Few engines hold a place in American automotive history quite like Ford’s 300 cubic-inch straight-six. Known for its rugged reliability and torque-heavy performance, this powerhouse served as the heart of Ford’s trucks for more than three decades. From 1965 through 1996, the 300 became a symbol of durability, earning a reputation as the workhorse of Ford’s lineup.
Now, thanks to Hagerty’s Redline Rebuild series, enthusiasts get to witness a complete restoration of this legendary engine—captured in stunning time-lapse fashion.
The story begins with an extraordinary barn find: a Ford F-100 “Dunesmobile” that once carried tourists across the windswept sand of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire, Michigan. Discovered by automotive archaeologist Tom Cotter in an episode of Barn Find Hunter, the truck had been sitting idle for decades, its body weathered and rusty but still wearing traces of original pinstriping. Beneath the hood rested the iconic Ford 300 straight-six, filled with sand and in desperate need of revival.
Enter Hagerty master mechanic Davin Reckow. With precision, patience, and no shortage of passion, Reckow tears down the tired engine piece by piece before painstakingly restoring it to its former glory. Every step of the process—from disassembly to machining, cleaning, and reassembly—is compressed into a mesmerizing time-lapse, showing the transformation of a once-forgotten powerplant into a fully restored engine ready to run again.
This rebuild is more than just a mechanical project; it’s a celebration of an engine that powered generations of trucks, farms, and worksites. For anyone who grew up around Ford pickups or simply appreciates the beauty of functional engineering, the 300 straight-six is an enduring symbol of American grit.
