The Ford F-150 was named the "most accessory friendly pick-up" by SEMA, the trade group that keeps tabs on the aftermarket – an industry that has grown eight to 10 percent the past 10 years. Customers also prefer the Ford F-150 for personalization as they currently spend nearly $1,700 each to customize it – more than double the rate in 2004 and more than any other competitive truck.

"The Ford F-150 lends itself to accenting because it's so recognizable as America's favorite pickup. It's already widely accepted because it comes in the most varieties and customers spend more on it than any other truck to personalize it even further," says Foose. "And it's clean, too. That's why I drive an F-150 – it's great looking, powerful and yet very minimalist in its design."

Ford's overall customization business grew 50 percent in 2006, far outpacing all other automakers, and is expected to double by 2008. This growth has been driven by full factory-customized vehicles – such as the Harley-Davidson™ and FX2 Sport F-150 model – versus individual parts sales.

"This is really a fashion industry," says SEMA's Peter MacGillivray. "Consumers want to put their personal stamps on everything they buy – from personalized rings to build-a-teddy-bear – and everybody knows that 'you are what you drive.' The Foose Edition is a fantastic collaboration between Chip Foose and Ford.

"It's a vehicle that will be embraced by all kinds of buyers – not just the hard-core enthusiast who really knows the Ford F-150's heritage and Chip's track record, but also people who are just into cool cars and trucks. Couple that with Chip's celebrity and broad appeal – there are millions of excited consumers from his TV show – and I think Ford's got a real winner here."

The Ford F-150 already offers the most models and configurations – five series and 60 major variations – of any half-ton truck. Ford also continues its long-time truck heritage of building specialized models to appeal to the growing number of niche customers. Poore says the F-150 has led the trend of pickups going mainstream.

"Chip Foose is similarly reaching beyond traditional automotive audiences and will help Ford trucks reach an even broader audience with the 2008 Ford F-150 Foose Edition," says Poore.

The 2008 Ford F-150 Foose Edition will begin life as an FX2 Sport model from the Kansas City Assembly Plant. The unique Foose elements will be customized at a modification center before being shipped to Ford dealers. The truck will go on sale by early 2008.

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F-150 is a bad ass truck and thats the bottom line. It's been around for ever. Its solid and not flashy and a great platform to build on.

Playing Devils Advocate here:

Does the fact that the F150 is the most customized truck make a good point? Why does the average owner spends an additional $1,700 in customizations? When I go buy a new vehicle I am usually purchasing the options that I want when closing the deal. The report that states that I will spend more on customizations than any other truck makes me think that the model has inadequacies and needs to be upgraded after purchase.

Again, just playing Devils Advocate here.... I think the F150 is a great truck. Just bringing up a question of why this occurs. Maybe this is because Ford truck owners are more of truck enthusiasts than any other makes owners?

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the sharpest tool in the shed
1989 Mustang 5.0 GT (25th Anniversary Edition)
~hobby car~

I don't think you spend $1700 or more on "inadequacies." Although that might sometimes be the case. You spend it to try to "individualise" your ride.
While there are thousands if not millions of Rangers on the road today. Some of which have the same hood or grill as mine.
I'm reasonably sure there's not another one out there exactly like mine. That's what most customized vehicle owners are after.

I agree with "m". The options are icing on the cake. The F-150 is a damn fine truck. Especially the new ones. :thumbsup:

I must be above average then. I spent more than 1700 in customizing. I did it to be different, it had nothing to do with inadequacies, just my preference.

:thumbsup: They are great trucks and even better with a little customization

I love my trucks, and being a dealer in stereos, etc.... helps me keep the costs down. I don't know if you can posts pics here or not, but you can check out my homepage on myspace to see the mods I have completed thus far.

Its very easy to post pics here. Just have them hosted somewhere (photobucket or imageshack works) and click on this icon you will notice above the area where you type text.



Click on that icon and put the URL of the image in there.

It will display the image in the post when you click submit

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What customizations have you added? How much have you spent in customizations on your current vehicle? What is the most you have spent on a single customization?

I'm just curious since I haven't really customized any of my cars in recent years (I must be getting old!). However I have been getting back into cars much more lately (hence the reason I am on forums) and just wanted to know what people are doing now adays.

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the sharpest tool in the shed
1989 Mustang 5.0 GT (25th Anniversary Edition)
~hobby car~

The most I have spent on one item would be for the stereo equip. if that counts, as it contains speakers, tv's, amps, headunit, etc... Wholesale, I spent over 2500.00

Here are a few pix of my truck.

I wanna see the audio system. Went to your 'My space" but the "drive by" photos were to small and go by to quickly.
BTW: Love that web page. Wish I had the talent to do stuff like that. Wish I had my old Memphis ball cap. Think you might
have liked it. Had crossed U.S. and stars & bars C.B.F. flags embroidered on the front. Over and below the flags were the words.
"American by birth. Southern by the grace of God." Wish I still had that hat.

See if this works for you.

Still not to sure of exactly what I'm looking at. Photo's a bit small for these old eyes. Looks like 3 amps and 6 subs in back.
Can't quite make out the stuff in front. Assume it's wiring kits and probably the H/U. Can't make out brand names.
From what I saw on your "My Space" page. You have a killer set up. Since you do this stuff for a living, if you don't mind my asking.

Would you take a look at the thread I started called "Infinity audio components." in the electronics forum.
It's to late to change anything as all the materials have been purchased. About half have been installed.
I'd just like the opinion of an expert that's not trying to sell me anything. Thanks.

what you are looking at is 3 amps, back line, next line is (6) 10's, and a 13" tv, the left side of the pic, shows 8 boxes of 6 1/2 speakers, 8 boxes of 5x7's, 2 more 10's, aftermarket alarm, the h/u, and light up pedals - all made by Pyle Audio.
I asked them to sponser me. I am working with the marketing director in NY. I can't wait to compete in a spl contest, I am dying to see what it does as there is over 10,000 watts of power.

Lookin good man!

Looks like a great setup! Very Nice.

!0,000 + watts ha. Should really THUMP. Good luck when you start competing.

It should be fun, don't think anyone is expecting to have a female go into SPL. Its very rare here in Fla.