1951 Ford F-1

Description

Not only is this 1951 Ford F-1 a great-looking truck, but it's packing a unique powertrain that'll definitely attract attention at shows. Forget carburetors and pushrods, this bright red Ford packs the heart of a Police Interceptor, making for a high-tech truck that combines old and new better than almost any other one we've seen.

Never mind the fact that the 1951 Ford F-1 is among the best-looking pickups ever built, this one is drop-dead gorgeous. It was a neat trick putting a new grille on the old design and coming up with something almost entirely new, and this cool custom pickup takes it a few steps farther. All the classic design cues are there, they've just removed everything that didn't look cool. Easy, right? The nose is smoothed, but the side trim with those trick integrated vents are still there. The factory grille was chrome plated, and underneath there's a custom faired-in bumper with integral fog lamps, so the look is both fresh and familiar. The bed is dressed with a custom rear roll pan and a hidden fuel filler, and you'll note the nicely refinished oak floor has been raised to help clear the Crown Victoria chassis components. The sizzling red paint shows quite well, although it was done a few years ago and shows a few signs of use and age up close. But nobody can argue with the impact this hauler makes when you first see it.

The interior is an awesome blend of the vintage truck parts and the Crown Vic donor. You'll note the upright bench seat, which was custom made and finished in gray tweed, which matches the stuff used on the door panels and headliner. The dash blends old and new so smoothly you won't even know where one begins or the other ends, starting with the Crown Vic's instrument cluster baked right into the dash. There's also the Crown Vic's tilt steering column and airbag wheel working in conjunction with an under-dash A/C unit that's neatly tucked out of sight. An AM/FM/CD/iPod stereo sounds great in the fully insulated cabin, which also featured gray carpets to help control noise and heat. Other options that made the transition intact include cruise control and power windows, so this really is a truck you could drive every day if you wanted to.

The secret to this truck's user-friendly nature is the complete chassis from a Ford Crown Victoria police car, all neatly tucked under the pickup's bodywork. Up front there's an overhead cam 4.6 liter V8 with fuel injection, so it always starts easily and idles well, and with substantially less weight to lug around, performance is enthusiastic. All the power accessories made the transition, including power steering and 4-wheel disc brakes, and they did a heck of a job integrating as much of the OEM equipment as possible. A burgling dual exhaust system with glasspack-style mufflers gives it a great hot rod sound, and things like the 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission and Crown Vic rear end ensure that it's a superb highway cruiser. The lowered stance (not to mention the fact that they dumped the I-beam front axle) gives this truck impressive handling without a brutal ride and the 17-inch Mustang wheels and tires complete the all-Ford look.

Very cleverly constructed and a blast to drive, this truck is a great road map for building a resto-mod. All the virtues, none of the vices and ready to enjoy. Call now!