Vehicle Description
The styling of trucks from the 1940's and 1950's has aged very well
over the years; their shapely, and purpose-built nature has struck
a chord with past owners and contemporary enthusiasts alike.
Unfortunately, not all aspects of these vehicles have aged as
gracefully. These trucks were well suited for work and farm use,
but are not that great on modern roads and highways. Small brakes,
minimal power plants and short gearing makes the majority of older
pickups really only practical for low speed use.
Enter this 1949 Ford F1 truck. Prior to restoration, it had just
one owner and was still in running and driving condition. At the
crossroads of old and new, the 2nd owner wanted to have something
that he could take on highway trips, with safe, modern brakes,
improved handling and a lot more power. He also threw in air
conditioning for good measure.
The restoration was a frame off job and uses a Mustang II front end
with power rack and pinion steering, tubular control arms, and
power 4-wheels disc brakes with a remote mounted master/booster. In
the rear sits an 8.8 Explorer rear end with 3.73 gears and upgraded
springs.
The engine is an LS-series from a Tahoe with a Professional
products intake, Vintage Air front runner kit, and factory
computer. Keeping the engine cool is a Walker radiator and Walker
condenser for the A/C set up. The motor is a great compliment to
the truck and pulls very strong. The transmission is an overdrive
4L60, and paired with the 3.73 gears, provides both quick
acceleration and easy highway cruising!
The interior all all business with a VDO gauge package and classy
brown upholstery. A standard rubber floor mat lines the floor, and
if you look up, you%u2019ll find a new headliner card. Keeping the
cab extra cool is a Vintage Air set up that tucks the billet
controls out of sight in the glove compartment. A custom Auto
Sounds head unit supplies the tunes and stays unobtrusively mounted
on the bottom of the dash. The wipers are a modern Newport
conversion and (drum roll)... actually work well in comparison to
the wipers of yesteryear.
Driving the truck is a breeze with the updated suspension and
brakes. The front end is rock solid and there%u2019s no excessive
old pickup truck gear box slop. At highway speeds, the brakes are
reassuring and help the drive to avoid that "will it stop?" thrill.
For the pick up truck enthusiast looking to experience the old
without sacrificing too much of the new, this truck rides that thin
line like a champ.