Truck spot: 55 Ford F-100 pickup

A landmark truck, if there ever was one

Happy New Year! $30 million bucks is a lot of money today. Still, in the mid-50s, it must have represented a fortune to Ford when it decided to go back to the drawing board to redesign its F-100s using something that had never been done before, an ergonomic study. What they came up with was a stunning example, like this week’s spot, a 1955 Ford F-100.

The bulk of that design money, $36,433,984.96 in today’s dollars, was spent on the 1953 F-100’s “Driver Engineered” cab, which was created using the “Measuring Man,” a life-size model of Average Joe Trucker. “Driverized” features like improved control locations, sound deadener in the doors, and an even wider seat guaranteed that Joe and his buddies would feel right at home. Also new was an enlarged one-piece windshield for added visibility.

A high-compression 223-cid OHV six-cylinder replaced the F-1’s 215-cid six in 1954. But more momentous that year was the appearance of Ford’s first modern OHV V8, the 130-hp 239-cid “Y-block,” which superseded Henry’s good ol’ “flathead.”

Ford owners began holding onto these trucks in the 1970s, and Ford knew it had a hit because this second-gen F-Series truck was one of the first post-war pickups to gain collector status. Fewer were left to rot out on fence lines, and a lot saw engine swaps and less than authentic restorations, which makes a bone stock example exceedingly rare today.

Rare is this one I spotted. The paint was spectacular, as was the bed and interior. I didn’t get to peek under the hood, but I did hear it start up, and it packed a big V8, so most likely a restomod.

RELATED Spot: A classic Jeep pickup, 77 J-10 Honcho.

The 1953-1956 Ford F-100 is popular with street rodders for its simplicity, iconic looks, and lengthy list of aftermarket options. These are among the most sought-after F-100s as this vintage tends to be popular with street rodders, with modified versions making up the majority of listings I found. Expect to pay from the upper $20k to lower $70k range, depending on the quality of the work performed. These are a fun investment from the beginning days of pickups as we know them.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out this week’s spot. I have plenty more on the site, so be sure to take a look at them too. Come back next Sunday for another one, along with some of its history. Have a great week.