it seems as though we are the outcasts here in this forum.... maybe its just that not alot of 57-59 people are on here... anyone else feel this way?
adam

 

Don't think you are an outcast, black sheep etc. Do not know much about production numbers but bet there were more 48-52 and 53-56 built than 57-59. I know of quite a few 48-52s here in central Texas area, several 53-56s, one 58, no 57 or 59s so that leads me to beleive there were not as many built. Only rememer 1 or two from when I was a kid, when they were new. By the way, the 58 I know is stock except for wheels, paint, and is a really cool truck. Or could be that 57 to 59 owners dont have any problems with their truck, have it all figured out, and dont have to ask questions like this dummy '50 owner does. Dont feel alienated, your truck has great style.

 

Greetings from Germany !!!:-X12

... Adam, I would say you are one lucky dude having a 57-60 Ford Truck. Like bellm I find 'em way cool.

Over here in Germany I have never seen one. 53-56s I guess we have 40-50 or so of which you see no more than 15 - 20 over the year. I live in a really small town near Frankfurt and guess what ?!?!? There's another 53-56 driving by my door every day during the warmer month.

I certainly feel with you guys when you are searching for stuff that the 48 - 56ers can buy from many sources and often in many qualities like NOS, repro or used. You can't.

Reading the 57-60 posts I always feel bad because I cannot help. I only have some experience with the 48-52s (because I once had one) and the 53-56s (because that's what I try to finally finish after 18 years).

Please stick around and don't go away !!!:-X12 :-X12 :-X12

 

... forgot to refer to this site here:

http://www.59ford.com/

Click on the F-100 Pick Ups and scroll down. There's quite a few cool 57-59s. Check 'em out.

 

Adam,
I felt the same way at first, but in the 2 years since I've owned and have been building my '59 F100 Styleside, I have noticed that a lot of folks are impressed that I'm building a '59 and not the typical '53-'56 (taking nothing away from them; they're GORGEOUS). But heck, there's parts galore out there for those years; let's see them build a '57-'60

Though not as many people on the FTE forum know about our years, I have had little difficulty getting helpful feedback from those that DO know about our year trucks. There are enough knowledgable people on this forum to help out for most everything you'd need to know. :-)

Lastly, and hopefully most beneficially, the interest in buyers of our years is generating steam as, again, '53-'56's are so much more common. Consider our years as "rarities" and that increases the value!

So don't fret... there's hope for the '57's - '60's yet!!!

Take care and keep your chin up....
Daryl

 

I Love my 59 4x4, even though i'm a diehard 67-72 Person,
I had to have an original F-250 4x4, I think it has to do with
owning the first year of a factory 4x4, and also the 59's have
a front end that I love!(it looks mean) I Think the 57-59's
will catch on, heck when i first bought my 69 crewcab, I thought
i was out on a limb, but I found alot of owners of these trucks, and
swap stories and notes on these trucks. I hope this happens
with my 59 when i get around to rebuilding her.

 

Hi Adam,
Please stick around. You are needed, and you are definately appreciated here!
I have never felt that our "fat fendered" brothers here have looked down on us here in any way. In fact, just the opposite is true. Many a great '48-'52 and '53-'56 owner here have been very helpful to us "Flat fendered" owners! Especially in the areas of conversions, IFS, wiring, ideas, compliments, inspiration, guidance, etc. (just to name a few).
I know I have not been a big help in the area of "modifications". It is only because my knowledge is very limited in that area on these trucks. If you have a question regarding something "stock" or historical, I'd jump at the chance to help!

Believe it or not, there were actually more 1959's built than 1956's.

1956 F-100 pickups......137,581
1959 F-100 pickups......138,698 (not including 4 wheel drives)

It's not that we are considered as "black sheep", but rather that the older Fords with large fenders seem to have been a more popular choice for restoration for many years. For years I can remember the '53-'56 appearing to be the most popular, with the '56 being at the top.

Not to worry, the '57-'60's are gaining popularity as years go by.
More parts are becoming readily available each year through re-production companies, and more of us owners/restorers are coming out of the woodwork.
These trucks will probably never acheive the popularity status of their earlier predecesors, but that's okay with me. Many of us here (including the "fat fendered") have recognized the beauty in the first of the "flat fendered Fords"!

Personally, I'd like to say thanks to all our "older Ford" friends for accepting us, helping us, and being supportive.

 

Heck, yah, we like black sheep!!


To tell you the truth, I sorta backed into the old truck I have. I don't have it because I always wanted one. My favorite body style is the 73-79, but I kept seeing this ratty old ranch truck sitting along a street in town with a 'For Sale' sign and one day it followed me home. I didn't have a clue what year it was, only that it was old. Turns out it was a '48 which I found out was the first of the 'F' series trucks and it sorta grew on me.

Only reason I don't have a 57-60 is that I haven't found one when I had cash in my pocket and time on my hands. Celebrate you uniqueness (or rather your truck's) - you're in good company!

 

I'm feelin it too, not too many tech articles or walk throughs for the 57-60 fans. I just picked up a stock '58 f-100 with 223 straight six and 3 speed column shift. Running original engine clutch, transmission- no rebuilds. Except now I think my clutch is gonna seize, I can't even drive it down the hill to flat ground to check it out. So I am thinking about buying this 289/c4 tranny combo from a '68 mustang. How much modification is required to swap these two set ups?

 

Maybe it's because the trucks don't look old enough, the shoebox style looks just too modern? A friend once had someone ask him if his 1957 F100 was "one of the new Fords".

What I can't figure out is why there are so many trucks with 1960 grilles out there. It's gotta be the ugliest grille of the '57 to '60s.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 12-Dec-02 AT 05:46 PM (EST)]Black Sheep? I wouldn't say there that rare but if your new here it may seem that way. Like everybody else says there gaining popularity. I have only seen 3 57-60 trucks in my area not including mine. I have a particular love for these trucks now that I own one. The aftermarket makes these trucks seem to not exist. Restoring one though is getting easier I would like to see more of them on the road but thats the way it is. As for the forum stick around I found out you learn a lot and can even help sometimes. At last I would like to see this post again in 2-3 years except with "how come nobody builds the other years anymore?". Not that I don't like the other years Just my 2 cents P.S angus your post wasn't very nice. Your lucky my truck can't read or she'd be mighty mad!

 

Two reasons:

1. US economy was in a recession at the time, resulting in poor sales.

2. The 57-60 styling was not received positively by the buying public. They've been called refigerator trucks because their styling was similar to refigerators at the time. Ford styling was directed to radically change from the 53-56 styling... they did.

You'll see their "ugliness" referred to in the magazines, sometimes jokingly. Personally, I think it takes some work to overcome the frig styling, but done right you can have a very sharp truck (especially a nicely chromed-out candy apple red!).....

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 13-Dec-02 AT 00:34 AM (EST)]Awright, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said "ugliest" about the 1960 grille. That isn't true. The other year grilles look great, whether chromed or painted. The 1960 grille is the _only_ ugly one.

The '57 Ford panel van I bought last weekend is cursed with a 1960 chrome grille. She's embarassed to be seen wearing it, and wants me to replace it with a 1957 or 1959 grille.

 

I agree with Ken 57-60 were not good years for Fords truck dept sales were so bad that they were desparate to come up with something that would lure the truck buying public back. Thats why we have unibodys. But hey if you think these years are ugly take a look at a Chevy of the same years. I think 57-60 Ford trucks are buetiful things, I was looking for one when I stumbled upon the unibody I now drive. I was literally days from gatting a 60 short bed when I got the uni. I had a 59 longbed for a long time and always regretted selling it.

 

[FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="3" FACE="Veranda"]
Yeaaaa-there's no blaaack sheeeep arrouuund here. I haven't met a Ford Truck yet that I didn't like. :-)
[/FONT]
https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/StockMan/flag.gif
[FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="+2" FACE="Signature"]Thom [/font]([FONT COLOR="black" SIZE="+1" FACE="arial"]aka StockMan)
[FONT COLOR="Maroon" SIZE="+2" FACE="Bassett"]Former Moderator[/FONT]
[FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="3" FACE="arial"]

[LINK:www.67fordtruck.com|1967 F-Series Registry]