Highlights
- Impressive half-ton pickup in cream and black
- Upgraded with a 1960s 289ci V8 Small-Block Engine
- Highly original interior with a roadster gallery on the ceiling!
- Rewired with UK-compatible headlights
- Wooden boarded bed
The Appeal
In 1947, Ford were no longer looking to produce military vehicles like B-24s, Jeeps and tanks. Truth be told, when they returned to their civilian and commercial range, which were all pre-war, things were looking rather antiquated. That was something they were eager to change with their learnings from the US Army’s fleet. Fitted with ‘Aircraft-type Shocks’ and a ‘Million-Dollar Cab’, the F1 rolled into showrooms in 1948 and immediately became a fixture of…well, basically everywhere in the US.
With their aerodynamic design, lightly facelifted for the 1951 model year, these are fantastic, roadster-resembling renditions of the half-ton pick-up, and set the precedent for the ubiquitously American model.
This example arrived in the UK in 2016 and still carries a highly original interior, along with a beautifully presented wooden bed. Custom-packed with a 289ci V8, this is a rare example of a truly versatile classic.
The History and Paperwork
- Built in 1951 at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant
- Upgraded with a 4.7L 289 V8 Small-block at some point in its life
- First registered in the UK in 2016
- Only two British owners since
- Purchased by the current owner in June 2022
- MOT exempt
- Three sets of keys complete with Kansas keychain
The Interior
- Left-hand drive with column shift
- Highly impressive period interior in cream and black
- Fabulous deco dials and gauges with some modern additions
Pure Americana. The “Million-Dollar Cab” is a big, spacy, bench-seated cockpit that’s designed for comfort. 50s style comfort, that is. While you won’t find a huge swathe of mod-cons, it’s still a roomy and distinctly stylish interior. The big bench seat is finished in colour-matched cream leather, with the darker accents being laced in either black or chrome.
The dials, beautifully compressed in a multi-indicator and a speedometer, feature some slight pitting and darkening in the glasses, while still being very clear and readable. The steering wheel features a marbled trim and is decked with attractive V8 branding - and the original mount hole for the Ford branding is still visible.
The bench seat’s leather has some light scuffs and wear to the side wrap, and we note some small spots of discolouration to the bolster, but it’s of no detriment to the overall appearance.
A modern temperature and oil gauge has been sympathetically mounted under the dashboard, as has a fitting for a modern stereo system. We do note some slight spots of surface-level paint loss and corrosion, particularly on the lower knobs, but they do little to detract from the overall look.
The floor is protected by some mats - which are very slightly worn - while the grey padding on the door cards looks to be in good condition. On the ceiling, we note a faded gallery of roadster clippings, which we adore as an accent to the car’s enthusiast heritage.
Round the back, underneath the car’s pickup lid, is a pleasant wooden-boarded bed that’s been nicely kept, beautifully lacquered and seemingly free of corrosion from cab to bumper.
The Exterior
- Attractive cream and black livery
- Contrasting red branding
- Custom cab V8 branding and eye-catching yellow fog lamps
With its attractive bulbous shapes, outsized arches and visored cab, this F1 pickup is arguably one of the most iconic pieces of truck design in history. Everything here is beautifully formed and combines a powerful stance with pure deco aesthetics.
Presented in an attractive cream and black, the vendor believes all of this car’s metalwork to be original. It’s clear of dents and dings, though we do note some cracking to the paintwork and the odd bit of corrosion and flaking to the moving components - chain mounts, hinges and the like.
The contrasting branding and chrome trims carry some light wear and pitting, but it all still presents nicely, with newly re-wired lights lovely, clean and free of fractures. The truck bed doors are clean and free of issues, with no major signs of blistering or corrosion we can highlight.
The truck is sitting on a full set of period red-rimmed steel wheels, which look to be in very good order, and are wearing a fitting set of American Classic whitewalls.
Underneath, everything is clean and nicely presented. There’s the odd spot of light surface corrosion, but for the car’s age? This is a real treat, with the suspension still looking in good order and nothing that should raise a concern.
The Mechanics
- Upgraded with a 289ci Ford Small-Block V8 Engine
- Manual transmission with column shift
- Modified with a Champion aluminium cooling system
- Engine bay in very good condition for the vehicle’s age
Thoughtfully upgraded to give a distinct muscle to the truck’s performance, the small-block V8 should make this pickup an utter treat on the road. With a Champion radiator installed, the addition of a Torsion Bar on the front bars, and a newly fitted water pump and alternator, this vintage truck will be more than capable of holding its own.
The vendor reports that this imposing half-ton is wanting for nothing, and drives superbly. With those upgrades, we’d place money on it being better than it was rolling out of the Kansas plant over seventy years ago.
Summary
Whether you fancy smoking around in 50’s style aviators while blaring Bo Diddley, or you’re a distinguished enthusiast looking to take part in an American legend, this is the truck for you. A desirable colour scheme, attractive patina and smashing mods make this a superb addition to any garage.
Notice to bidders
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