive classic Fords ever made.
From furniture hauler to one of the most stunning panel truck builds ever done, The Duomo transformed while staying true to its namesake - evolving across generations of craftsmen to create something truly special.
WHERE TO SEE THE DUOMO:
We'll be showing off this build for a few more months. Catch it at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in January 2026.
BUILD SPECS:
1956 Ford F100 Panel Truck
Gen 3 Coyote 5.0L Engine
10R80 Automatic Transmission
Porterbuilt Custom Chassis
9" Currie Differential
Wilwood Disc Brakes
Schott 5-Spoke Wheels
Custom Burnt Orange BASF Paint
Full Custom Interior Kit with Wood Flooring
Dual A/C System
Dakota Digital Gauges
Custom Tilt Hood
Cerakoted Accents
Custom Side-Exit Exhaust
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