Vehicle Description
This 1953 Ford F-100 pickup doesn't necessarily break any new
ground in the vintage truck game, but what it does offer is a slick
classic look that's supremely well-executed and powered by reliable
Chevy 350 V8 power. Arguably the best-looking pickup of the 1950s,
the first-year F-100 makes a great-looking hot rod without altering
a single panel, and if you crave lots of attention, this custom
truck delivers in a big way.
Bright red always works well on vintage pickup trucks, but this
particular shade of Mars Red is so bright and vivid that you need
sunglasses to look directly at it. Mixed up by PPG, it's a
basecoat/clearcoat paint that was expertly applied over laser
straight sheetmetal, and it has such a deep luster and shine you'd
think any fly that landed on it might drown. Custom pinstripe work
was added for a bespoke touch, and the colors chosen for the
accents really work great up against the red finish, especially on
the 'Ford' script on the tailgate. None of the old Ford's beautiful
body lines were altered during the build, but everything was neatly
restored and fitted, so the gaps are exacting and even the big hood
fits evenly with the fenders. It's the kind of detail that you
don't notice immediately but gives the whole truck a very
high-quality look that stands up to scrutiny. Everything is steel,
too, including the running boards (which offer Ford step plates),
and the Ford metal looks straight as an arrow when you look down
the sides. Most of the original chrome and stainless trim was left
in place, including the grille and headlight surrounds, beautiful
Ford F-100 emblems on the sides of the hood, and the bright chrome
pumpers found fore and aft that provided great contrast against the
red finish. Cool-looking Ford taillights are highlighted with
blue-dots and company script on the lenses, as was the style with
original pickups from the era, while the bed is lined with
beautifully finished oak boards and stainless steel rub strips that
look so nice you'll hesitate before you haul anything dirty away
from Home Depot.
The Ford's utilitarian interior got a huge makeover, anchored by a
set of bucket seats that were cut down and wrapped in supple beige
leather that's all-day comfortable. Accentuated by subtle red
stitching and supported by a custom center console, all pretext of
working for a living has been wiped out, creating a luxury-oriented
cockpit that's a pleasure to visit. The door panels were
upholstered to match the seats, as was the back of the cab,
although the headliner was wrapped in black to mirror the look of
the top of the dash. A tilt steering column with a later-model GM
steering wheel makes it easy to get comfortable, a tall Lokar
shifter juts out from the floorboard and falls easy to hand, and
there's a full set of handsome white-faced Stewart Warner gauges
inside a custom chrome bezel in the dash. Note how beautifully
fitted the headliner is, the custom door panels with integrated
chrome handles, and the neatly tailored black carpets with matching
floor mats, none of which was inexpensive. Vintage Air A/C was
installed under the dash and is so cleanly done that it almost
looks like it was born there, leaving the expanse of the dashboard
uncut. There's also an older AM/FM/Cassette radio, but we're
guessing you won't use it simply because the engine's note through
the dual exhaust is so much better.
A familiar 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 lives under the hood - following
the old adage that if you want to make a Ford go fast you put a
Chevy motor in it - and with all that added horsepower and torque
on tap, it's a lot of fun to drive. The small block motor is
dressed up with brightly finned valve covers and a big chrome air
cleaner, and you'll note that extreme attention was paid to the
underhood areas, so the inner fenders and firewall are beautifully
finished. A 4-barrel carburetor on a polished intake manifold makes
plenty of power and a serpentine belt drive system for the
accessories makes service easy. The big radiator is cooled by a
massive fan and as I mentioned, the long-tube headers feed a custom
exhaust system with glasspack-style mufflers that exits just under
the rear bumper. A TH350 3-speed automatic transmission and Ford
8-inch rear end are reliable pieces of the puzzle and handling is
greatly improved with the Mustang II front suspension with power
rack-and-pinion steering and tubular upper and lower control arms
up front, and newer shocks all around. Power steering and power
disc brakes improve the ride experience and the truck sits exactly
right on those shiny Billet Specialties wheels and fat 235/60/16
front and 255/60/17 rear radials.
Beautifully built, expertly finished, and nicely sorted, this is a
truck that will attract a lot of attention and still put a big
smile on the driver's face. Call today!