From Tracy C – What you see here is a 1956 F350 with a Boyertown S-6 Step-N-Serve body. Boyertown Auto Body Works produced the bodies and installed them on ordered trucks. This truck started out in the Norfolk, VA plant on March 23, 1956 as an F350 in Meadow Green paint. It went to Boyertown and the cab and bed were removed and this body was installed. This particular truck only saw work for 4 years and was parked in 1960 for some reason, per the story told to me. It has the standard 223 ci I6 rated at 120 hp, 130 inch wheelbase, and get ready for this – 5.83 rear axle gearing. It was probably parked as the owners didn’t like being passed by the horse and buggies still being used in PA. Although it is a 1956, Boyertown Auto Body Works used the 53-55 flat dash up until the mid 60’s in their builds.
We just bought it. We own one and were looking for another to restore. My girlfriend and I travel the back roads whenever we go out of town if we have time. We happened to find this listed online a year ago but the winter weather stopped the sale. The owner used it for storage for winter. We struck a deal last week to buy it and will pick it up within 3 weeks and start the restoration. It will be original as possible, not chopped or hot rodded. If the engine is shot then I might try and locate a 56 V8 (292 or 312). I am tempted to change the rear axle gearing but we have a brewery interested in it restored to haul kegs to festivals and serve out of it. They would benefit from the hauling capability. The rear windows are factory windows.
I have attached a photo of my girlfriend with ‘our’ first truck. I owned it and this was our second or third date when I showed it to her to see how she would feel about the truck. I wanted to make sure she was a keeper and understand old trucks. She is now a vintage truck woman and likes her Ford trucks. Also, she is a internationally known Master Stone Mason. I like to brag about her also.
Our thanks to Tracy for sharing his recent find with us! We wish him and his girlfriend the best of luck restoring this interesting machine!
Put a monster V8 in it paint it flat black then throw on a v shaped push bar and you will have a close replica of the truck used in the first installment of the horror movie JEEPERS CREEPERS.
9/10 would be interested in following the restoration process here, in detail. The body looks like a crumbly mess, and something that stops a four year old truck dead in its tracks to turn it into a storage shed may ultimately be mechanically tragic. So, it’s a labor of love. the fine points of rebuilding complex windowsills, unsticking parts that started rusting together sixty years ago, replacing door rubber and putting mechanicals right would be interesting for any right-minded aspiring restorer, as affordable project cars often display these problems. Hint, Hint,–this would be an ideal time to start a barnfinds sidebar on an as-available basis, “See How They Come Back Together”, showing an aspect of recovering Automotive History from the Ravages of Time, from one of your featured cars. Each episode, replacing a rotted windshield sill, or renewing eroded bakelite/hard rubber steering wheel/interior pieces–or undenting/fabbing/scratch building clips for stainless trim…I would be sad an think this vehicle is too far gone, but obviously Tracy does not, and I cheer him on for following his dream.
Fantastic idea.
“See How They Come Back Together” still time lapse photos are a great idea. Thanks for your input. We honestly believe this can be salvaged with a little hard work. We will be going to the Boyertown Museum and getting copies of the original build sheets. Glass, wiring harness, hood, fenders and grill are all available from good suppliers. My only concerns are the rear gearing ratio and doing an engine swap to a 272,if needed, and mating it to the auto transmission. We don’t have all the specifications on that yet. Haven’t seen truck in person yet so there are plenty of questions regarding rusted nuts and bolts. Going to buy PB Blaster by the case. We are debating the merits of a original rebuild vs upgrades.
I like it but I’m more of a Devco man when it comes to the old milk trucks. I remember them from My youth.
My dad had the old 1963 Ford milk truck and that truck that you have on here is the closest thing to it which I liked it not very many people around have ever seen a 1963 Ford milk truck let alone drove 1 the reefer unit still work when Dad sold the truck