The idea of a vehicle you can see endless potential in as garage or yard art but struggle to justify owning for any other reason is a quandary many of us have faced. How many small business owners with no meaningful revenue run out to buy a truck that could be used as a marketing tool? It’s awfully tempting to think about the potential of a rig like this 1952 Ford F600 which was apparently a former fuel tanker truck for an airport, especially if you happen to own a landing strip somewhere that could benefit from some vintage eye candy. Find the Ford here on craigslist for $6,850.
As someone who spends way too much time studying vintage planes I’ll never buy and scouting out small, regional airports I’ll never park one at, I’ve gone down a few rabbit holes as it relates to old-school aviation. If you spend some time around these independent air parks, you’ll find all sorts of interesting machinery, from the personal vehicles of pilots who stash a project car or two in the hangar to old heavy-duty equipment that slowly fell into disuse as the airport became less and less active. These communities are tight-knit, no matter how many pilots fly in and out on a weekly basis, and I’m surprised this Ford escaped from whatever hangar or lean-to it was hiding in.
There’s no mention of equipment or running condition, but the bodywork certainly looks tidy. I’ve seen these F600s equipped with the 292 V8, which was rated at around 135 horsepower. That’s purely a guess, on my part, so please weigh in if you’ve got a better sense of what’s under the hood. The fact that this Ford is in Oregon and looks this good is of little surprise; some of the best vintage tin I’ve seen hails from the Pacific Northwest, and locals act like it’s no big deal to find a truck like this with virtually no rot. The paint looks to be one shade, so who knows – it may even be original.
If it were mine, you can bet I’d treat it to a Shell Oil paint scheme. White cab with a yellow tank and the iconic shell logos on either side with a gigantic one on the back. It’s hard to say whether Shell was providing jet fuel service at the time this truck was made, but I’m sure it’d be a hit with both racing and aviation enthusiasts all the same. My question is, what would be in the tank cavity? Water? Cold brew coffee? A rolling margarita machine? The possibilities are endless; let us know how you’d restore this Ford tanker truck in the comments below. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the find.
I’m so sorry to have to correct you Jeff, you are usually very educated about the old FORDs, but, it’s not a 52. I know you got that right off the CL ad but you should have caught the mistake. It’s a 1956. The one year only grill, the wrap around windshield and the side emblems on the hood, 100% 1956. A 1952 had the smaller cab, maybe big enough to hold two grown men. The Sanford and Son truck was a 1952. If I had it I would have to paint it in TEXACO scheme, red with TEXACO on the tank, fill it with gasoline and park it in my backyard as my own emergency reserve.
Gasoline starts to degrade after 6 months of storage. Your emergency reserve would be pretty much worthless after 2 years.
Welp, so much for that brilliant idea. Then I’ll fill it with red wine, I hear wine improves with age.
plus in 1952 it would have been a 239 flat head V8
This is a pretty cool old vehicle (based on what we can see and read about in the meager ad), but just what to do with it becomes the problem. My sense on using vehicles as yard art at a business is: they get refurbished to the extent that they are useable; then they just sit out front and, unless at least occasionally used, before long end up looking weathered and dismal and may not even be operable.
I hope someone can buy it and give it some love.
Thanks Jeff.
Growing up my dad was the manager of a small airport (that grew to a medium size one) and so I’d paint it in Gulf oil colors to match the ones from my youth. I can still smell that 80 and 100 octane as it flowed into the tanks of the planes on the ramp. Hopefully someone will find a use for this old truck.
Not much of an ad, “50 something Ford F600 for sale, $6850.”???
Must have been a long ways from the fuel depot to the airport, 78k is a lot of miles for something that rarely left the lot. All that said, if it was me, I’d scrap the tank, put a cattle/grain/dump body on it and use it.
I just sold a nice 1955 with a hydraulic dump bed and original paint for $3500. Waiting to ship to Maryland.
I agree,it looks looks like a natural for Gulf oil livery.
NOT a 1952!
Was going to say a 56 model but, Woofer beat me to it
another C/L ad with too few pics and info but they were quick to mention that its B/J material. i don’t think so
First thing I would do after getting it home is remove the tank and put a rollback bed on it to haul other cool stuff make it safe and drivable and just enjoy it.
First I must agree with Woofer, THIS IS A 1956.. A one year design of the last year of the 1953 fat fender cab with the first year of the wrap around windshield. I have a 1955 F-600 in the garage with the 239 Y block engine, by 1956 your could also get the 272 or 292 Y block in it, I am unsure of the 312(??), But Ford made a 332 Y block for trucks in this era. The “Super Duty 401,477 and 534 built for trucks engines came out in 1958. The first thing the buyer would have to do is get rid of the 5 degree Firestone rims!! These are the true “Widow Makers” that come apart in the middle. With some measurements there are RV’s with the same bolt pattern. One good thing about this truck for most people it will fit in a 26 to 30 foot garage with 7 foot doors so storage in urban areas will not present a problem. the 1956 style is unique enough to make this truck a valuable show unit. Paint it in your preferred oil company colors and logo (mine would be ESSO) and enjoy the conversations at car and truck shows.
Being a Canadian, I’d paint it in the Canadian Tire paint scheme.
I would turn the back half into a smoker. Fold down steps on the side to access the grille. Feed the fire at the rear with two doors. Add two truck stacks near the cab for vents. Great for car shows, any event etc.
This orphan is obviously not wanted.
I’ve been seeing the ad for it on Craigslist for a couple years. I think it was closer to 15k when I first started seeing it- maybe in 3-4 years it’ll be down to a price and I’ll buy it.
Me, I could see it returned to stock, with beer taps adorning one side of the tank, and with a Ford 460 in it. That power would be needed to tow the trailer with the massive wood smoker. Now THAT is the ultimate food truck/ caterer.
Pictures alone should sell it….right
Left two comments here about making it a smoker, neither got printed. Guess I’m not in the special club. This used to be a good site. Now it’s nothing but pop up adds over the story lines. I didn’t use any bad language, don’t need too. So why ???
Your comment was just pending moderation because you’re a first time commenter. If you don’t like the ads, you can always sign up for a membership to browse the site ad-free.
I’ve got a yard full of these large trucks. Just trying to get rid of them.