I am my own worst enemy. I love old cars and trucks, mainly Fords, and although I have enough junk I still scour for parts and nice old vehicles almost daily. It’s like crack,I can’t kick it and love the hunt. I’ve had an infatuation with the 57-60 F-100’s nearly my whole life. But earlier this year I found and bought a clean 55 F-100 and that opened a whole new can of worms for me. It’s metallic green and I had visions of a bitchin mild custom truck. I was collecting parts and scheming and all was well in my world. I went to the Monroe WA swap meet this past weekend and about the last thing I looked at was the vehicles for sale. In the very back row, I spotted a 53 F-100 and beenlined to it. This was it, this thing is bitchin. Old green paint, character, beautiful original interior paint, no spare tire well in the rear fender and a flathead V8 that runs like a sewing machine. Obviously a low mileage truck that has been cared for it’s whole life. I looked it over for about 1/2 hour and talked with the seller. Shit I wasn’t prepared to buy a truck let alone, do I need another? I ended up walking away and about 15 minutes later thought “you big dummy, go back there or you’ll regret it”. So I went back, looked it over and agreed to put a down deposit on it and I am heading back to get it tomorrow. I’m so stoked! So my plan is to sell some of the other trucks/parts I have and narrow it down to one or maybe two pickup projects. I really only need (need?) one old truck but this is baby steps. So here it is: 1953 F-100 custom cab. Flathead V8, three on the tree. Odometer shows just over 40,000 Miles. Open the door and the dome light comes on. I think everything works. Truck has some small areas of common rust on the lower cowl and front and rear fenders which I will probably repair. The plan? Soup up the flathead with dual carbs and headers, I have a Borg Warner OD trans is like to put in it, lower it, and still build that tasteful mild custom hauler. I’ve been collecting chrome bits for my 55 project, and I’m not sure all of this will go on the truck, but some will for sure. Otherwise just drive it, and use it like it was intended.
This is some of the paperwork that came with it. The truck came from colorado in the early 90’s to a guy in Eastern Montana who obviously loved and maintained it as all these receipts and such are from him. It sold to a fellow in the Seattle area two years ago. The Colorado newspaper has the ad the truck was advertised in. It was listed for 1500.00 and there is a copy of title and bill of sale for 1200.00 in 1994
Here are some of the chrome goodies I had collect for my 55 F-100. Like I said, I want to build a lowered mild custom, but don’t want to gawd this truck up too much. There’s just enough “early Ford” guy in me to not want to fuck stuff up when it’s been preserved longer then my dads been alive. Maybe stupid? Some guys wouldn’t care? That’s just me.
Damn nice. You sound like me and my buddy Lou. Can’t pass up a oldtruck, this followed us home Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
That is a fine looking truck! I'm particularly fond of the 53-55 Ford trucks, mainly cause my dad has owned this since before I was born(I'm 33). That's what it looks like now/when I hauled it to my garage last summer. Can't wait to see more on your truck!
That is a solid truck! Original everything, nice 30K service performed underhood, left rear fender is the only 'sin'! (mine has a similar left rear bruise, no stretching, but will require some athletic massage) Steering wheel is super nice, is the shift linkage 'tight'? Lube it. I had a similar simple trailer hitch on mine, added struts (7/8" DOM tubes) from hitch bolts to frame, both sides. (30" long) Now I have a receiver that I modified to 'hide' up in there. Strong? Yep. Now... That '53 is a pleasure to see.
Chris, the one pic with the parts laid out looks like something from an old AMT 3 in 1 kit. Good luck figuring out what parts to use. Nice score!
I will forward this post to my wife , so she will know that I am not the only nut case into old trucks , very nice score . just one more
Wow!! What a cream puff.. Old school saying!! Looks real clean to me would love to run up on one like that plus all the Bling you have for it..... Going to be a real nice ride.. Very nice Score!!
That truck is an absolute peach! I’m a Chevy guy but I’d be proud to have something as cherry as it is. SO glad you didn’t use the “p” word tht gets assigned to so many decades-long neglected, rusted-out pieces of crap. This truck shows its been on the road for 60+ years but lovingly maintained by its owners. As you say, I’d fix the minor rust issues, polish it and drive it happily. BIG thumbs up!
Someone heated up and worked that kink in the fender out. You can see in the old pictures I have the kink is there long ago. And whoever worked it didn't do a super nice job. If I fix it I think I would use a donor piece from another fender and put in it. The truck has one repaint of the original color and is just far enough gone that I think I could blend it in and it would not be super noticeable. That's how I plan to fix the small rust areas as well.
I missed seeing that truck at Monroe, although I didn't get to the car corral ares until after 1. Nice truck.
I wouldn't do anything to it. Its pretty much original and its certianly not broke Why fix it? Why not drive it and enjoy it as is?. Spend your time and money on your other projects.
That’s my summer plan, however ultimately have a bone stock pickup doesn’t interest me much. A dropped axle and some speed equipment on the flathead won’t hurt it. The more I drive the truck the more I like it as-is, so the mod list is getting shorter.
Drove it up to my parents house yesterday, about 20 miles away. Did really well except the 4.27 gears make it pretty slow. Will probably upgrade to something in the 3.50 range in the future. Steering/front end is loose, will address that too. Otherwise, I added the tires and wheels and mirrors I had and that’s about it. Haven’t even washed it lol
Drop that down with the stance your buddy's blue one had and that truck would be perfect. Then sell it to me.
The more I study it and drive it the more I think a simple lowering and flathead soup up will do the trick. So will hold off on all the chrome and bling for now. The truck just doesn’t need it
Well he wanted to make sure it got home is all, can't blame him. That truck is amazing Chris. A little altitude and attitude adjustment and away you go. You gotta be running outta space by now? Or are you parking them in the open field across the street at this point haha
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