Vehicle Description
1953 Ford F100 Pickup
In recent years there has definitely been an uptick in older
pickups becoming more and more fashionable. There is something
attractive about those 1950 big grilles, curved hoods, and wide
fenders. Plus, the entire work genre has "picked up" wildly in
popularity due to special interest businesses using these vehicles
as promotion tools. Certainly, eye-catching, and reflecting the old
guard's hard work ethic in their design, they are not just for work
anymore.
This hay hauler turned orange dream is about as close to a
resto-mod and street rod as you can get without actually putting it
in the category of either. However, I'm going out on a limb and
save for the modern suspension, wildly low front ride height and
killer Ford 351ci V8 engine the original hauler look and charm has
been retained. This truck has the "chutzpah" to be a go-er and a
show-er.
Exterior
Having benefited from frame off rebuild at some time in the past we
see retina searing orange paint covering the bulbous undulating
body of this 1953 Ford F100. Gaps are well minded and the paint has
been applied with a deep end of the pool finish on the steel and
fiberglass body. A body matching roll pan leads the way down below
the easily recognized orange grille assembly. Single headlights
flank the grille and the pontoon fenders meet up with the bulbous
hood to provide a mouthlike surround. The door handles have been
shaved and the only signs of chrome on the body are the headlight
bezels, wiper arms and antenna button. What little chrome there is
remains all bright and shiny, looking just as good as new. The bed
is rebuilt and adorned with oak flooring and steel sides with
canted outward tops. 18 and 20-inch Vision wheels wrapped in low
profile blackwall rubber with 245/45ZR17's up front and larger than
life 255/35ZR20's in the rear. I'm truly moved, but I'm just
standing here looking at this baby.
Interior
A mixture of black vinyl and orange steel make up the fully
restored door panels. Black vinyl stylish embossments make up the
bulk of this panel and are dressed with a chrome door release,
chrome window crank and padded armrest. A near perfect bench seat
in more black velour broadcloth looks forward to a polished tilt
steering column and orange painted metal dash. We can see new VDO
gauges within the metal eyebrow, which have white faces and neat
black fonts in chrome bezels which are as shiny as they are cool. A
cream leather wrapped LeCarra steering wheel with a central horn
button is also noted. Moving across the full metal jacket steel
dash our eyes are drawn to the small storage cubby and the
aftermarket AM/FM/CD stereo from Alpine down below. The headliner
and rear of the cab has been covered in black vinyl and below,
black carpet with orange and black checkered floor mats covers the
floor and is in very good condition.
Drivetrain
There is nothing better than looking at a superior finished engine,
and the one is no exception in the form of a Ford 351ci Windsor V8.
A single 4bbl Edelbrock carbs feed fossils and air through an
Edelbrock Performer 351W intake. A 3-speed C6 automatic is on the
rear, and power moves to the rear wheels via Ford 9" axle. A huge
shout out to the power steering that is now on, the blue painted
block, and all the chrome and polishing work under the hood which
is almost as blinding as the paint job.
Undercarriage
Nary any sign of invasive rust to be found, just black painted
steel, road dirt and minor surface rust. Long gone are the archaic
leaf springs and drum brakes up front, as now power disc brakes and
independent coil spring suspension prove the ride and front
stopping power. For the rear, a 3 bar and coilover suspension is
noted along with more power disc brakes. A clean stainless steel
exhaust system flows from engine mounted headers and exits
underneath the rear roll pan of the truck with large polished
tips.
Drive-Ability
With a twist of the key the truck fired up with a thunderous roar
and settled into a snarling idle. On the test track, acceleration
was endless, braking was solid and bias free, and handling was
surprisingly agile for a truck of this vintage even with the
lowered stance. All functions were working during our drive save
for some electrical gremlins that reared their head. Those being, a
horn that wouldn't toot, non functional turn signals, parking
lights that illuminate when the brake pedal is pressed, and the
left signal actuating the emergency flashers while the right signal
performing no function at all.
Other than commenting it is just a great build, good fit and finish
overall, and a well-done bed, I say not much else because my jaw is
on the floor, and my eyes wide open in amazement of this truck
version of a restomod and street rod mix. If the retina searing
orange from the paint doesn't blind your opponent from the starting
line a press of the gas pedal will...she's a handful boys and
girls!
F10D3N17719
F10-F100 Conventional
D-215ci Inline 6 Cylinder
3-1953
N-Norfolk, VA Assy Plant
17719-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
