Classic Fords in the Smokies
By Tommy Lee Byrd – Photography by the Author
When springtime rolls around, the tourist town of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, buzzes with excitement, as attractions, hotels, and restaurants prepare for their busy season. Part of the action includes the extensive list of car and truck shows that take place in the town, which rests at the foot of the Smoky Mountains. We were fortunate enough to attend the Grand National F-100 Show, an event that has grown significantly in the last few years. It takes place at the LeConte Center, a beautiful convention center that hosts several automotive events each year.
The event stretches from Thursday to Saturday, offering participants and onlookers plenty of opportunities to see dozens of vendors, even more swap meet vendors, and hundreds of classic Ford trucks, ranging from the ’30s-’90s. The event features an indoor display of classic trucks and a giant display of classic trucks outside the convention center, offering a wide variety of build styles to suit every type of enthusiast. Even though patina is as popular as ever, we spotted some great paintwork throughout the show field.
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With a mixture of stock, lowered, and slammed trucks, we saw lots of great ideas for trick suspension, from dirt-cheap Crown Vic swaps to high-end air-ride setups and everything in between. We even saw a few 4×4 lifted Ford trucks —the “dentside” (1973-1979) body style always seems to be a popular choice for lifted applications. No matter your preference, there was something for every Ford enthusiast at the Grand National F-100 Show. Here are the highlights of the 2021 event. Be sure to check out gnf100show.com for information on upcoming events.
