Recently here at Barn Finds we have had a few nice old pickup projects coming across our desks, and this is a nice example. This 1952 Ford F1 5-Star half ton pickup is listed for sale here on eBay. Located in Sweet Grass, Montana, it is offered for sale with a clear title. At the time of writing bidding on this pickup had reached $5,402 in a No Reserve auction.
This old Ford is in a quite reasonable condition. Rust is remarkably scarce, with the worst of it being some minor rust spots located in the front fenders. The floors have a dusting of surface corrosion, but otherwise, they appear to be solid. Virtually all of the exterior trim items are present, and many of them look like they will clean up okay without requiring restoration.
The interior doesn’t look that bad and looks like it could be used as is if you threw a blanket over the seat. The only thing absent from the dash is the radio blanking plate, but you could either choose to source a plate or alternatively you could fit a period-correct radio. It appears that everything that is present could be restored with relative ease.
Under the hood is the venerable 239ci flat-head V8 backed by a manual transmission. While it may not look pretty, the good news is that the engine runs and the vehicle actually drives. The carburetor has undergone a rebuild and the Ford also sports a new battery. Even the brakes are functioning, but the seller states that it is by no means roadworthy in its current state. To run, this Ford has to use an external fuel supply as the gas tank is in need of a clean. Still, I guess it could be worse. This shows possibilities of being returned to a roadworthy state with relatively little work.
This 1952 Ford F1 5 Star Pickup has a lot of potential locked up inside it. The body is solid with little rust or corrosion to contend with. It is essentially complete, and a bonus is that it runs and drives. Nicely restored standard examples are becoming harder to find, as these are often used as the base for a rod project. Good restored ones are selling for sums in excess of $30,000. That makes this particular one a very tempting proposition.
Lotta potential there to become somebody’s ol’ trusty rusty. Nice truck.
I could see resto- mod all the way, that would be the drivetrain and stopping components. Now raise as much heck as you want (and who could blame ya by now) — but “keep that patina” !!! Or best called surface rust here
Looks and has the stance to be worth it… Looks kinda like too the truck out of my kids ‘ blockbuster movie I think it it was “Jalopies” (until the third installment of it became horrendous)). Still up for bidding??? Gitr done
Worth it.
All I can think of when I see this truck is
Sanford & Son! Knew several people that
owned them and said that they were
good trucks. Only thing I’d ever heard bad about them was that they were prone
to vapor locking on a hot Summer’s day.
Would prefer a 4-speed to a 3 on the tree
though. Guess there’s just something
about a 4 on the floor that makes me
smile. I can see my SIL driving this truck
to work every day! The looks on the faces of her co-workers would be priceless.
The Sanford and Son truck was a ’51. This is a ’52. There are subtle differences between the two. The front hood ornamentation is different, and the ’51 does not have the F-O-R-D lettering on the front like this one has.
Another Sweetgrass special! Two in one day. I’m curious if the vendor is the same crew that has been selling trucks out of Shelby? Anyway, this is a nice truck to restore. I’m not sure if this is a T-9 crashbox or if the quieter, easier shifting T-98 was out in ‘52. Makes no difference to me other than a T-9 howls enough to drown out my own complaining…,
I like it .. Will probably end up a resto mod and on some high priced website selling cars out of Detroit
sweet truck, would look sooo cool brought back to Baby Blue. Not using the P word, this one needs paint!!!
Good luck to the new owner!!!
Cheers
GPC
Any color but patina.
If price stays near $7,500, I would think you could make a nice little truck, and not be upside down, in the process.
I’m not sure that a “four-speed” in a truck like this is such a great draw. Weren’t such gearboxes usually equipped with a “granny” 1st gear, suitable only for pulling stumps and such? Regardless, someday I hope to get a truck like this, one I can just make look decent and use as originally build and as originally intended (no “patina,” no “resto-mods”)!
Yes, first is low. My dad still has my great-grandfather’s ’51 with a 4 speed and first is very low. Crash box trannies are something, though. And the look? “Legendary! ‘Murica!” my son says.