One of the iconic vehicles of the 1950’s, the 1956 Ford Pickup is hard to beat. These fat-fendered trucks were made for work and are now one of the most popular choices for hot rods and restorations. For sale here on Hemmings in White, South Dakota, this F100 has an asking price of $7,500. The seller appears to own a garage or dealership and has done a lot of the drivetrain and electrical work to get this truck into driving condition. Included in the sale are also a lot of replacement body parts which can either be used on this project or sold to recoup some of the purchase price.
The engine is a 351cid out of a ’73 Ranchero. It also features a C6 automatic transmission with a 9-inch rear end. This combination makes for a nearly bullet proof drivetrain. The seller also states there is a redone driveshaft and new floor shifter along with a new exhaust system.
The extra body parts include a new box, running boards and fenders. They appear to have come from another truck and don’t seem to be new old stock or reproductions. If the new owner decides to drive the truck with the current patina, the extra parts could be sold to recoup some of the purchase price. If a restoration is in order, the clean replacement parts will take some of the bodywork and paint headache away.
One benefit to having a rotten bed floor is the chance to see the new parts without crawling under the truck. You can see the new exhaust, driveshaft and updated rear end. Obviously, the bed will need to be replaced at some point. There are several companies that make quality replacement wood beds for these trucks in a wide variety of wood choices and hardware finishes. For now, the new owner can enjoy driving this truck as projects are completed. Would you drive it as-is or jump right into a restoration?
Nice looking project. Frame looks good?
I would drive as is for a while so I could make a decision on which route to take , either a complete restoration to original looking or do the bodywork and add some painted steel wheels with baby moon hubcaps and a nice stereo.
I am familiar with that area of South Dakota although I no longer live in that area. White, South Dakota is along Interstate 29 on the far eastern edge of the state. This is a very small town in a rural area. The closest commercial area service to there is probably Sioux Falls which is about an hour away. Nice find.
Looks like the sky is pretty much the limit on what one could do with this. The 351 isn’t a bad choice at all. Myself, I’d be happy with the 272, but that’s me. That 351 will take it a long way, and without breaking the bank. A driver quality restoration would be the direction I’d take. These trucks were pretty classy in their original livery.
Every time I see a ’56 I’m reminded of an old farmer in my home town who drove one of these until the day he died. His eyesight wasn’t all that good–he should’ve gotten his license pulled years before–but he only drove about 15-20 mph so he was pretty harmless. All you would see was the pickup creeping down the road and all you’d see behind the wheel was a hat and a pipe….
geomechs, Your story reminded me of a older gentlemen from the town of that I grew up it, his name was Harry, well he drove a 55 or 56, but he liked to chew Redman or old twist knot chewing tobacco. This guy always chewed, wore bib overalls, and always had a pouch of chew in his front bib pocket.
When he drove you never wanted to get behind him to close or pass him, because he would spit at you. The best part or grosses was the side of the old truck he drove, he would roll down the window, and spit, well of course it ran down the side of the truck and all over the side. He drove that truck until he wrecked it, I think he was like 95 at the time, this was like in 85 it think, well his kids took him to live with them, and the old house he lived in was beyond living in and the City Fire Dept, was allowed to burn it for practice. Well that old truck was sitting out back of his house, that were it was towed after the wreck, I can not remember whatever happened to the truck, but I can guarantee with wasn’t worth anything.
Hi Mike. One thing I love as much as the old trucks themselves is the stories that go along with them. A lot of colorful people shaped our past and they all had something to contribute. It’s too bad that old truck you talked about wasn’t still around; it would be something to try to revive, if for nothing else but to remember the former owner. Maybe sans the chaw. Like the truck you talked about, the one I knew is long gone. For years after the old fellow passed, that old blue and white ’56 sat in the farm yard, angle parked at the gate to the farmhouse, where he parked it every day for the 20 years that he owned the truck. One of his grandkids latched onto it and wanted to fix it up. I understand that he lost interest in it and sold it. Good things never last.
You interested in a trade for the truck I have a ’91 Cadillacs and DeVille 55,000 original miles on it called Louie if interested
Great looking truck. A bit too much rust for me in the roof front channel. Will make someone a nice project any way they want to go.
One of my favorite trucks! Wouldn’t mind this in my driveway. I like running, driving projects.
The ’56 was the nicest of this style, with built in sun visor. I’d prefer it was original, but at least it has a Ford motor in it. Cool truck. And are those pictures of when they found it? If so, someone did a lot of work on this.
I drive a 53 Ford P/U, which has the same exact running gear, 351, C-6,and a nine inch, I also have torsion bar front end, and A/C, and I love it. It is my daily driver and is just a fun truck. I have owned 2 before this one and just finishing building one for a customer. This 56 is off to a great start, and if the mechanics are good, this could be a good deal. The spare parts are needed , I would use them all, the big concern, is all the rust in the rest of the truck. It might be easier to find a different cab, and then you start thinking ,what am I buying. There is no doubt these trucks are desire-able, I rarely have a day go buy that someone doesn’t ask me if I will sell my truck? Of all the cars I have owned over the years, I have never had so much interest, and its not just car guys, it just seems that having an old truck to drive, is really a cool thing to allot of people
I will be in Grand Forks, ND this weekend. I will keep my eyes peeled for more patina packing possibilities