Since 1999 Ford has been producing limited-edition, range-topping F-150 bakkies with Harley-Davidson branding. Which makes sense, given that when a Harley rider looks at four wheels, he (or she) is unlikely to go for a Nissan Micra.
And, as you would expect, the Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 bakkie is much like a Milwaukee product - big, brash and blingy, with muscles on its muscles and a paint job that should come with a volume control.
For 2012 Ford has taken the premise even further (whether it's over the top depends on your point of view and the quality of your sunglasses), with a billet-style, six-bar chromed grille, chromed Harley-Davidson badges, and built-in retractable running boards to make it look lower.
There are special graphics with snakeskin texture on the sides of the body, 22" rims machined out of solid aluminium with painted accents and special Harley-Davidson centre caps - and snakeskin leather interior trim highlights. No, we're not kidding.
And you can choose from standard gloss black finish or a special new pearl white flip-flop paint called White Platinum Tri-Coat.
But there's also some serious go to match the show, provided by a 6.2-litre, SOHC short-stroke petrol V8 with variable valve timing and twin spark plugs per cylinder that churns out a claimed 306kW and 588Nm through a six-speed auto transmission with optional all-wheel drive. A button on the console also engages SelectShift mode, in which the transmission will not shift unless you ask it to.
Like Harley-Davidson, Ford doesn't quote performance figures, but does say this bakkie can tow a maximum of 3400kg (That's a big, four-wheeled trailer loaded with four 'Glides, Bubba).
Standard kit includes voice-activated satnav and aircon (Kentucky translation optional) with a 200mm touchscreen, and a 105mm "productivity screen" - that's a trip data display to you and me - in the middle of the instrument cluster, operated by a button on the steering wheel, a power-operated sunroof, rear-view camera, second-row heatable seats, ambient lighting, remote starting, a 110V AC power inverter, and power-adjustable pedals.
The interior trim panels are painted black, with snakeskin leather on the centre-console lid (which also carries a numbered plaque) and steering wheel. All the interior metalwork is finished in satin chrome and the seats have snakeskin-leather inserts and cloisonné enamelled badges made by the same company that does the tank badges for Harley-Davidson.
Ford F-150 marketing manager Marc Lapine said: "This is a great pairing of two icons of the open road. Both brands appeal to truck owners and motorcycle enthusiasts alike."
He also pointed out that nearly every member of the Harley-Davidson F-150 team at Ford is also a Harley-Davidson owner.