In 1959, Ford introduced four-wheel drive to the 3rd Generation F-Truck range, being the first of the big three manufacturers to do so. Previously, it was available on Ford trucks, but these conversions were complete externally by Marmon-Herrington. This 1960, 3rd Generation F100 4×4 is one of these pioneering vehicles, and you will find it listed for sale here on eBay. It is located in Yountville, California, and is offered for sale with a clear title. The owner has set a BIN price of $11,500, but there is also the option to make an offer. Barn Finder Ikey H spotted this Ford for us, so thank you for that Ikey.
This is an extremely solid vehicle. Apart from a coating of surface corrosion, there is no visible rust anywhere on the truck. The floors and bed look rock solid, as does the frame. The owner states that the cab mounts are good, and while there are a few minor dings on the body, it is also very straight. All of the glass is good, the only exception being the driver’s quarter vent, which is cracked.
The interior is tidy and can be used exactly as it is. The carpet and seat upholstery aren’t original, but they are a nod to comfort. Basically, everything that should be there is there, and it all works exactly as it is supposed to. The only exception is the valve radio. It works when it is first switched on, but gives you the silent treatment once it has warmed up. Having worked in the electrical industry, I am pretty sure that it would be a faulty valve, but this can be fixed to keep the vehicle original.
The F100 is fitted with a 292ci Y-Block V8, and a manual transmission. The engine has recently been rebuilt and has only clocked 10,000 miles since. Once again, everything is original and works as it should. The transmission shifts smoothly, the transfer case and hubs engage easily, and the owner says that the vehicle runs and drives well.
This F100 is a solid vehicle that has me in two minds. I recently saw an immaculately restored example that sold at auction for $35,000, and this one is solid and clean enough to justify such a restoration. Part of me also wants to leave it exactly as it is, and enjoy it for the vehicle that it has become over the past 58 years. Would you restore it, or leave it how it is?
Looks like a nice, solid old truck. $11.5K is probably at the high end for this although the seller is open to offers. At $11.5K doing a total frame off nut and bolt restoration would leave you upside down in a hurry. If a person wants this to be their “forever” truck that might not matter though. I’m thinking a glass out restoration of the exterior, interior and under the hood would still keep you in the black if you don’t go crazy and have a super good looking truck that you wont be afraid to use. One way or the other someone is going to end up with a great ride. It would be interesting to see how this ends up.
I could see Jonathan Ward snatching this one up for SEMA 2019.
Drive it and enjoy it as-is!
What is a “valve radio”? Is that what we Yanks call a tube radio?
I hadn’t heard of one either. I’d like to know as well.
I checked the web and came up with this from Wikipedia. This appears to be a British term for current glow in a vacuum tube. See below.
“In electronics, a vacuum tube, an electron tube,[1][2][3] or colloquially a tube (North America) or valve (British usage),[4] is a device that controls electric current flow in a high vacuum between electrodes to which an electric potential difference has been applied.”
Thanks for the info! I wasn’t able to google it when I typed my reply so thanks for the research.
Not too often you see a wide window version, at least out west in the Chinook Belt. There’s been a ’60 model in our region since it was new. The owner bought it for a hunting truck and it was used primarily for that, although it sometimes doubled up to use on the farm. I went to school with the son of the original owner. For the past 10 years it’s been sitting out in a hay field and the owner can’t bring himself to part with it. I’ve been after it for a lot longer than that.
Seems everyone has an arm burner story with these. I remember, that pipe would rot out quickly behind the water pump. Nice truck, but I can just feel the steering wheel free play from here,,
I would like to know as well about the radio. I guess I could google it!
I don’t think the radiator or the carburetor are original either. Not that it is a big deal but the radiator looks to be an aluminum replacement. The carb appears to be a later version Holley. I could be mistaken on the latter though.
Yup, tube radio. Also called “valves” by the cognoscenti.
Can someone explain the exhaust tube going around the front of the motor? Not sure what’s going on there.
Its a factory design. It will burn the heck out of you if your not careful
That’s just the way the exhaust was routed; instead of a Y-pipe underneath or a connection further back, Ford decided to just run the exhaust out of one bank and join the opposite bank. It was a real forearm burner. I remember some guys trying to run a set of duals. They got the manifolds from a 312 car engine and thought they had it made until they realized that the steering column completely blocked the passage for the LH manifold. They tried to find a set of center-style manifolds but ended up reverting back to the old burner…
Just talked to my Pops about the crossover pipe. It was just the way they were built for a single exhaust. Instead of running them down into a Y pipe. He remembers them making the engines run hot. Saw a few Ford forums that to get it fixed would require some Ram Horn manifolds and a bit of pipe engineering to give it some duals.
I did the exact same thing with my ’58 F-100!
I’m not so sure he won’t get his ask, or very close to it. It’s really unusual to find one without any rot on it, and there aren’t many nits to pick on this one. The carb is a much later Holley, the heater hose is perilously close to laying on the exhaust, and it’s missing the original oil-bath air cleaner.
I’ve burned hands and arms on my share of Y-blocks. They also have the fuel line routed between the exhaust and the crossover, which can make for fun times in hot weather. Good motors, though – simple and reliable as an anvil.
Surface rust aside, this sounds like a good solid truck that a new owner could enjoy from day one; price wise, there’s a lot worse out there asking crazy money, I’d say this one is priced fairly.
If I weren’t 2500 miles away I would probably be beating on his door. Timing is everything and it is not good timing for me right now. Compared to many other trucks, considering the condition of this truck and the fact it has factory four wheel drive this isn’t a bad deal. Love to have it.
It’s my guess that we had fewer attorneys in 1960 than we do now. Most folks probably figured out that it was their own fault that they gave their forearms a third degree burn. My how times have changed, nothing is your fault, you can always find somebody else to blame and get rewarded for your own stupidity. Fine old truck and it should stay that way.
Just correcting a wrong statement concerning THE FIRST 4 WHEEL DRIVE PU! Ford is the wrong answer, the correct answer is Dodge with their introduction of the Power Wagon in 1946! That was the first post WWII civilian 4 wd pickup!