I think I get it. Old Ford trucks, restored, are selling in the $60,000-and-up bracket. That’s why this 1954 F-100 available here on eBay is a ripe candidate for picking. It is currently bid to the mid-$7,000 range, with reserve not met. It’s in Missoula, Montana, and the auction has a week and a day to go as of this writing. Where it will end up will be interesting to see, and what it will be a year or two from now in the hands of the new owner even more fascinating. Restoration? Custom? Or just leave it alone and drive it?
The F-series made its debut in 1948. It has been alive since, with a new model generation appearing every four to five years for the most part. This truck comes from the 1953-56 set. Functional styling cues include a cut-out for the exterior-mount spare tire to fit around/inside the rear fender and a gas filler neck sticking out at the back of the cab. It also has wood laid down in the bed, and for goodness’s sake, a push mower in the back. If I’m buying this truck, it’s no way I’m doing so without that period accessory.
This truck is worn and weathered, but restoring the former government vehicle might be a mistake. The dad of the seller, enterprising fellow that he is, found a couple of new doors for it after the originals got swiped. They’re probably even better than the originals because of their US Government signage, if slightly more shiny green that the rest of the truck’s body. The patina on this truck, as in the rash on the hood, seems to represent history and the past in a tangible way. You can picture a guy going to work every day, surveying federal land in the great American West, making this truck his companion over the course of a twenty-year career of service. I know I made that up, but the point still stands—this thing has nicks and imperfections born of sweat and muscle, and that needs to be respected.
Aside from paint fade, things look pretty tidy all around. Assuming the “ran when parked” claim is true, the mechanically clever should be able to get the engine fired and running well again. What’s not quite clear is the provenance of the power plant, which the seller says is a 215-CID engine. According to sources, the 215-CID was new for 1952-53, but a 1954 truck would have a 223-CID displacement engine. The truck’s serial number with the letter D in it decodes to the 223-CID 6-cylinder, so perhaps this is just a listing error. The truck is a four-speed, and you can see that long, old-school gearshift lever in some of the photos. Wouldn’t it be great if you were the next one rowing those cogs?
That’s too close to the home 40 for comfort. I would take this home, give it a good cleaning/detailing and go from there. Even if I restored it I doubt if I would change anything, even the T-98…
Let us know when your “will of iron” fails you and you buy the truck. It’s a nice one.
Awesome old truck!
Had one almost like it as a teenager
in the late ’60s. Mine was a 3/4 ton
model with a PTO arrangement that
raised and lowered the bed like a dump truck! Just what we needed to
haul and dump a fresh load of gravel
for our driveway. Wound up selling it
to raise the money to buy my Mom’s
’66 Cadillac 4-door HT to keep my
alcoholic uncle from wrecking it. Made sense at the time as I had no
shortage of young ladies wanting to
drive it! Sure could use that old reel
type mower to mow my lawn with gas
costing nearly $6 a gallon these days.
Great truck! Hey Geomechs! Go ahead and pull the trigger! You know
you wanna do it!
Okay Geomechs I can see that made into a country song; “The crash of the T-98”. LOl. Military vehicles are always bare to the bone, no accessories. This truck does not seem to be the exception, so for me certain things must be upgraded, such as brakes, power steering and of course air conditioning. I’m becoming an old softy these days. Music to me is the sound of the old bucket of bolts rattling along whatever journey it happens to be on, I never turn the radio on nowadays because I don’t like most modern songs being played and can’t stand talk radio. Therefore no stereo system will be installed. Good luck to all
God Bless America
Don’t give them any ideas. Songs about my beer’s gone flat and my truck won’t start are getting so monotonous these days. It’s time to sing about “My T-9 Won’t Stop Grinding.””My Diff’s Gettin’ Stiff.” Where’s CW McCall these days?
Sorry to say we lost CW Mcall last year. His songs are burned into my memory.
Mavis- she was built like a burlap bag full of Bobcats. She had it to-gether.
RIP Bill Fries. You made us laugh.
Cheers
GPC
I stuck a nail in the slot and fired her up. She coughed and belched up a bunch of smoke and I backed her right through the hog pen and into the yard…
I wonder about the legality of driving around with the door signage.
Armstrong steering, manual drum brakes, and 2/60 “a.c.”
Give it a tune up and a wash job and go!
It’s disheartening what little effort people will put into presenting a vehicle online. These photos would be fine for a local ad where someone’s interest would be piqued enough to go take a look in person. But, who is willing to spend this amount of money based solely on these photos, sight unseen in person? Probably an amazing truck, but that’s an expensive gamble to take if you’re going strictly by the listing and nothing more.
Also, I don’t understand the govt truck/doors stolen/replacement doors found claims. The doors currently on it were clearly painted, since the interiors are a darker olive green. So, perhaps just the doors are from a govt truck and not the truck itself?
Also, also; could someone school me on what the swing down bars on the leading edges of both doors were used for?
To follow up on my comment/complaint, this is from the text of the listing:
“As seen in the pictures, comes with factory original tool kit and hub caps.”
Really? Are there pictures that I’m somehow missing?
Also, “All original minus the rear bumper and both doors.” Has anyone seen it’s rear bumper? Or tailgate or tail lights? Or backs of rear fenders? Anyone know if it has a tailgate, rear bumper and tail lights?
Ah, my bad. The tool kit and caps are tossed behind the seat, covered in dust with no way of knowing what exactly they look like.
I grew up with Ford trucks, from 1945 (that’s not a typo. It was a coal company truck in the war ears.) to 1964 and everything in between. Our pickups didn’t have rear bumpers. When I bought my ’76 F-250 new, the bumper was an option.
swing down bars – I’d guess they had a mirror on the end of each. our farm grain trucks had those to get the mirror out paste the bed.
You sure 2/60 ac. I’m thinking more like 2/20 or 2/40. Maybe push it to 2/50. LOL. Either way. Pretty cool truck
swing down bars – I’d guess they had a mirror on the end of each. our farm grain trucks had those to get the mirror out paste the bed.
I can’t help myself , I have to comment on this truck. I consider myself somewhat of an expert on 53 to 56 F-100’s. I have had 6 of them and enjoyed every one of them, for a different reason. My interaction with them was full circle. It ranged from basically just driving them as found, to minor work, to total restoration. One I built for someone else, one took on as a consignment and sold. One was a 6 , 2 were Flathead V-8’s ,3 were OHV Ford V-8’s ,a 302, a 351 and a 390. They ranged from mild up-grades to full blown modified truck. I have sold all but one, it is the most modified of all six, also the most evpensive build. The sale prices have ranged from $17,000 to $45,00, so far.
When I read comments about what you should do with a particular truck like this one. I get defensive, if you haven’t owned one and it is just an opinion’ on what you have heard. If that is the case ,you should say “IMO” even, though I don’t know Jack, because I have never owned one.
However, I will give you an out. I have owned and driven almost every configuration you can think of. Truth is I liked them all ,and for a variety of reasons, mostly based on how I used them. Several I drove everyday. There is no doubt , that the last one is overall the best driver. It has new paint & interior, A/C, Stereo, Custom Gauges, 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, Custom Exhaust, Rack & Pinion, IFS Mustang II , 390 Ford, C-6, Currie 9 in, Coil Over 4 bar rear, It was a frame off build. I can not bad mouth this truck, as it cost the most and took the most time to build, but it has a downside too. One of the trucks that was allott of fun was an original truck, that was from new a Flathead V-8, OD, DeLuxe Cab. It had ,Modified Steeing & Suspension ,15 in. Radial Tires. It was the most original of all the trucks I have had ,but it too had a down side.
The point is this truck on B/F looks to be a very good truck for some one ,depending on what they want out of it. There is no right or wrong ,or some kind of a Number One Rule ,you have to follow. You just have to be smart and know whats best for you and most of all if you can afford it. ” A NICE TRUCK” , restored or modified will be $30,000 and thats, if you do all or allott of it yourself. All the bells and whistles,will easily suck up to 50 K.
I am sure many will say I am wrong. I would be glad to debate it with you, but I will not take sides on how it should be built, stock or modified. That decsion belongs to the guy that has his name on the title.
Reserve no met at $8,900. That’s a nice truck for someone to start with. I’ve had a 53 and a 56 F1 and they are easy to work on. Parts are available to do anything to them as long as your check book holds out. If I were to wind up with this truck (highly unlikely) I would loose that rear fender with the indention for the spare tire and replace it. I think there are repair panels available to fix that part if you can weld. I hope that who ever gets this truck can complete it in what ever direction they choose, driver or restoration, and it gets back on the road and driven.
I’d make it reliable & drive it just the way it is.