Where Inspiration for the 2011 Ford F-150 Raptor's Hood Graphics Came From

Ford is giving 2011 F-150 SVT Raptor owners a new way to customize their pickups, with vinyl hood graphics inspired by off-road race trucks from the 1970s.

"When I started looking at off-road racing history for inspiration, I noticed that a lot of Ford Broncos from the 1970s were running matte black hoods to reduce the glare," said Bruce Williams, F-150 SVT Raptor designer. "So it's a protective graphic that has a functional benefit and ties in with our racing heritage."

Perhaps no other truck embodies Ford's classic off-road racing exploits than Parnelli Jones' and Bill Stroppe's Bronco, "Big Oly" (originally called "Crazy Colt"). Jones drove Big Oly to victory in the 1971 and 1972 Baja 1000s. The fabricated racer was powered by a 350-400 horsepower version of Ford's 351 Windsor V-8 — not much less than the Raptor's 411 horsepower 6.2-liter V-8.

Note the matte black finish on Big Oly's hood. Maybe Ford will make Big Oly's roof wing an option for the 2012 Raptor.