At one time, the F-150 Lightning would roast an SVT Mustang Cobra.
With a short, stepside box and 380-supercharged V8 horsepowers, the Lightning enjoyed a brief reign atop Ford’s performance pyramid. It would scamper to 60 mph in 5 seconds and crush the quarter mile in 13.8 seconds, figures thought to be absurd in the early part of this millennium.
Unfortunately, Ford abandoned the formula with the F-150’s 2004 redesign, deciding the truck had gotten too big for super street service–instead, SVT introduced the off-road running Raptor in 2010– but no one told Pioneer Ford.
The Georgia dealership has just started selling new 650-hp supercharged F-150s doing their best impression of the original Lightning.
SEE ALSO: 2017 Ford F-150 Review
It all starts with a base model, short wheelbase 5.0-liter F-150 XL. The working man’s truck comes devoid of most creature comforts, just like a Lightning should before Pioneer chucks on a Roush supercharger, a side exit exhaust, 22-inch wheels, and a sport-tuned suspension–all for $50,000, give or take.
The trucks even come with a 3-year warranty since it uses a Roush supercharger installed by an authorized Ford dealership, which also means it qualifies for Ford factory rebates too, meaning it could be yours for much less than $50,000.
Pioneer will build more Lightnings in 2018, but this time they’re going to get Ford’s new 10-speed automatic, a new Bilstein sport suspension and a microsuede interior. If you want one, move fast, because according to comments made on Facebook, Pioneer is already overwhelmed with the number of inquiries they’ve received since first debuting the truck last week.
Let’s hope Ford wises up and notices just how much people want a new Lightning.
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