Vehicle Description
Long before its more commercially known descendants ever set rubber
to road, this 1948 Ford F-1 Pickup was ably toiling away to get
America back on track in the aftermath of World War II. Every bit
of its well-restored vintage charm is still intact, and it greets
the present armed with some well-chosen, modern upgrades to make it
a great driver as well.
Classic pickups are often the foundation for heavily-modded
projects and, while we love seeing the craftsmanship and
inspiration that brings them to life, it's nice to come across one
that still retains a good deal of its original appearance. Some
well-placed work has allowed this '48 to arrive at the present
looking very sharp and capable. Its red paint has a nice shine to
it and you won't find any serious imperfections as you circle the
truck. The chrome on display here is consistently sharp - like many
of the trucks of its era, F-1s featured elaborate front grilles and
the one here, as well as the front bumper below it and the
collection of trim on the hood, present very well. The combination
of sizable front and rear wheelhouses, with broad running boards in
between, also merges with clear glass surrounding the cab to create
a fresh and winning look for this '48, as do the exhaust tips
extending just the right amount below the painted bumper in
back.
There's a very comfortable and well-appointed interior inside the
doors - helping to reinforce the notion that, in addition to
possessing an eye-catching appearance, this F-1 would make a great
frequent driver. The gray cloth bench seat has plenty of padding
for comfort on the road and the embroidered rose at its center
colored to match the exterior is a great additional touch. The
Pilot woodgrain steering wheel sits on a chrome tilt column, while
just beyond it, the dash area is another strong suit for this
classic truck, with a set of Dolphin gauges sitting in its
chrome-backed instrument cluster to monitor vital engine functions
with their appropriately antique-looking fonts. The bed area in
back has been treated with spray on liner also matching the
exterior and, from the looks of things, it's done its job well, as
there are no major scuffs or wear marks inside.
As far as mechanical components are concerned, the emphasis here is
on reliable, versatile power - yet another reason why this Ford is
well suited for frequent use. There's a 351 cubic inch Windsor V8
sitting in the engine compartment - it's a potent small block
that's running strong and sounding great and, with its chrome air
cleaner and matching valve covers, looks great as well. It teams
with a 3-speed automatic transmission to make for an easy driving
ride. A 3.25 rear end sits in back, offering a nice balance for
everyday driving - the gears aren't so tall as to hamper off the
line acceleration, but still offer reasonably low revs at highway
speeds. A Mustang II front end has replaced its original
counterpart, providing power disc brakes up front, rack and pinion
steering that's far more precise than what this truck started with,
as well as a markedly better ride. A glance below reveals what
appears to be a very sturdy undercarriage. This vintage truck rides
on a set of red steel wheels that could use some touchup work, but
feature new looking moon hubcaps and sport appropriately vintage
whitewalls.
Many trucks of this era have either been modified to the point of
rendering them impractical for frequent use or remain in such an
unsteady condition that they're mere conversation pieces, so this
1948 Ford F-1 Pickup is a very welcome find. Call today!