From its inception after World War II, the Ford F-Series of pickups would eventually become the best-selling truck on the market. And even outsold many popular brands of automobiles. The seller’s 1966 edition of the beginner F-100 (aka F100) runs well and has loads of patina. It was also a one-owner vehicle until acquired by the seller who is a dealer. Located now in Driggs, Idaho, this daily driver is available here on eBay where it can be had for $13,500 although you can make an offer on this interesting tip brought to us by Ron Denny!
In the beginning, the F-Series ½-ton pickup was called the F-1, but when 1953 rolled around, Ford renamed it the F-100 in recognition of the company’s 50th anniversary (why not F-50?). The fourth generation of the F-100 was built from 1961 to 1966, and – at first – they were designed with unibody construction like the Falcon compact. That turned out to be a huge miscue for Ford because the bodies wouldn’t give and take under load and the doors were known to sometimes stick closed or pop open. By 1963, the unibody design was gone and the F-100 continued forward with body-on-frame construction. Production of the F-100 came to a close in 1983.
This survivor pickup may have as little as 40,000 miles, but the odometer may have turned over. We’re told there’s a six-cylinder engine under the hood, but the dealer doesn’t include a photo. The VIN indicates that should be a 240 cubic-inch I-6 with a single-barrel carburetor, rated at 150 hp. It’s paired with a 4-speed manual transmission, so sufficient torque should be present for the truck to do its job under a full load (a V8 would be better, however).
There is no mention of rust on this 57-year-old truck, but you shouldn’t be surprised to find any, either. The red paint, which may or may not be original, is well worn and no longer shines, perfect for those buyers interested in that “patina” look. The pickup could serve as a daily driver (as the seller suggests) or a more modern powerplant could be popped in, but why mess with something that isn’t broken?
Looks like a relatively clean old Ford. My association with Ford pickups starts with a stripper 1966, not unlike this example.
One owner, now owned by a dealer. Perhaps the original owner has died, but if not, these sorts of ads frustrate me. Said owner could provide tons of valuable history on the truck: what it was used for, what has been repaired or replaced, interesting anecdotes. But as it stands, the ad says almost nothing. The eight pictures are okay I guess.
Off my soapbox.
Good job Russ.
Hi Bob, I, of anyone here, feel your frustration, and you are forgetting the missing link, the KIDS that got it from dads estate, that consequently traded it to the dealer, and all connection to the truck itself, is gone. Now, it’s just an old truck with riches to be had by several,,,for a while. It’s gone, and not sure what it sold for, but it’s clear, the interest is there. Remember my squarebody? (How could you forget) It resurfaced at a local dealer, looks like they spiffed it up some, I’m afraid to see what they want. No less than $5g’s, I’m sure.
I had a 66 but it had a 352 with 3 on the tree
Wow talk about inflation in 2019 you could only get about $2500 for this truck
Is there anything that “hasn’t” gone up since then? If ya get my drift.
Hard to beat the dash and stick-shift on this old truck in my book. I hope to own a ’64 F-100 someday soon.
Ford Red or sometimes it went by different names. My 62 Galaxie 500XL was Bombay Red and highly oxidized when I got it. Several hours of determined hand buffing with compound and then polish brought the shine back. It was an excellent paint formulation that responded well to restorative efforts.
I drive my 66 F250 every day. I use it as a truck. I love the simplicity of no radio. air condition. power everything or electronic gadgets. It is an honest truck as this one is and not $70,000 plus as a new one would be. This one will hold it’s value and increase over time. You can’t say that about a new one. It also has door vent windows. Love the old trucks. Cheers.
There seems to be some misconception in the term “unibody”. The 61-63 pickups were not unibody in the true definition of the term, like a Falcon, they were simply a one piece cab & bed, mounted on a full frame. I had a 66 F250, and a 66 F100, good trucks, and like everything, prices are going up.
More to it than that, even. The one-piece cab/loadbed was only used on the F100. Remember, this was the day when the Ranchero and El Camino were a New Thing – and VW was getting into the market with their van-based Transporter trucks.
As with the later Torino-based Ranchero, it was body-on-frame, but one piece, not separated. I don’t know how Ford could have made that mistake, since any close examination of a truck at work, reveals the considerable flex between the bed and cab. Only a short, small (load-area) vehicle, lightly used, can get away with a one-piece unit.
Even AMC (Jeep) later had to physically separate the bed from the cab body on their unit-body XJ trucks.
Actually, the design was also used on the F250 as well. Ford engineers realized the potential problem under hard use, that’s why it was never available with a 4×4. In any event, the “unibody” has since gotten a new lease on life, as they are highly sought after, and popular with hot rodders and customizers, good or bad, it’s a sharp looking design.
And to add to your comments, 57-59 Rancheros were body on frame, 60-71 Falcon/Fairlane/Torino based Rancheros were unibody, 72-79 Torino/LTDII based Rancheros were again body on frame. Lesson for the day.
You are spot on on that issue of flex. The Cab Forward Econoline pickups were unibody and had cab and bed conjoined. And there was very little flex issue in those. Light duty and short wheelbase made the difference.
And one more note, many articles today reflect on the bad virtues of the unibody pickups when compared to the Avalanche and similar vehicles. The Avalanche is nothing more than a Suburban with half the roof missing, totally different concept, and I highly doubt any farmers ever loaded up the back of an Avalanche with a ton of hay or grain. Pi$$ poor comparison.
The dealer probably bought it for 5k or less and is trying to make too big a flip imo. 13500 is too much imo.Cool old truck though.I’m thinkin 5-7k if all is sound and solid and mechanically healthy.
I was wondering the same thing. I suspect the seller got it really cheap. “It’s just an old truck.”
Nice truck! Love the photos too. Makes me wanna do a portrait of it just the way it is. Sure wish I had one
of these while we were moving last
week. It could’ve pulled a double axle
trailer full of stuff along with the extra
bed space to carry the delicate things
the girls didn’t want broken. Like
Mercedes600 said, These were honest old work trucks and nothing
more. I guess that’s why I love ’em
too.
Almost forgot. Who needs a rip snorting V-8 anyhow? Just upgrade
the 240 with some modern hop up
parts and you could get up to 1HP
per cubic inch and 400-500 ft. pounds
of torque. I saw the guys on power Nation upgrade a 300 cube Ford 6 on
one episode. And if you do it the way
they did it, you’ll get the figures I talked about earlier. Other than add a
radio, that’s all I’d wanna do to it.
A dealer myself and this is quite high for a stripped down model. Pretty high even for a Custom Cab. But maybe the dealer has a lot of wiggle room on the price.
Had one of these around the same year. Had a 292 I believe. Kingpin front end and all over the road and no power steering with manual brakes. What a work horse. Paid 150 for it in 77. Where have all the good times gone?
292 and a straight axle was 64 or earlier
Great Van Halen tune. Used to jam it on my Kraco am fm cassette radio in my 72 Caprice in my young days. Diver Down.
More than slightly over priced.
My Dad had two 1965 F100 shortbed stepsides (flareside in Ford jargon)
He bought one in 1972 and the other in ’74.
Government surplus ex-US Air Force trucks.
Paid $350 for each.
240 6 cylinder with 3 speed manual.
He later found a parts truck and converted one of the trucks to a 4 speed manual.
After the 1st truck wore out, he parted it out and saved parts for spares for the 2nd truck.
He was doing a body off frame restoration on the 2nd truck when he passed away in 2001.
Had a 59 F-100 w/292 2bbl YBlock. 3 spd column shift. Could smoke the rear tires all the way through 1st gear. I was 18 and had a lot of fun with that truck until I got my draft notice. Michigan winters and road salt tore up the body and under carriage though. Fond memories (of the truck, not getting drafted).
Nice truck, love the patina, the 240 6 cyl was a dependable torque stump puller as was the 300 six- you couldn’t kill these engines