It isn’t unusual to find classic pickup project vehicles that require major rust repairs. That makes this 1951 Ford F3 a refreshing change because its rust problems are pretty minor. It has been parked in a barn since the 1960s, and it is now begging for someone to breathe new life into it. Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, you will find the F3 listed for sale here on eBay. It has received some solid interest, with 19 bids already submitted. However, these haven’t pushed the price to stratospheric levels. The bidding sits at a mere $1,631 in what is a No Reserve auction.

The F3 was parked in the 1960s due to a mechanical issue, and you would have to think that the barn it has sat in for the past five decades must have been a dry one. There is plenty of surface corrosion for the buyer to tackle, but not a lot of penetrating rust. There are some small spots in the floors and some in the lower edges of the bed, but That appears to be the worst of it. Some of the areas that are usually more vulnerable, like the lower cab corners, look surprisingly good, as do the lower doors and front fenders. The panels wear the usual assortment of dings and dents, but these all look like they could be addressed without the need to resort to panel replacement. The Meadow Green paint is well past its prime, but if the buyer is considering the F3 as the base for a rat rod project, it would be pretty appropriate as it currently stands. One pleasant surprise is that while some of the glass is starting to get cloudy around the edges, there are no signs of significant cracks or other flaws.

The Ford’s interior is complete, but it will need some work before it could be used. For me, the starting point would be to give the whole thing a thorough clean. The seat will need a new cover and padding, and while the wheel is cracked, I believe that a patient person might be able to restore it. The painted surfaces show deterioration consistent with a vehicle of this age, and it will need a refresh. I have talked about interior restorations on these classic pickups before, but it does bear repeating. These are remarkably simple to disassemble, making them a prime candidate for restoration in a home workshop. Any individual with an eye for detail regarding metal preparation and painting can achieve some stunning results for peanuts. If the wheel can be salvaged, the only costs involved here will be for a new seat cover and padding, a new rubber mat for the floor, plus the price of paint and other consumables. The rest of it comes down to time and effort. I would encourage the buyer to give it a go because there’s no feeling quite like stepping back and admiring an interior that you have revived with your own two hands.

The pickup comes equipped with a 239ci flathead V8 that would have been pumping out 100hp in its prime. A manual transmission performs shifting duties, but I’m unsure whether it is the heavy-duty 3-speed or the optional 4-speed transmission. The F3 served its original owners well into the 1960s before valve problems laid it low. The owner lifted the heads to fix the issues, but that’s as far as it got. The engine has now remained in its current state for nearly half a century, but looking through the supplied photos, I believe that all of the parts are present. A significant amount of corrosion is visible in the cylinder bores, so the buyer will need to investigate whether a rebuild is viable or whether a replacement motor will be on the agenda. This might be an opportunity to slot something more potent into the engine bay if a faithful restoration isn’t the ultimate goal.

This 1951 Ford F3 Pickup proves that there are still some great old classics sitting in barns just waiting to be discovered. While it will need a lot of work before it is returned to something like its former glory, the buyer will have firm foundations from which to work. The F3 doesn’t command the sorts of prices that we expect to see for its little brother, the F1. However, it still performs well in the market, and well-restored examples regularly sell for figures beyond $30,000. This one will require some work to get to that level, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t be possible. I hope that someone sets to work on it soon. After half a century in exile, it deserves a new owner willing and able to return it to its former glory.