SOUTHERN 358: A '53 Chevy look-alike Powered By Ford

john gilbert · Post by **john gilbert** » February 2, 2008, 5:22 pm

Classic Trucks without fail always sells good on the newsstands, but one of thier better selling issues had a Southern 358 on the cover. They come equipped with a Ford 4.6 Mod-Motor. I don't know what any of this means, but I thought it was interesting. Southern Motor Company is their complete name.

ABA · Post by **ABA** » February 2, 2008, 5:37 pm

Yes they are right here in South Carolina too

Too bad they used the 52 Chebby for thier basic look.
I wonder if you can special order one with say a 4.6 Supercharged out of a Cobra 'Stang?

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » February 2, 2008, 7:02 pm

According to their website:
Optional Powertrain
Engine: 5.4-liter DOHC supercharged V8, 500 horsepower, 480 ft-lbs
Transmission:
6-speed manual transmission with overdrive (standard)
It is curious that they with the Ford powerplant they didn't use a fat fendered F-1 or the very popular 56 F100 as their body. But, also according to their site 70 people have put down a $10,000 deposit toward the $63,000 sales price (w/o optional engine) so I guess it didn't matter to them.

john gilbert · Post by **john gilbert** » February 2, 2008, 7:59 pm

I had wondered myself why they didn't do a '56 or an F1. I guess maybe because you can already get everything for the body including a new steel cab for a '47-'53 Chevy truck they went with that. But then that begs the question why not a Chevy drivetrain? If I get a chance on Monday I think I'll give them a call and find out. Maybe the place is run by a super-rich Ford guy that wanted to freak people out.

I'll let you guys know what I found out.

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » February 2, 2008, 8:16 pm

A better "freak out" (if you didn't want to use a Ford) would be to use something off the wall like a Studebaker or Willys pickup body.

dotcentral · Post by **dotcentral** » February 2, 2008, 9:01 pm

I've heard Old Navy is getting rid of their "prop trucks", for lack of a better word. If your married or have teenagers you probably been forced to kill 30-60 minutes or more in one of those stores. I always wander over to the 53 chevy half ton and check it out to kill time. No powertrain, can't have oil or trans fluid leaking on the floor. Anyhow, they had those trucks sitting in every old Navy store I was ever in, but rumor over on HAMB is that gimmick is old, so they are getting shipped out. Maybe Southern Motor Company got a deal on some of them.

fmartin_gila · Post by **fmartin_gila** » February 3, 2008, 6:42 am

I beat them to the punch. That's the model Chebby pickup that I put a Ford V8 in back in 1971. Had a devil of a time working the exhaust around the steering gear in the narrow frame.
Fred

DV65CustomCab · Post by **DV65CustomCab** » February 3, 2008, 7:06 am

The guy who built this is my hero:
http://hotrodhomepage.com/hrhp/2005/12/ ... ed-camaro/
Read the comments that follow for some hilarity that sounds a lot like us with regard to Chevy engines in Fords.

Truckfarmer · Post by **Truckfarmer** » February 3, 2008, 9:44 am

John, didn't the one on the cover, their prototype, have a Chevy LS1 in it? The impressive part is that this truck is supposed to be smog legal and crash tested, right?
If I remember correctly, didn't GM license the bed for restorations?

bertha66 · Post by **bertha66** » February 4, 2008, 11:58 am

DV65CustomCab wrote:The guy who built this is my hero:
http://hotrodhomepage.com/hrhp/2005/12/ ... ed-camaro/
Read the comments that follow for some hilarity that sounds a lot like us with regard to Chevy engines in Fords. :wink:

WE have a guy here in Central Oregon that has been driving a Camaro with a 428 tri-power for years. Full Ford running gear and markings.

Garbz · Post by **Garbz** » February 4, 2008, 12:14 pm

I would venture an assumption that it is a simple case of economics for Southern to purchase ford sourced engines and or transmissions for their new classic truck.

It is not a GM its a Southern. NO chevy no ford no dodge.. just Southern. Just happens to look like a first series chevy.

You guys fall in to it every time.....Like mice and the pied piper.

Garbz

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » February 4, 2008, 12:33 pm

and the engine just happens to look like a Ford.

I don't think anyone "fell" into anything. We were merely curious as to the reasoning behind it. As consumers and American citizens it is still our right to ask questions.

Garbz · Post by **Garbz** » February 4, 2008, 1:25 pm

Ok

So that makes a 70 AMC matador with a chrysler torqueflight the new collectiable muscle car due to its MOPAR trans.....

Parts are outsourced all the time.....By all manufacturers.

The truck market for the southern is not aimed at either chevy lovers or ford lovers. Its aimed at people with expendable money who dont want to wast time getting greasy and still have a 100 percent up to date and reliable safe truck to match their Harley. Ya know Yuppies...

Garbz

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » February 4, 2008, 1:41 pm

They were still Rebels in 1970, and they are somewhat collectible

dotcentral · Post by **dotcentral** » February 4, 2008, 2:39 pm

http://www.southernmotorcompany.com/?gc ... HgodLHtfXg

First time I'd seen it, does look a lot like a mid 50's GM.

Base price was about 63,000. pretty exclusive market.

FWIW, I'd rather have a F-1 with a 302 and an AOD or T-5.

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » February 4, 2008, 4:52 pm

Isn't this old news? I think it predates the Old Navy truck sell-off by about a year or two. Besides, Garbz is right, it just looks like a GM. It is based on one, as far as I know, but it's not GM steel.

It's no more a GM than a fibreglass "deuce" is a Ford.

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » February 4, 2008, 5:03 pm

DV65CustomCab wrote:The guy who built this is my hero:
http://hotrodhomepage.com/hrhp/2005/12/ ... ed-camaro/
Read the comments that follow for some hilarity that sounds a lot like us with regard to Chevy engines in Fords.

I like the custom upper intake. But before we get too carried away, note the following:

(Yes, FORD!) I already had it! Was going into a ‘93 Mustang. Sold it for this ‘68 Camaro. Engine is worth to much to let it go. This ought to get the shit stirring. There is a benefit! I can move it back farther for better weight distribution.

He already had it, decided to do something different, and made the most of the front-mounted distributor. I doubt it was solely to piss Chevy guys off...

dotcentral · Post by **dotcentral** » February 4, 2008, 5:12 pm

The Big M wrote:Isn't this old news? I think it predates the Old Navy truck sell-off by about a year or two. Besides, Garbz is right, it just looks like a GM. It is based on one, as far as I know, but it's not GM steel.

It's no more a GM than a fibreglass "deuce" is a Ford.

My mistake, guess I misread the earlier posts. But I didn't say it was an old Navy/GM truck, I was just asking if it was. I didn't have the magazine, hadn't been to the Southern site. It was the first I heard of these new/old trucks. I had not seen one until I looked for their site and posted the link.

dotcentral · Post by **dotcentral** » February 4, 2008, 5:14 pm

Garbz wrote:You guys fall in to it every time.....Like mice and the pied piper.

Garbz

Fall into what?

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » February 4, 2008, 5:35 pm

dotcentral wrote:But I didn't say it was an old Navy/GM truck, I was just asking if it was.

I understand that you weren't saying they were. No worries.

I just remember seeing this well before the Old Navy thing, and if I remember correctly they make their own bodies based on the GM body style, rather than restore and modify true GM bodies.

This quote from the website may shed some light on the issue:

Modern engineering – the latest methods and technologies skillfully applied by Panoz Auto Development, one of the leaders in high-performance automotive design.

Panoz tends to use Ford engines, I believe. Also, they do mention that the Southern is dealer-serviceable at Ford dealerships. Fomoco may have just cut them a better deal on drivetrain components and warranty service. Or the mod motor addressed some packaging concerns.

It's much more believable than a pro-Ford millionaire with an anti-GM chip on his shoulder.