If you want patina, this is patina! And it isn’t going anywhere, at least for a while, as it’s been clear-coated to preserve it as much as possible. There isn’t any big rust to speak of, as in rust holes, but there are a couple of areas to address. The seller has this 1960 Ford F-100 4×4 pickup listed here on eBay in Hudson, New Hampshire and the bids are at $2,700 as I write this, but the reserve isn’t met.
The third-generation F-Series was made from 1957 through 1960 and they’re interesting trucks, bridging the gap between 1950s and 1960s pickups. That sounds obvious, but they had features of the early pickups, such as a wraparound windshield and wraparound rear window, with the design “bones” of the next-gen trucks. This one has a Styleside bed and it appears to be wearing new shoes.
That’s a lot of surface rust, I mean, patina. The seller says that the truck gets compliments wherever they take it and it sure is unique. It was a California truck until recently, which probably explains the lack of overwhelming rust holes or structural rust. The seller has provided a lot of good photos, kudos to them for that. The underside looks solid as does the inside of the bed. Russ showed us a somewhat similar truck about a year ago here on Barn Finds, but it was an F-250.
The interior looks nice, just watch your knees as you slide in with that wraparound windshield frame. There has been some paint work inside, of course, and the seat has been recovered and that makes a nice contrast with the rugged exterior. The seller says that the radio doesn’t work and they have new door locks to be installed by the next owner, but it sounds like everything else functions as it should. Ford called this a “Driverized cab” with the integrated step and wraparound windshield.
The engine is Ford’s 292-cu.in. Y-Block V8, with 146 horsepower and 254 lb-ft of torque. This one appears to have a replacement carb, but I could be wrong. The seller says that the body and drivetrain are both original so maybe it’s original – the air cleaner at least has been changed, as well as the radiator. It sends power through a transfer case to a four-speed manual and the seller says that it all works great. Hagerty is at $16,300 for a #4 fair-condition truck and $24,900 for a #3 good truck, just for the record. How much would you pay for this 4×4?
These were tough trucks and skinned with steel thick enough to withstand daily use, not like the current foil skinned versions today. Every now and then have observed some interesting “reupholstery” work on the few running loose in this neck of the woods, usually completely reupholstered seats in duct tape, the do-it-yourselfer’s go to solution for almost any task.
Hard pass. That thing looks a mess; and getting a proper finish on it got a lot harder with the clear-coat complicating the job.
If someone wants a junker, they’re not hard to find. No need to junker-ize a salvageable old truck.
The author says that this generation continued old-truck features, such as wraparound windshields. That’s actually not correct – Ford only put a wraparound windshield on the previous generation in its last year, 1956. Why they spent the money for a one-year change on a low-volume model, is a question never answered…perhaps it was a test, a production prototype to test glass and body techniques in this new form.
But that was it…1956, and then this generation, 1957-60. And then it was done, for all time; and, frankly, good riddance. I never thought much of the style – it interfered with the size of the openable door glass, and in an age where a/c was rare, that mattered.
My first vehicle, but mine as an F250 2wd. 292 Y-block, 3 on the tree. I’d drive that trucks!
When I see one of this generation of Ford pickups, my mind instantly goes back several decades to riding in one with my (future) father-in-law. Left foot operating the clutch (of course), right foot operating the gas and brake (of course), right hand operating the four-speed shifter (of course), but with left hand doing double duty: steering, and tending to his ever-present cigarette. I was thankful he kept the vent window open.
I recently saw a video that someone took as they passed by a self driving (Tesla? Not sure) car. The driver….or I should say, occupant in the “driver’s” seat was wearing virtual reality goggles and waving their arms around.
Your great story made me think of how far we’ve fallen and what driving “multitasking” of the future may look like. I’m not sure where we’re headed, but I don’t want to go.
Times sure have changed. Back in this truck’s heyday 50% of the adult population smoked. I remember, even into the 2000s, if you saw a Suburban, it was driven by a housewife/mom/hockey mom who would be driving, smoking a cigarette, talking on a cellphone, and managing 2-4 kids.
One day I was heading home for lunch. I pulled up to a 4-way stop and here were (3) Burbs, all driven by women in their 30s, all smoking, all talking on a cellphone, and all managing kids. I often wonder if they were talking to each other?
People that clear coat over patina, and especially over what is beyond just “patina”, like this truck– don’t understand patina. What a waste of time, money and materials.
I had a 59 F150 2wd with the 292 3spd column shift. Like every teenager I patched the holes with bondo and rattle canned some gray primer on the patches. I drove it to school a couple of times but none of my buddy’s wanted a ride to school because that’s when pick-ups weren’t cool. I did end up finding some rare wide pattern chrome rims for it though. Put some cheater slicks on it and with a few drops of oil poured on the slicks it would smoke em thru 1st and 2nd (as long as I didn’t miss a shift). I hit a wet patch of road on a turn one day, did a complete 360 and continued on like nothing had happened (except my clutch leg was shaking like crazy). Speaking of crazy, it’s only by divine intervention that I’ve lived this long. Best wishes to the successful bidder. Take care.
f100
No F150s until 1975.
Nice 4×4.
If it’s running well enough to be put to use I’d spend a few bucks on primer and give it a quick overcoat of dark grey.
Sounds like the rust is already sealed, just wouldn’t want to look at all that ‘petina’ every time I went to drive my truck.
Then again at the asking price it wouldn’t be mind anyway. Too much coin.
Speaking about Patina, preservation and rust. I remember some time back seeing a late 30s Ford 2 door. It was a beautiful seafoam green. I dont remember the name of the color. It was all original. There were a few minor areas the original paint had rubbed through to the primer. The owner cleared over it to PRESERVE it. THAT…. I can agree with. The car had an amzing shine with the clear coat over the original paint and even the primer But this. No…. It
just simply needs a proper paint job in my opinion. They are only original once, its true, but they didnt originally come from the factory with all this surface rust.
Back when the paint would’ve been shiny on this truck, there were (3) 4×4 trucks in our town. Dad bought an International S-120 in ’56; Herb bought his Ford F-100 in ’60; and Aime bought his Chevy Apache 10 4×4 in ’61. They made up the total population of 4x4s until ’64 when more of them began to show up. Interesting that out of the original (3), two of them still exist. The old Binder is owned by a ranching family over in the Sweetgrass Hills and still sees daily use; Aime’s Chevy was replaced every (2) years and has long since left the territory; and the Ford is on the ranch where I was raised, probably never to turn a wheel again. But 2 out of 3 isn’t bad odds…
Is this a photo of Herb’s as it sits today? Gosh, can’t go by one photo, but that deserves to turn all 4 wheels again. Looks like a little bit of rot in the lower fender, but otherwise really nice. And that fantastic grille guard definitely needs to be seen in rearview mirrors.
That’s Herb’s truck as of the last time I saw it. The guy on the old farmstead is somewhat of a border. I’m at a loss as to how he came upon this truck. I went to school with Herb’s boy and the last I heard He had the truck…
Dammed auto-correct and damn these cellphones that won’t allow you to fix it properly. It’s HOARDER!!!
Great truck. To far for me to travel for pick up. It’s been my experience it hard to get a transport in that part of the country
It’s perfect as it is . Nice job of stabilizing the patina.
Way back in the day i came across a 60 Ford just like this only in RED paint with the same set up for $900. drove her home, or should i say, damn what a rough ride that was, 65 miles one way and couldn’t wait for it to be over. worst riding truck i ever owned but what a rugged rig, you could pull stumps with it. Finally got tired of it like i did with all my vehicles i owned and it went to a rancher who bought it to use for his fencing rig. sold it $1200. Its probably sitting in a pasture yet down in Flaser N.Dak.
My dad was born in Raliegh N.D.1916
Always wanted a Vette the year I was born. Then a Harley panhead. Now looking at this, looks like one I can afford lol! Something that looks more like a Bulldog.
I really like this truck. I like the style of this year’s truck. Now I know some of you aren’t going to like this but I think the clear on this truck looks right. These were rugged trucks and the appearance of this one looks the part. If I were to buy it I wouldn’t change a thing. I would drive it often and dare I say I would use it for truck stuff. All said just my opinion. Good luck to the seller and to the buyer enjoy it often.
Auction update: this one made it to $11,600 and the reserve wasn’t met.