Ford’s F-150 Lightning Takes “Frunk-or-Treating” to a New Level

Photo Source: Ryan McManus

It is hard to believe, but yet another Halloween has passed by (2023). It was perhaps a bit quieter than people are accustomed to, but fun nonetheless. In some respects, it was so bizarre that individuals continued to talk about it, even after every piece of the night’s candy had been devoured. Ford got into the Halloween spirit by transforming an F-150 Lightning into a “monster truck” dubbed Dr. Frunkenstein. 

Ford Product Design Director Ryan McManus created the electric pickup truck after first dabbling with the notion in the 2022 model year. Like last year’s creation, McManus wanted to modify the face of the F-150 Lightning into a mouth, but he wanted his latest iteration to look more like a creature. That helped set his truck apart from more conventional All Hallows’ Eve decorations. This year, however, he also wanted to make better use of Pro Power Onboard and all the available outlets in the pickup truck’s Mega Power Frunk.

Ford’s Innovation

McManus undoubtedly took things up a notch, and the final product resembles something that will consume hatchbacks for breakfast. Of note, when car companies usher in new ideas for Halloween, they customarily release a cheeky ad meant to speak to the inner child in everyone. To that end, Ford is given credit for taking the idea in a different direction. 

McManus transformed the frunk into a mouth by adding razor-sharp teeth he made out of foam core board and a series of other details. Meanwhile, in the back, a small HDTV played an otherworldly video on a loop of a red lightning storm and swirling mist. A smoke machine enveloped the immediate area in an eerie fog, and a strobe light added to the effect to make grabbing some candy even more of a perilous affair. 

Out of the rear and side windows, he added large inflatable tentacles that are specifically made to be used in vehicles and increased the chilling effect of the entire build. Lastly, strobe lights underneath the truck created the subtle, final touch as they flickered along with the Halloween music playing out of the speaker system.

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

The designer had a particular theme in mind when altering the F-150 Lightning: drawing power from a dark dimension. He was additionally inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and the Marvel Studios movie Doctor Strange. Aside from the ingenuity involved in creating such a meticulous Halloween decoration, pragmatism was incorporated into the endeavor as well.

McManus is on the team designing the next-generation Ford F-150 Lightning, so he purchased an electric pickup truck of his own to gain a deeper understanding of the vehicle’s inner workings. Even though he typically makes use of features like the truck’s Zone Lighting to offer a little extra illumination at soccer fields when practice continues after sunset, the frunk is a massive space with more than conventional advantages. Furthermore, McManus reminds consumers that the electric vehicle has the benefit of “four household electrical outlets in the front plus USB [ports] and in the [truck] bed I’ve got eight outlets and a 220 volt outlet.”

Although there is no indication of direct involvement from the manufacturer, and Dr. Frunkenstein is probably a personal build by McManus, it does provide a creative avenue to promote the new range of Ford vehicles. If you are motivated to learn more about the capabilities of the F-150 Lightning, please come visit Sunrise Ford, where we have a friendly and passionate sales team that will make your buying, leasing, or selling needs easy for any of our new vehicle inventory. We are happy to be your dealership home.