Massive Ford F-1000 Deserter SR XK Is the Sedan of Your Dreams
By any definition, this Ford F-150 truck/sedan is a strange beast. A massive beast at that. Built around a Ford F-150, it became a four-door sedan available between 1979 and 1998. Called the F-1000 Deserter SR XK, it was a unique variant of the popular F-150, and it can be yours as it’s for sale.
Was the Ford F-1000 Deserter SR XK available here?
These freaks are from Brazil with an advertised payload capacity of 1,000 kg, thus the “1000” moniker. Though based on the 1979 F-150, they looked mostly like production F-150s in the U.S. Other than a grille change, you wouldn’t notice any difference between the two trucks.
Tamer versions of these car/trucks were made by SR Veiculos. It had exclusive rights from Ford to make these conversions. Ford gave technical support too, so that these had factory warranties. This also means they were available through Ford dealerships.
Were there other similar Ford F-1000 Deserter SR XK versions?
Not so with this particular F-1000. It goes way beyond as it is a semi-custom with a unique sedan truck, with a more car-like custom front fascia. As with most custom creations, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And in this case, the next owner. As a side note, SR Veiculos also fashioned its own Bronco for South America called “Country.” Newer versions got large rear windows and unique rear door.
Various other variations on the F-150 pickup included the “Deserter” with the cab stretched into the bed, for a short bed extended cab look. The “Country Wagon” was similar to a Bronco but with the fixed cap raised for a bit more headroom. Things cooked along through 1996 when a mysterious fire at the factory shut it all down.
An investigation revealed the source of the fire meant it was arson, and the insurance company begged out. With that, SR filed for bankruptcy according to FordTrucks, and that was it.
What changed in making the Ford F-1000 Deserter SR XK?
Back to our truck thing, it got lots of extra attention. Starting with a four-door body, the Deserter top mates to the four doors. From there, an impressively-made trunk looks like it is factory stock.
While they should have stopped customizing there, instead, a new front end was created that positions the stock headlights down. The leading edge of the hood extends down to meet up with the headlights, which also minimized the height of the grille opening. That unusual bumper seen on other SR creations found its way to the front of this custom. All of these elements make for a more car-like appearance.
More than a few of these unique Deserter SR XK sedans exist, though no one knows how many. Though this makes the sedan a semi-custom vehicle, they have to be extremely rare, and non-existent in the U.S.
Where can I buy one?
Due to Brazil’s huge income disparity, SR hedged its bets and offered its unique trucks initially with a 3.9-liter diesel four-cylinder engine. It had 83 hp with a top speed of 74 mph. Nobody was getting anywhere quickly in an SR creation. Later versions added other unspecified engine options.
Currently, for sale in Brazil, the asking price is R$119,000, or just under $24,000 in U.S. dollars. As these were built after the emissions cutoff in 1974, we’re not sure about bringing it into the U.S. Check with your state DMV and customs before heading to Brazil to purchase one of these beasts.
