I have a lead on a 1949 Ford F1. It is original, numbers matching, former show truck with excellent interior. It has been sitting up, garage kept, since 1987. It obviously will need tires to be road worthy. Obviously I need to make sure it will turn over, if possible fire up and run, the condition of the fuel tank, electrical system, etc etc etc. I'm curious as to what specific mechanical things I should look for before making a legit offer to buy this truck.

Additionally, I am interested for any knowledge of the market with buying and selling these trucks. My intention is to basically get it running and road worthy to then resell. I won't reveal what the asking price is but I will describe this truck as a premier barn find owned by a little old lady that doesn't really know what she has. I don't want to take advantage of her naivety but obviously want to get it as cheap as possible.

Any knowledge willing to be passed on would be helpful.

Thanks,

Chad

 

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like an intriguing opportunity. I would NOT recommend trying to start an engine that has been sitting for many years, with old sludgy oil, flat gas, possibly rotten fuel lines, etc. See if it turns over by hand, take along a breaker bar and a 7/8" socket (assuming it's a V8).

No such thing as a "numbers matching" truck in this era, just not numbered at all.

 

Good to know and consider. Is there any way to identify if the engine is original. I believe it is because the lady who owns it said her husband bought it from his father who had bought it brand new, and has said it never was used much. Plus since it has something like 30K miles and was a show truck I can't believe it's anything other than the original engine.

 

Short of completely disassembling it, no way of telling if it "could" be original. Even then you can only verify that is is the correct era of engine. There are no identifying marks linking it to a specific vehicle.

Pictures are necessary to tell anything about condition and value.

 

I will hopefully have some pics here in the next day or so. Best way I can describe it, short of pictures, is that it appears to be in excellent condition, but needs a bath, a fine tooth detailing, and maybe a buff job on the paint.

 

Welcome Rebel!

As Ross said, this beauty should not be jarred from its long slumber by trying to fire it up. Conditions I would check:

Frame / body - rusty? just dirty? modified?
Brakes - assume the lines are rusty and the wheel / master cylinder need to be replaced
Fuel tank / line - crud filled and not ethanol tolerant (for soft lines)
Cab - any current / past inhabitants?

Basically, you'll want to learn who / what has been living in various parts of the truck.

Unmolested survivors have a market - if they run and drive. Unless there is some special historical significance, the fact that this may be a former show truck isn't going to translate into dollars. Current condition will rule the day - no surprise there.

Good luck with the recovery - let's hope it gets a second life on the road.

DW

 

Curious what makes a stock truck a "show truck"? IMHO a stock show truck should look like it just rolled off the dealer lot. Everything under the hood painted original colors without chips or damage, oil leak stains or grease buildup, all decals in place and not chipped or scraped up, perfect bed floor (was originally painted), original or full repaint in original color & paint type, original brand/size/tread pattern tires, etc.. Any vehicle can be called a "show truck" if it was once entered at a local lawn or mall parking lot ego show. There are no standards or requirements at these shows except paying the entry fee. That doesn't add anything to the value.

 

Maybe it was a 'show truck' cause he used it to take his girlfriend to the movie picture 'show'.

 

I would guess it just means he wasn't working it any more. Parades, cruises, etc.

 

Those type "show trucks" don't add anything to the value.