This 1959 Ford F-100 Short Bed has been languishing for some time in a New Mexico barn, but it has now emerged and made the trek to El Paso, Texas. It is a straight and solid pickup that would make a great project vehicle. If you fancy a classic pickup project, then you will find the Ford listed for sale here on eBay. The BIN price seems very reasonable at $4,750, but if that still seems to be too rich for you, then the option is there to make an offer.
The Fawn Tan paint that the Ford currently wears isn’t original, as the vehicle underwent a repaint some years back. It has held up fairly well, although the owner does identify some bubbling that is now visible. Scrolling through the photos seems to indicate that this is a solid vehicle, with no major rust issues visible in any of the floors or the bed. The dry environment in New Mexico has probably helped the vehicle’s cause no end while being stored out of direct sunlight has probably helped the paint to survive as well as it has.
The interior of the Ford presents quite well, and there would be no reason why it couldn’t be used as it is. The seat cover looks as though it has been at least partially replaced at some point, while there is an aftermarket tachometer attached to the steering column and a gauge that I have struggled to identify attached to the center of the dash. In reality, the interior has survived remarkably well for what is essentially a 60-year-old workhorse, and the new owner could easily choose to leave it exactly as it is.
For those of you that were hoping to find a V8 hiding under the hood, then you will be slightly disappointed. What this F-100 has are the 223ci Mileage Maker straight-six engine and a manual transmission, which should be well and truly adequate for most of this vehicle’s requirements. Due to the fact that the old Ford has been sitting for a while, the new owner is going to have to give the vehicle a thorough check and some maintenance before it could be considered to be ready for the road. The owner has managed to coax the pickup back into some form of life by pouring gas down the carburetor, but it sounds like the fuel system is going to need a thorough clean before the Ford runs on its own.
This 1959 Ford F-100 looks like it will make a great project vehicle, and with the growing popularity of classic pickups, it seems to be priced very competitively. It is the sort of vehicle that could be given the once-over to return it to sound mechanical condition, and could then be used and enjoyed exactly as it currently stands. If the new owner chose to follow that path, they would still own a vehicle that would stand out in any crowd.
This would be another great project. You still don’t see a lot of these on the road compared to the GM trucks. But even back when I was a kid, you didn’t see a lot of this style. Out west I think there were even more Binders. I actually preferred these to the Effies that came out before them. And I would rather have a ’57-’60 Ford over a ’61-’66. That’s the way my preferences go. Of course, I wouldn’t turn any of them down.
It’s funny how you expect to see a V8 under the hood. I open the hood of a Ford and am always surprised to see a 6. Ford was the V8 king for years, and you now see a SIX??? But come to think about it, I’d have to say that half the F-100s out west in this style had sixes in them. A good friend of mine has a ’57 Flareside with a six/Ford-O-Matic. Now there’s a powerhouse for you…
What I learned to drive in on our farm growing up, and the first vehicle I drove by myself. It hauled lots of hay, fencing material, ‘coon hounds, bird dogs, and got me back and forth to the school bus stop.
Nice truck! I’d run it around with the six, and when it needs to be upgrade, your options are open. Small block, FE, you name it. Good luck to the new owner!!
Cheers
GPC
Somehow this truck has a weird stance. Maybe the wheelwells are to big for the tires, or maybe it’s the short bed or maybe both. Anyway if it were mine it would get larger tires and wheels for cosmetics. The little 6 is okay for me being a city dweller these days. Even though I live in Texas it’s still a long way from me.
God bless America
John, I’ll bet it’s the black accent around the bottom. Gives it a whole different look. I like it, personally.
Nice truck!! Drive it!!
“a gauge that I have struggled to identify attached to the center of the dash”
Manifold vacuum?
Sure looks like a vacuum gauge to me, they were used to give drivers feedback to help maximize gas mileage.
Sold
I had a Tonka truck just like this as a kid. On it’s maiden voyage down the driveway, it went into the street and was promptly flattened by a Buick Roadmasher,,,Ken got it, that’s a vacuum gauge.
Isnt that weird?
But but I wonder why Tonka chose these Fords, maybe because it was the late fifties. :) But I recall some earlier Advance Design Chevies….metal trucks….must not have been Tonkas. Whenver I see a Ford Tonka on line or in an antique store I always smile…memories are funny things.
Even with the six ( Which I have in my ’72 C-!0) no big deal…really nice looking truck.
New Mexico, AZ, TX etc has so many rust free vehicles i wonder why people east of us go through the hassle of replacing metal because of rust. Buy your vehicle in the great SW and begin restoring.