Ford has dominated the pickup truck scene for much of the past 70 years, and here’s where it all began the first generation of the F-Series, which was built from 1948 to 1952. This one is a 1951 half-ton that’s been out in the woods for far too long – a tree has managed to grow up through the front bumper! The resourceful seller decided to cut the tree down to free the truck, and what’s left of the Mighty Oak (or whatever) comes with the Ford at no extra charge! Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this poor soul is available through a dealer here on eBay. Brisk bidding has raised the ante to $1,625 (no reserve).
The early Ford F-Series trucks were also known as the Bonus-Built models. Their introduction marked a divergence of Ford’s car and truck designs, developing a chassis intended specifically for truck use. Alongside pickup trucks, the model line included panel vans and bare and cowled chassis, signaling Ford’s entry into the medium and heavy-duty truck segments. All these trucks were produced with “flathead” engines, both of the six-and-eight-cylinder variety.
We don’t know the history of this poor vehicle but given one of the worst (or best) examples of patina we’ve seen, this old truck was forgotten about many years ago. Wherever it was left, enough time went by for an entire tree to grow through the front end – and not just a little sprig, but something you can wrap your arms around. The seller elected to leave that in place, which would help turn it into a most interesting prop or piece of lawn art.
Rust abounds everywhere, including the frozen steering box, and the 239 cubic inch flathead is also locked up. So, restoring this truck may not be viable, and harvesting it for parts might not result in much of a bounty, either. But since the vehicle rolls, the seller can help machine-load it onto a trailer. And he/she’s willing to deliver it most anywhere. So, that begs the question, what would you do with it when you got it home, wood and all?
Imagine if Disney had seen this truck when they were developing characters for their movie “Cars”. Instead of the truck called “Mater”, this could have been called………..
Stump?
Stumpy
Henry Barker
Forest haha
That’s pretty funny, just about everyone that is an old fart today, fondly remembers “that pickup down by the lake with a tree growing through it”. Dang if we knew how it got there, and off we’d go. Fast forward to today, with these fast approaching used Ferrari prices, for some reason, they made the point, I’d remove the whole bumper/tree assembly, for modern art value later, and a fortune literally awaits with the truck,,,cough,, or so it would seem, almost sad they cut a nice tree for this heap.
I see it has a whopping 44 bidders, and up to a plausible $2500, which I could understand, after all, it is relatively complete, it’s the fact 44 alleged bidders are interested in this. Really? Has the supply been either depleted so far or resto-modded, that the bottom of the barrel like this is even attractive to someone? I, and many others, never thought we’d see the day. ( in our recliners looking out the “starin’ window)
Well… that’s actually 47 bids (last I looked) from 12 different bidders… So, not quite so many people as you think want this old hunk of junk to grace their front yard….
Without the tree, I already understand that it should be preserved with it so…
This has no price.
Woodie…
Nice one for $500.
A truck with a trunk!
I have owned several of these 1951, and 1952 versions. Having the original flathead v8 option is a real plus. Everything is available for them.
A pressure washer with sand injection would reveal truth behind patina rather quickly. Fast with primer to follow up would instantly increase value.
I have hab mine for a lifetime. It just keeps getting better!
Looks like the seller cleaned out all the old trucks from an old junkyard
It is Yard Art, but already over priced even for that!
see our long term comments (3 yrs?) on a local ‘van’ (1930s? 40s?) both corporate history and automotive ‘had done to it’ the ‘same way’. The tree, however, had made a much more extensive invasion of the vehicle. Now nicely being restored not many mi away (hr’s drive? Florence, MA to CT?).
One of the ol roadway express type cos that “delivered for the Chessy” a
type of ‘middle man’ much of the supply chain in this country had for yrs.
Would be a cool oddball curiosity at car shows, but it needs so much work. You could save $$ by turning it into a ratrod over a resto. Once it becomes “that truck” that people have seen before, you can create more interest by hiring a chainsaw artist to do a carving at a show. Maybe a tiki god motif perhaps?
Make this thing run and drive as is and then slam it head on into something really solid enough times to wrap the doghouse around that tree trunk, fix whatever damage to the radiator necessary to make it run and then drive it to shows and in parades.
Is the truck running or just happy to see me?
I’m not about to pay that much for firewood.
The wood is worth more than the truck.