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Art & Inspiration What's the best[-looking] pickup truck design?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by sgtlethargic, Aug 23, 2020.

  1. Dirk35
    Joined: Mar 8, 2001
    Posts: 2,067

    Dirk35
    Member

    I personally think the 35-36 Ford Pickup is the best looking, but it sure is small on the inside!
    1935 Ford PU Before 1.JPG 1935 Ford PU.JPG


    Having said that, I built and sold my 35, then built a 1949 Ford PU with 51 Front fender/hood/grill for my daughter. And three people fit WAY better in the 49 than you could ever squeeze even two people in the 35. Itll get shiny paint some day.

    View attachment 4846733 1949 Ford PU Front Left.JPG
     
    Chavezk21, MO_JUNK, SlamIam and 8 others like this.
  2. chappychapperton
    Joined: Jul 16, 2010
    Posts: 74

    chappychapperton
    Member

    Nothing beats the toothy grill on a 51/52 F1. That’s why I took my truck to the dentist for a few extra Chicklets IMG_2752.JPG



    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  3. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,220

    flynbrian48
    Member

    I like my '48 Diamond T. No better looking truck made. IMG_0075.JPG IMG_0016.JPG
     
    rustymetal, Jigger, ffr1222k and 17 others like this.
  4. Wanderlust
    Joined: Oct 27, 2019
    Posts: 788

    Wanderlust

    chryslerfan55 and Elcohaulic like this.
  5. Wanderlust
    Joined: Oct 27, 2019
    Posts: 788

    Wanderlust

    B77EA0B2-AFC1-4B0D-8F4C-FA6B42258CBD.jpeg Kind of partial to my short box uni
     
  6. Elcohaulic
    Joined: Dec 27, 2017
    Posts: 2,212

    Elcohaulic

    I never knew the Diamond T existed in pick up form.. That looks like a serious pick up..
     
    Atwater Mike and MO54Frank like this.
  7. trikejunkie
    Joined: Dec 2, 2011
    Posts: 220

    trikejunkie
    Member
    from Scotland

    sheenas camera.jpg I have posted pictures of mine before , but if you want space in the cab and an ability to haul motorcycles -1950 long bed International Harvesters are hard to beat (especially fitted with a 327 sbc)
     
  8. Gee @Elcohaulic, I had no idea you and I thought alike.


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  9. grumpy65
    Joined: Dec 19, 2017
    Posts: 920

    grumpy65

    '28-'29 Ford closed cab tickles my pickle. '29 pickup 1.jpg '29 pickup 2.jpg
     
  10. 0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Joined: Nov 12, 2010
    Posts: 1,783

    0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Member

    Can't think of a single example posted that I disagree with or that I could not make my own with some personal changes . But my personal choice would be the 56 F1 , or a 57 Ranchero. Although I do have a soft spot for the 59 Ranchero also! Now if they had built a 59 Mercury version of a Ranchero I would be beside myself !! Larry
     
  11. 59Apachegail
    Joined: Apr 30, 2011
    Posts: 1,504

    59Apachegail
    Member
    from New York

    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  12. dirt car
    Joined: Jun 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,045

    dirt car
    Member
    from nebraska

    So many choices, 30's-40's Fords, mid 50's Chevy's,( Cameo's come to mind), don't slight those 37 Stude's, 50's Stude's, as they were ahead of time with those slippery body lines & others such as swept-wing Dodge's, or even throw in a Diamond "T' or two . Many in original form maybe not so popular but with refinements & tasteful alterations any can appeal to at least a portion of the critics.
     
  13. 38bill
    Joined: Dec 20, 2019
    Posts: 147

    38bill
    Member
    from Minnesota

    stude 6.jpg

    I like them all but if I have to pick just one it would be the old Studebaker.
     
  14. [​IMG] The 37 stude coupe-express is my favorite
     
  15. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,190

    bchctybob
    Member

    That’s a damn fine looking truck, don’t think I’ve ever seen one of those.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    nunattax likes this.
  16. jnaki
    Joined: Jan 1, 2015
    Posts: 9,294

    jnaki





    upload_2020-11-11_4-2-26.png
    Hello,
    Since I am not the only one to like the Ford F100 body style, that design is a hot rod classic. If there ever was one called a classic. Most of the trucks have been modified nicely as there is not much needed to be a cool truck.

    As a little kid, I walked by a full custom, 1956 Ford F100 pickup truck almost every day. The owner was a local businessman and parked this custom truck out in front of his storefront business daily. We walked by it numerous times and liked that it has a radical off angle chopped top, Tahitian Red paint, chromed reversed wheels and white walls. The interior was all white tuck and roll, including the inner roof. I had no idea that this businessman was even interested in hot rods and trucks, but it was there on the main drag of our Westside Long Beach community every day.


    upload_2020-11-11_4-6-33.png
    One day, I even got a ride back to his storefront business from the local Mobil Gas Station mechanic. He had just completed a tune up and some other modifications and asked if I wanted to go for a short drive down the street.

    It was my first custom car/truck ride and it was very cool. Tahitian Red Paint was very popular in the custom car world and this truck paint job was just letter perfect. It shined and stood out for blocks against the daily grind businesses along the main road in our community of the Westside of Long Beach.

    When I see another 55-57 Ford truck, little things always remind me of that cool truck from our neighborhood. Those memories of the daily walk by and finally a short drive inside of the custom truck are now fading fast as the owner has “left the building” and the files are history. The family was not into the custom car field and so the calls, research and emails have stopped after he was gone. So, hopefully it was in one of the early custom car magazines that made it through to today for all to see.

    Jnaki

    Now, that we are physically larger, despite liking the truck, we might have to extend the cab for more height and leg room. I was 8-9 years old and there was plenty of room inside and under that unusual chopped top. Today, that chopped top would bother me while driving around. That cab extension would give anyone over 6 feet to feel comfortable without a cramped seating style for driving.

    One of the most impressive Ford F100 trucks since 1957… “The Painter’s Truck”
    upload_2020-11-11_4-8-48.png
    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/that-vintage-push-truck-look.1137864/#post-12941021

    upload_2020-11-11_4-9-25.png
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2020
  17. guy1unico
    Joined: Aug 30, 2006
    Posts: 1,152

    guy1unico
    Member

    This one is for sale by the way... Classical Gas site

    32.jpg
     
  18. 66gmc
    Joined: Dec 4, 2005
    Posts: 603

    66gmc
    Member

    20191006_161628.jpg
    36 Chevy lowcab, but I'm a little biased.... Someday I'd like to get this one on the road.
     
  19. The 35/36 Ford is it, the very best looking truck.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2020
  20. joel
    Joined: Oct 10, 2009
    Posts: 2,467

    joel
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    waxhead and Hamtown Al like this.
  21. jnaki
    Joined: Jan 1, 2015
    Posts: 9,294

    jnaki

    upload_2020-12-10_4-26-56.png A total of 125,000 miles later, one major water pump repair at 120k and that was it.

    Hello,

    Ever since owning and cruising around in a 40 Ford Sedan Delivery, and a 58 348 Impala, this ownership of a new 1965 El Camino was totally different. No more cruising around with someone in the back seat, other than a 250cc Greeves desert racing motorcycle or surfboards. Any type of music would sound great coming from homemade 6x9 speakers hooked up to the stock AM/FM radio or a newly developed, cassette tape player.

    The cabin was large enough for three comfortably, but small enough to hear any great rock and roll music. Those homemade 6x9 speakers behind the seat back areas just sent the best music right up the wall and slanted window into our ears. The small chamber became a large concert arena.
    upload_2020-12-10_4-27-32.png Shrine Auditorium… Los Angeles

    Yes, it was a 65 Chevelle 2 door station wagon without the rear sloped window and extended roofline. It even had the station wagon rear foot well area in the bed as a secret area for really private stuff. So, it was different, but comfortable for a road veteran traveling 600 plus miles round trip, almost monthly, to go to my new college in northern California and back home to Long Beach.


    Jnaki

    The coolest thing was the newly developed factory air shocks that helped support the rear bed with heavy loads. We had seen plenty of trucks from our neighbors heavily loaded in the back bed, driving down the street with the nose in the air stance…(maybe they were the fake Gas Coupes/Sedans/Trucks in training for 6-10 years later)

    The idea of air lift shocks was never in play until 1964 for any American factory made truck. This was a consumer first. But once the El Camino came on the scene, plenty of old trucks were sold/traded in for the new body style and air supported rear bed area. No longer did the trucks do the low rider bumper scraping. A little gas station air did the job to level out the ride and handling of those heavy loads. Our neighbor took a while to learn the ins and outs of the factory air shocks as his 64 El Camino was level one day, dropped in the rear the next day and when the rear was emptied out, a stink bug look up in the air.
    upload_2020-12-10_4-27-56.png

    My take on that up and down scenario was handled with a custom installed air shock gauge that told exactly how much air to put into the pair of rear shocks. The gauge sat connected to the air line under the small rear panel shelf, out of sight of prying eyes. So, through the twenty something years of plenty of miles all over California coastal and inland, with a few forays into Baja California, our 65 El Camino was trouble free until we were ready to sell the El Camino to get a larger station wagon for our growing family.
    upload_2020-12-10_4-28-30.png
    photo by Vnak... Westside of Long Beach

     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2022
  22. Flat Six Fix
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 1,270

    Flat Six Fix
    Member

    Okay here's my C Series 1955 Fargo. Not too shabby. Not saying its the best, but looks okay. 20200129_145000.jpg
     
  23. drtrcrV-8
    Joined: Jan 6, 2013
    Posts: 1,707

    drtrcrV-8
    Member

    I guess there just ain't no love for the '41-'47 M-5 Studebaker!! The "narrow-nose" one... Or what about the '57-'58 Ranchero??
     
  24. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,802

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    A good friend has been searching for a 56 Ford pickup with Chrysler power for years. Finally had one built in northern Nevada by some fellow Bonneville Competitors. I think the builder nailed it for him. For your info it didn’t start life as a big window. CB0BE391-434C-418A-92D5-212EE4C91CB2.jpeg 9361BE95-85DE-4A20-B243-C96A66321D3D.jpeg DB6EF664-2286-4121-B6DF-486C194C2D48.jpeg
     
    OahuEli, rustymetal, Jigger and 9 others like this.
  25. nunattax
    Joined: Jan 10, 2011
    Posts: 3,052

    nunattax
    Member
    from IRELAND

    i like them seriously cool truck imho
     
  26. Ratmother
    Joined: Jan 23, 2022
    Posts: 26

    Ratmother
    Member

  27. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    ^^^^ I've got the brother & sister! (roadster & tub)
     
    nunattax likes this.
  28. nunattax
    Joined: Jan 10, 2011
    Posts: 3,052

    nunattax
    Member
    from IRELAND

    lets see them photos,love the tubs
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2022

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