In 1946, a enterprise referred to as Mound Metalcraft changed into based in Mound, Minnesota, close to the beaches of Lake Minnetonka. Although Mound Metalcraft changed into mostly fixated on production lawn tools, a former occupant of Mound`s manufacturing facility, a toymaker, advocated the enterprise to department out into metallic toys. A decade later, with the toys a long way outselling Mound's different products, the enterprise call changed into formally modified to Tonka Toys Incorporated and the relaxation is history.
Apparently, a person at Ford is a massive fan of the tough, sensible toys, due to the fact as a long way again as 2002, the automaker displayed an good sized Tonka-stimulated F-350 Super Duty at diverse car shows. The Tonka idea truck changed into even loaned out to u . s . a . artist Toby Keith for a starring position withinside the track video for his hit "Who's Your Daddy."
In 2013, Ford were given extra extreme approximately creating a life-length Tonka a truth for ordinary folks. After the right licensing changed into secured from Hasbro toy enterprise, the cutting-edge proprietor of the Tonka brand, Ford pulled withinside the Tuscany Motor Company from Elkhart, Indiana, to customise the inventory vans that Ford might provide. Not simply any fly-through-night time custom shop, Tuscany Motor Company is a delegated Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier, which includes an annual evaluate and inspection through Big Blue.
It changed into almost as effective as a Hellcat
So what, precisely, does the Tonka transformation appearance like? Tuscany begins offevolved with a 6-inch suspension raise from Pro Comp to make room for the massive 20-inch wheels shod with BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires in length 325/60R20. More aggressively treaded BFG Mud Terrains also are an choice for individuals who do not thoughts a few greater street noise at the highway.
Of course, extra strength is wanted to show the ones massive tires and the Ford F-one hundred fifty Tonka would not disappoint. An non-obligatory supercharger and associated tuning from Shelby America integrate with a overall performance exhaust device to take the already stout Ford V8 to a degree of about seven hundred horsepower, that's Dodge SRT Hellcat territory.
Besides the prerequisite yellow paint, the outside is decorated with all way of fender flares, beefy frame cladding, a color-matched tough tonneau cover, walking boards, and a hood with practical twin scoops. Needless to say, there are Tonka trademarks everywhere. Earlier variations of the Ford F-one hundred fifty Tonka have add-ons inclusive of wheels, walking boards, and exhaust pointers decked out in chrome, however in later years, Tuscany shifted to a blacked-out remedy instead.
Production info are murky
It's hard to find unique records approximately what number of F-one hundred fifty Tonka variants have been manufactured, or maybe if and whilst Tuscany stopped churning them out. Some Ford dealerships nevertheless listing the vans as to be had for unique order on their websites, however it is doubtful if the ones pages are outdated. The lifesize Tonka F-150s noticed in pictures or net films all look like from the version yr 2016 on the latest.
Per Hagerty, Tuscany did not meet its aim of 2 hundred vans transformed in 2016, with best 128 gadgets completed, so it is achievable that the plug might have been pulled after 2016. The charge for the 2016 Tonka version whilst new changed into $96,304, which changed into extra than double the $45,845 base charge of a inventory 2016 F-one hundred fifty Lariat 4x4 on which the Tonka changed into based. But really, is it feasible to position a charge on attending to act like a child again? Just ask Toby Keith.