Round ’em up, move ’em out …. sorry, I’ve been on vacation in cattle country, but that describes the approach to the sale of this nice F-100, packed in among a few others of its kind at the seller’s shop. The seller has no paperwork describing the mechanical work that’s already been accomplished here, but was quick to note he’d let the truck go for an offer of around $9000. It’s currently listed on eBay for $9555, or best. Yes, it’s a ’55 with a ’53 grille. Bring your trailer to Fresno, California to haul it home. The great thing is, if you don’t like this one, the seller might have others available.
Here’s the small block Ford V8, dressed with what looks like a Holley. The engine does not run but does turn “by hand”. The wiring needs to be installed, and the truck comes with a modern harness. The transmission is an automatic; the tires are new. Originally, this half-ton would have come with a 223 cu. in. inline six, or the brand new 239 cu. in. overhead valve Y-block V8, good for at least 130 hp. The Y-block was introduced in 1954, and along with the re-development of the cab, became one of the most momentous changes in F-series history. The new engine retained the same displacement as the flathead that came before it, but both horsepower and torque increased significantly.
When Ford commenced F-series production in 1948, it spent $1 million on the design of the cab – a lot of coin in those days. The focus was comfort, so the cab was roomy, with easy sight lines to the road, and the beginnings of ergonomics improving the steering wheel, the gearshift, and the switches. The “million dollar cab” boosted Ford’s sales, ranking the F-series ahead of most other trucks for decades. In 1953, Ford upped the ante, spending $30 million to widen the cab further, increase the glass area, build better cushions into its seats, lower the hood line, and otherwise attend to driveability features. This was the ’50s, and the race to enhance the driver’s experience was well underway. Here, the seat covers and carpets are new, leaving the interior usable as is. A ’53 anniversary horn button is installed.
The sheet metal is quite straight, and the paint is said to be original. The seller notes just a few spots of rust. The bed wood has been replaced, but the factory pieces come with the truck. At less than $10k with a few mechanical needs, this truck is reasonably priced, given the sky-high entry fee prevailing on most “Effies” today. If this truck dropped in your driveway, what direction would you take the restoration? Back to stock, or steer toward a resto-mod theme?
Hook everything up, paint it and hit the road.