With 1953 marking the 50th Anniversary of Ford, the company recognized this milestone by placing some subtle reminders of its history on some of its vehicles. This 1953 F-100 features one of these mementos. It is also in need of a lot of restoration work, but the buyer will be commencing this process with what appears to be a mostly complete vehicle. If you feel that you are up to the challenge, you will find the Ford located in Starkville, Mississippi, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has made it to $3,151, and the reserve has now been met.

You have to look long and hard to see any evidence of this vehicle’s original Glacier Blue paint. Sixty-seven years of surface corrosion has consumed it, but you can still pick it in a few spots. The thing that I find most striking about this F-100 is how straight the panels appear to be. There are a few dings and marks, but there are surprisingly few of these, considering the type of life pickups like these tend to leave. Rust is the other enemy of these old girls over time, and this Ford is no exception. The floors have some issues and will probably need to be replaced. However, the trouble-prone lower cab corners look surprisingly good. There is no shortage of surface corrosion across the body, and this will need to be stripped away if the F-100 is going to sparkle again. The glass will also require attention because some of it is cracked, and most of it has started to go cloudy.

The interior will require plenty of work, but once again, it does appear to be virtually complete. The painted surfaces carry more surface corrosion, and the seat will require a new cover. However, the level of work needed to have it shining again isn’t high when compared to the exterior. Dismantling it is a straightforward proposition, and most people with basic skills in metal preparation and painting can achieve impressive results with surprisingly little effort and cost. Even if I were to buy the pickup and chose to have the exterior restored by a professional, it would be tempting to tackle the interior myself. Getting this right can be enormously satisfying.

You have to look long and hard to find evidence that this F-100 is a 50th Anniversary vehicle. The horn button provides this evidence, and while it is looking tired now, I believe that both it and the wheel could be restored. Doing that would add a nice finishing touch to the interior.

Unfortunately, the owner provides very little information on what is happening under the hood. We know that the F-100 features the 239ci flathead V8 engine, which is hooked to a 3-speed manual transmission. We also know that the drivetrain is original to the pickup. We get the barest glimpse of the motor in this photo, but there’s not much that we can see. It looks like everything might be there, but the generator is hanging loose. It isn’t clear when the F-100 last ran or if the engine even turns freely. If a faithful restoration is the aim, then the engine could potentially need a rebuild. Having said that, these old flatheads are pretty robust. If it turns freely, getting it to cough back into life with little effort might be a reality.

When I look at market trends over recent years, one abundantly clear fact is that classic pickups are continuing to perform well. Examples like this will easily sell for $25,000 once restored, although figures beyond $35,000 are not out of the question if the restoration work is completed to a high standard. These older pickups are also a firm favorite for enthusiasts to tackle in a home workshop. They are easy to dismantle, and their engineering is relatively simple. With those thoughts in the back of your head, are you tempted to bid on this classic?