Fenders,

Just goes to show you, there must be something about those "fridges"!

Lol, I just got rid of an old 1950's era Coldspot refridgerator that was in my basement. The "Coldspot" emblem looked identical to my "custom cab" door script emblems. Hmmm, if I had two of these, and I wasn't such a "stocker"..............

Driving a fridge makes you extra "cool"!

 

I don't think that anyone will dispute the fact that the '53-'56's are the quintessential Ford truck. They are probably the best looking, most widely recognized, and most popular trucks ever built by any manufacturer. I like them just fine. But for the above reasons, I doubt that I'll ever own one. You just can't do much with an original F-100 that hasn't been done thousands of times before. I'd rather build something that you're not going to see at every car show and cruise-in in America. The fridge models definitely fit that criteria, but I'm not a total masochist. I've seen VERY few around here and I wouldn't even know where to start looking for parts. There's just something about those F-1's. Smooth lines and the fenders just don't get any fatter.

 

Could you guys enlighten me on what year(s) is(are) the fridge(s)? And why do you call it that?

 

'57-60 trucks are called fridges because these trucks had flatsides and very little curves. In short they are shaped like a box which is the same shape as a fridge. It sounds better than box.

 

Hi John,

The 1957-60 Ford truck era is sometimes refered to as the "fridge years". I guess being the first Ford trucks to not have large exterior fenders, Their styling was thought to resemble that of a 1950's refridgerator. (especially white ones)

To me, they have more style than the years that followed. I guess it's just an old term that kinda stuck.

 

Kenny you should make cooler that looks like your truck with that emblem. So when your at the event you could have something that no one else has. Some may have matching pedal cars but you have a matching cooler!

 

Somebody pass the double sided adhesive tape, Kenny has just created the perfect classic Ford Truck with that Coldspot fridge emblem.

The rest of us can sell the truck and go on home. Our work is done here.

 

Nathan,
Thats not a bad idea! If I could find one of those old metal coolers with the rounded top and paint it white, put some wheels under it, and ford emblems on it, ........................

fenders,
You aint seen nothing yet. Wait till I swap out the door handles for those big 'ol chrome refridgerator door latches!

 

fenders,
You aint seen nothing yet. Wait till I swap out the door handles for those big 'ol chrome refridgerator door latches!

Kenny

You'll be as "cool" as John before you know it. You need to rewire your the jamb switches so your dome light only works when the doors are open.

 

... and I thought the light never goes out in a fridge.

 

Nathan said, "I don't think they changed the bedsides midway through 50. I do know they changed tailgates midway though. They moved the top chain catch."

Nathan,

At least on the Fords, I don't know about your Mercs, they did.

"One subtle difference in the mid-1950 models was the bed side-panels. In the 1948-49 models, the side sheet metal had a stamped, raised section. In mid-1950 the panels were flat." (Bunn, Don (1998) "Ford F-Series Pickup Trucks 1948-1956" page 43: caption below photo)

I can scan that and post it if you want.

 

I saw an earlier post say that the 1954 year was the lowest production year for '53-'56 becasue of the "big Grille", the Buck Tooth look", etc. I have seen this in written in a not so well researched book. Of course I am sticking up for my year of truck (if I had a '53 I would think they were the best!) BUT: the number of 1954 F-100's made are the lowest because of something unrelated to looks: A recession occurred after the Korean War ended and this affected peoples decisions in purchases!
The bottom line is all these trucks are good looking and we are fortunate to love such neat trucks!
abe

 

Although I own a 54, I actually voted for the 56's. Had I known the 54's would do so poorly, i might have abandoned my high moral principles and voted for the 54's.

Nah, I can't. While I do not find any of the 53-56 grills to be attractive, I do find the 54 to be the least attrative of the 4 years.
I can say that, since I own one.

In my humble opinion, that (Don?) Richmond guy has the most beautiful grill treatment I've ever seen in a 53-56. (The one where he used part of a 54? Pontiac grill )

Yah, I know - "If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you".....

 

RMF

Put a Poncho grill on your Effie and I'll kill ya. You've been warned. I have a couple shots of some really cool 54s from the Badgerland show. I'll dig them up.

 

I think I would have to say the 51-52 Fords... but it wasn't always that way.. for the longest time I thought they were an ugly hybrid between the 48-50 and the 53 on... but what do you know I buy one and it started to grow on me. Oh well, as long as its an old Ford, I don't care.

Jon