Standing tall over the pavement (isn’t that where most trucks are used now anyway?), this 1960 Ford F-100 Custom Cab 4X4 is waiting for a new owner to make it fully roadworthy. The current pavement it’s standing on is in Richardson, Texas — why does this not surprise me? The “Fridge” is listed for sale at no reserve here on eBay and bidding isn’t even up to $3,500 with less than two days to go as I write.
The seller correctly notes that Ford didn’t make many factory 4×4 pickups back in 1960. 1959 was the first year you could actually get a Ford-built 4X4; previously available trucks were all converted by various outside companies. I wasn’t able to find a production number for the 4X4s specifically but there weren’t many of them. I did, however, find out that enthusiasts of the 1958-60 Ford trucks call them “Fridges”, I assume due to the period styling.
The seller tells us that they are the person who hauled the truck out of storage and that it has not been painted. They have also put brand new tires on it, rebuilt the carburetor and added the following new parts: coil, wires, plugs, cap, rotor and a floor mat. It now runs on a buddy tank, but the fuel system will need cleaning out to get it back on the road. The seller has also purchased new brake and clutch master cylinders along with a clutch slave cylinder but hasn’t installed them yet.
Would you keep the body patina knowing there’s some rust, or would you start a restoration? We see so many old trucks with the “blanket look” seats that to a modern eye that might seem like an original feature!
Strangely, the seller is not including the battery with the sale. On the bright side, they state that they have taken a video of the engine running and can send it to you if you are interested. The seller says that the engine sounds good with no knocks or unusual noises. Have any of you owned a “Fridge” before? Tell us your stories in the comments!
That’s what’s great about this site and their talented writers. Being a dyed in the wool truck nut, I never heard the term “fridge” for 3rd series F series before. This is a nice find, and it’s not a M-H conversion, this was all Ford. As is, it would be a nightmare to drive. I bet everything is worn. Front cab mounts are of particular concern with these even on trucks that look ok. Cool truck, but as an owner of a vintage truck, be prepared for the “nickel and dime” thing. Autoplace will love you.
Howard, you’re very kind to us writers :-) Thank you!
As far as the truck goes, you’re right, I’ll bet it would be all over the road. Then again, having just gotten lucky myself with a driveway find old Ford truck bargain, you never know!
“fridge” as in reliable as a Frigidaire. And it was.
I had a 1960 long bed in turquoise. Put some wood rails on the side of the bed and nice chrome dual exhaust tips. This was the late 80’s, I used to get a lot of thumbs up from the people passing me.
Howard that is the first thing I checked out. I blowed the picture up and looked at the fron of the door to the front fender and the seam betweeb the cab and bed. They both look straight,but I would still check it out by crawing up under it and check things out. I really like these 58-80 Ford pickups. My neighbor had one. They used it to delivery grocerys and on the farm. His son on come down the road and turn the switch off the back on and it would backfire. I told him one day he was gonna blow a head gasket or the muffler off. It never did tear up. haha
Well and correctly said, Howard.
Do you suppose they call it a “fridge” because of the front grill design, or that they just kept running and running, like a refrigerator, until it got to the stage where it was more costly to fix it than to but another? Just a thought..
I too had a ‘60. It was a two wheel drive short box. Little if any rust even though it had a cheap re spray. It did have the wrap around rear window also plus some replaced the column shift lever with a clear or an beer tap handle. I had big plans (this was in ‘77) but soon after I bought it, the engine started knocking badly. The engine had been “doctored” to run. I got rid and bought a much nicer ‘66 F100 custom cab. It was pure simplicity right down to the manual choke.
Loved that old truck.
I too have never heard of these being called a “fridge.” My thought was that it is because of the squared-off styling, much different than the rounded look of the previous generation. Plus, maybe, the heavily styled chrome grill being reminiscent of refrigerators of the era which sometimes included chrome accents. Maybe someone in-the-know can fill us in.
My (future) father-in-law had one of these, F250, 2 wheel drive, manual steering and brakes, 4-speed transmission. I don’t ever remember driving it, but watching him, I could tell it wasn’t an easy drive. Especially in town while also trying to tend to his cigarette. Probably would be a shock to someone used to a modern pickup (me).
Thanks Jamie.
Ya the “fridge” moniker is new to me also, custom cab is a plus for these as is the big back window. I have a friend in the scrap business who had a grain truck come in awhile back with custom cab trim, he let me pull all the trim before you know what happened to all the rest, it was a small back window so I let it go. Recently retired a 60 farm truck with a good cab, might need that trim I saved someday.
batteries not included?? For petes sake go to a junkyard, buy a $20 battery so you are selling a running vehicle. Looks like a lot of surface rust and as howard A said the cab mounts are of huge concern. To fix these properly you have to take the cab off the frame. Huge problem here in the rust belt. This fridge would look o so cool in the original red and white. I think I’d leave the six in it or convert to a 300 cube but leave the 4wd setup in and functional. That engine compartment is cavernous so just about anything fits in there nicely. Good luck to the new
Out west in 1960 you could count the number of 4×4 trucks on one hand and have fingers left over. One of the local farmers bought the almost identical twin to this one for a hunting truck. It had a 272/4 spd. Kept it for years then sold it to a hoarder. It sits out in a hay field and it’s going to be ‘fixed up’ some day…
I have never heard it called a fridge either. We had a 1959 F250 with a 292 and 4speed, it drove horrible and was all over the road. It had 8-19.5 tires from the factory, I always thought that had a lot to do with how it drove.
And yes they were bad about failing cab mounts and rusting rocker boards. I learned to drive a stick in that old truck and use to drive it all over our shop lot when I was a kid.
I liked these when they first appeared on the scene in 57/58-60 Our neighbor had one but since then my tastes have changed. I now prefer the 55-56 models and the later 65-66 models. Nevertheless I sure wouldn’t turn this one away if the price were low enough which it doesn’t appear to be.
God bless America
“Fridge” as in “reliable as a Fridigaire”. And it was.
Pretty sure the fridge term was adopted more recently because of the more current refrigerator-like shape. If you think back to 57-60 (assuming you’re old enough) refrigerators were much more rounded. My best friend’s dad bought a new one in ‘59 and drove it until he retired from carpentry. George bought it from his dad and drove it for another 15 years.
I was born in California and lived there until 1968 . So during that time I only knw about 2 wheel drive trucks . Then we moved to Washington state and I saw trucks that were 4 wheel drive and used in logging jobs . I fell in love and of course lots of 59 tru 63 fords but not to many chevies . I loved seeing and always wanted a 59 or 60 Ford . I love the style and in 4 wheel drive looks really tough !!! I would love to see it restored and the curved back window is a plus . I also like to see the 6 stay in . To many are converted V8’s
“Fridge”? Years ago, I had a white ’67 Volvo 144. With the boxy shape and a grille that reminded me of a refrigerator shelf, the car practically named itself “Norge”! I love the red and white paint scheme on this truck, but imagine if it were all white….
Interesting old pickup and you guys are right not many 4×4 back in this day but they sure got your attention when you saw one! As far as the battery goes I can’t think of much more RIDICULOUS as to say that about something as necessary to the vehicle! I wouldn’t buy it just because of that!
I had a ’58 F-100 short bed that I drove to high school, and then back and forth from Cincinnati to Ga Tech. Had a straight six and three on the tree. Going from 1st to 2nd, the tranny would ring like a bell. It was originally red, but had a bad respray in chartreuse. At least the interior was still shiny red.
I drove it for a mile with no oil pressure once when the oil pump shaft wore out. Replaced the shaft, and kept driving it. Never let me down.
I love restored things, don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of dropping in a 300. I’m not as young as I was so I’d add power steering and replace or fix that seat just for comfort. Go through it and take care of any mechanical and safety issues it may have and drive it and use it. Restored is cool and pretty but why take a perfectly useable old truck and make it too nice even use it as it was designed for?
I’m all for restoration too, but I tend to avoid ending up with a project that owns me; I like a ‘Driver Quality’ restoration. Use it and enjoy it but don’t need to check into an institution for six months of mental therapy should a seagull bomb it.
hahahahhahahahahahahaha seagull bomb—hahahahaha I had a seagull drop a pork chop bone on the hood of my 64 Dodge in Va beach. Does that count? hahaha
4×4 truck with a standard transmission you can’t get a new truck that way today!! I tried and you can only get an automatic!! Times have changed but in my opinion not for the better!!