1948 Ford F-1

Description

This is the right way to build a vintage pickup. A 1948 Ford F1 is one of the more desirable models, so you don't want to change the looks too much, but with a bit more horsepower and lots of comfort and convenience upgrades, it makes for one heck of a hauler that will always be the center of attention.

The paint is a bright burgundy metallic from a late-model color palette, augmented with traditional custom modifications that give it a great street rod look. Except for the fiberglass tilt front end and fiberglass rear fenders, none of the factory-issued body panels has been modified, preserving the famous good looks that have been inspiring truck lovers for generations. However, that doesn't mean it isn't trick because the workmanship is outstanding from stem to stern: the paint shines, the brightwork looks great, and the gorgeous diamond plate-line bed is far too nice to be hauling anything home from the shop. The stock grille was painted but keeps its built-in parking lights, the hinge-mounted peep mirrors look great, and two original-style taillights with blue-dot lenses add authenticity that are a big part of this truck's charm. And just dig that wrap-around rear bumper that fools you into thinking it's original, a great finishing touch for an extremely nice truck. Although the piece de resistance may be how the automatic hood operates, check out our video for that masterful engineering!

The interior has been heavily modified with the addition of handsome power bucket seats wrapped in gray fabric upholstery, custom lower door panels, as well as matching gray carpets on the floor. Don't worry, it still looks and feels like a truck, but the comfort level is much higher and it feels more like a polished highway cruiser than a blunt instrument. The original gauges are gone, replaced by a set of Dolphin dials that are arranged very much like the originals were in that wonderfully asymmetrical instrument panel, with a big round speedometer and smaller auxiliary gauges directly in front of the driver. The steering wheel is a custom billet piece, and the A/C has been integrated using custom vents, including a pair of eyeball vents under the dash. An AM/FM/CD stereo and modern auxiliary gauges are built into the fabricated center console, which also includes a pair of speakers and a Lokar shifter for the C6 3-speed automatic transmission.

The engine is a 460 cubic inch V8 from a 1970 Lincoln. It was given an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, MSD ignition, and ceramic-coated exhaust manifolds, which help guarantee that it'll be on the road for a long time. It's neatly dressed with a few chrome bits, color matched block, and a custom accessory mount that includes polished accessories. A big radiator with an electric fan helps keep it cool and the tilting nose gives it unparalleled service access. The frame was fully boxed and a Mustang II front suspension was installed, which includes power disc brakes and rack-and-pinion steering, so it handles quite well. A custom Flowmaster exhaust system sounds fantastic with custom dumps just ahead of the rear wheels. Most of this truck's awesome look comes from the rake, which is just right, and the rolling stock, which consists of polished American Racing wheels inside of 235/60/15 front and 255/60/15 rear Dunlop performance radials.

A well-built truck that sits right and cruises beautifully thanks to careful engineering and craftsmanship. The fact that it's also great-looking is simply icing on the cake. Call today!