350-Powered: 1946 Ford Pickup Restomod

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The term “eclectic” seems the most appropriate to use when describing the vehicles that grace our site at Barn Finds. We strive to feature classics that appeal to all tastes, from those preferring hardened muscle cars to practical daily drivers and promising project candidates. This 1946 Ford Pickup caught my eye the moment it hit my desk, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Mitchell G. for spotting it. Describing this restomod as eye-catching doesn’t seem to do it justice, with the seller attacking every aspect of this build to create a total package combining performance, safety, and comfort. The time has come for the Pickup to find a new home, with the seller listing this beauty here on Craigslist somewhere around Asbury, New Jersey. They are firm on their price of $29,900, but as you will see, the new owner will get a lot for their money.

This Pickup is a case where there are so many positive attributes that it is challenging to know where to start with its description. The builder has eliminated most of the exterior bright trim, only retaining the headlamp and turn signal surrounds. The remaining pieces have been painted black, while the door handles are color-matched to the exterior paint shade. The seller added integrated spoilers to give the front and rear pans a sharper look, and a hood scoop, which is about the only detail on this vehicle that doesn’t float my boat. The panels are extremely straight, with consistent gaps that suggest the builder had an eye for detail. The dazzling and fresh Rally Red urethane paint looks virtually flawless, reflecting its surroundings like a mirror. The bed is a highlight, featuring rich solid oak contrasted by Black joiner strips. The tinted glass is new, as are the seals and rubbers. The slammed ride height and American Racing Torq Thrust wheels add a sense of purpose that seems to promise something special under the skin.

Lifting the hood reveals that the builder has followed a tried-and-true path with their build, slotting in a 350ci V8, teamed with a three-speed automatic transmission. Further upgrades to cope with the significant performance gains this combination provides include power steering, an independent rear end, and four-wheel disc brakes. The small-block inhales through a custom air cleaner, a four-barrel carburetor, and a matching aluminum intake. Burnt gases exit through a custom-welded dual exhaust, which emerges on either side at the end of the steel running boards. This Pickup might have seventy-nine years under its belt, but the seller states that it runs and drives like a new vehicle. Considering the specifications, that claim is readily believable.

The seller had a field day creating this Pickup’s interior, leaving the buyer with nothing to do but appreciate their work. It features most of the components you would expect inside a well-executed restomod, including bucket seats, a tilt wheel, a modern stereo, and a Lokar shifter for the auto. One highlight is the digital gauge cluster, which is easy to read and will provide every ounce of information that the driver needs. The bucket seats are trimmed in Black vinyl, the door trims are finished in matching material, and the floors wear Black carpet showing no evidence of wear. The vinyl and painted surfaces are excellent, with the timber wheel adding a classy touch. Electrical gremlins shouldn’t be an issue because the seller added a new wiring harness during their build.

Modified classics write their own rules when it comes to potential value because vehicles like this 1946 Ford Pickup will only ever be worth what someone is willing to pay. That begs the question of whether the seller’s price is realistic, and my instinct suggests that it is. When you look at the scope of the performed work and the components utilized during the build, recreating this Pickup for $29,900 would potentially be possible if someone was willing and able to be hands-on with the entire process. Farming out any of the tasks would place a serious question mark over the budget, which is why I believe that this old classic will find a new home relatively quickly. Are you tempted to make it yours?

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Comments

  1. Big Bear 🇺🇸

    Nice looking Ford!! Since it’s a Ford 351C or 400M with a C6 trans would be nice …oh a hop up 302-4 would work. It’s 2025 not 1965 no GM would be here! Have a nice day! 🐻🇺🇸

    Like 5
  2. Jim Randall

    Very nice! Don’t think you could build it for the asking price. Unfortunately I like mine stock or at the most a well dressed flathead.

    Like 1
  3. Dusty Rider

    Lose the worthless hood scoop.

    Like 6
  4. bobhess bobhessMember

    Love this truck! Loved the fat fendered Ford trucks even before I could spell “truck”. I’d go along with ditching the hood scoop and get in and drive it.

    Like 3
  5. geomechs geomechsMember

    I’m not a fan of resto-mods but I have to give credit where credit is due. The builder did a good job. I sure wouldn’t have done the flares, but then, I wouldn’t have modified it either.

    I’ve had my Jailbar since ’67. I drove the wheels off it for a few years and actually had it looking pretty good. The rearend started making some noise so I decided to pull the truck down for a complete restoration. Bad decision because so many things in life began to interfere with my projects. I’ve got to give this guy credit for completing the job…

    Like 2
  6. oldroddderMember

    Not a fan of Ford pickups and really not a fan of the strange body modifications, (particularly the spoilers) but I have to give credit where credit is due, this is really well done and considering the quality of the build its reasonably priced. It should make someone pretty happy.

    Like 3
    • Steve R

      You are right, no matter how nice the workmanship on the body modifications was done, they are dated. The seller put what is likely a reasonable price on the truck hopefully he will find a buyer in a reasonable amount of time.

      Steve R

      Like 2
  7. Bunky

    It is “nicely done”- but not to my taste. The front flare looks silly, serves no actual purpose, and is hanging out there begging to get munched. Hood scoop- yeah- no.
    Don’t like Chevy belly button engines in Fords, and last but not least, the fenders on the ‘53 up box do not match.
    Price is probably fair, but not for me.

    Like 1
    • bobhess bobhessMember

      The front air dam is functional but not sure about the rear. Front one will keep the front down at speed but at the same time the rear one will lift the rear end.

      Like 2
  8. 370zpp 370zpp

    Back in the day, before they invented the term “resto-mod” we would simply have referred to this simply as a “Custom”. Some wilder than others. I like this one just the way it is. Very cool.

    Like 2
  9. 370zpp 370zpp

    Back in the day, before they invented the term “resto-mod” we would simply have referred to this simply as a “Custom”. Some wilder than others. I like this one just the way it is. Very cool.

    Like 0
    • 370zpp 370zpp

      Sorry about the duplicate comments. Not sure why. I am very careful about this. One more reason I am no longer a member.

      Like 0
      • Dusty Rider

        Just wait a while, it will come up eventually, just be patient my friend!

        Like 1

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