1953 Ford F-1

Description

This 1953 Ford F-100 pickup is one of those awesome vehicles we get in from time to time; you know, the one that you always wanted and didn't think you could afford to buy or build. Well, strap in, because for the price of last year's Honda Accord, you can drive the dream today.

The Ford F-100 is arguably the best-looking post-war truck, and there's just about nothing you can do to make them unattractive. Fortunately, all the right stuff is here: gorgeous mint green paint, a righteous stance, a monochromatic look, and a traditional wood bed out back. At this price, you'd expect a truck that's been used hard and put away wet, but quite the contrary is true here because it looks fresh and beautifully done, with professional workmanship throughout. The bumpers have been shaved, that big clamshell hood fits well, and even the original running boards have been retained, restored, and fitted with vintage-looking Ford step plates. The paint looks fantastic and the old F-100 wears the durable two-stage urethane quite well, so you won't be afraid to drive it every chance you get, which really is the reason for owning a truck like this. Some of the trim has been shaved, some of it (like the grille) has been painted to match the bodywork, and some was just too cool to lose, so things like the emblems on the sides of the hood stayed just the way the factory intended. The wood bed is in OK condition, but a proper re-varnishing would really pay big dividends here.

The interior has been thoughtfully updated but doesn't lose its '50s character. There's still a bench seat, and the soft tan vinyl isn't too far off from the original stuff, and there are matching tan carpets in place of the factory rubber mat. A late-model steering column was stuffed under the dash and topped with a sparkly green wheel that's just plain fun, and the dash and door moldings were color-matched to the body. The original gauge cluster has been replaced by a neat polished billet insert full of green-tinted Dolphin gauges and all the knobs are neat little color-matched billet pieces. It's comfortable, stylish, and easy to drive, just the way you would have done it if you were doing it for yourself, right?

It's also nice to see a Ford V8 under the hood, and the 351 cubic inch powerplant does a great job of moving the vintage truck and offers a familiar Mustang-like soundtrack. It's neatly dressed in Ford Blue, as you'd expect, and that gives it a very OEM look despite the mint green paint surrounding it. On top there's an Edelbrock carburetor and Holley Street Dominator intake manifold, and a few chrome pieces add the requisite hot rod look. The front clip is from a late model Ford LTD, offering an independent suspension, power steering, and disc brakes, and that same car probably gave up its rear end so this truck cruises effortlessly at modern highway speeds. There's a C6 3-speed automatic transmission in between, along with a fresh dual exhaust system with side exits just ahead of the rear wheels, which is a neat way to make a statement. Classic Torque Thrust-style wheels with 215/75/15 radials complete the look.

Look at the pictures, then take another look at the price. Nice, right? Don't wait, call today.