This truck showed up on ebay yesterday. Aside from the white seat upholstery and the big white mirror, it looks pretty much how I'd like mine to look someday. Even the color is right!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1953-...QQcmdZViewItem

Item number: 170072042482

 

That is an absolutely beautiful truck. I wonder what it will go for. I wonder if my wife would have to find out if I bought another truck?

 

We all could use the "top secret-no wife" garage someplace to put all the trucks we want but can't have.

But then you'd need the "top secret-no wife" bank account to fund all the stuff in the "top secret-no wife" garage...

Basically, we need the civilian equilvalent of a military "black program"!

Wife: "Honey, what do you do all day at work?"
FTE-er: "Well, I work for the Department of Transportation and study traffic patterns" (Real story: "I buy every truck I see that I like and tinker with them in my "top secret-no wife" garage, spending money freely from my "top secret-no wife" bank account!").

Ok, fantasy over. Back to work on traffic patterns.

 

Nice Nice truck. However, if my theory is correct about the lack of the public's desire for manual shifting, it will not bring high money. I predict that the reserve is higher than the bidding will top out at. High bid: $10,500 I hope that I am wrong, but.........

Now if it were an automatic with power steering... Jag

 

The automatic transmission thing in the US is funny. When I was stationed in the UK, you couldn't find a car there with an automatic transmission. They think automatic tranny's are the epitome of laziness and unnecessary complexity.

It didn't bother me as I don't mind manual shifting, but it was a funny contrast. One of many between us and the mother country.

 

One of the things I got the biggest kick out of when I bought my 54 was the manual shift on the column. I don't know why, but I thought it was fun.

 

ive heard that 3 on the trees are fun to drive but have never been around one. my 59 was already converted to 4 on the floor when i found it. thats a nice looking 53 wish it was mine. instead on top secret no wife garage i need a top secret no parent garage.

 

See...us single guys don't have to worry about any of that!

Then again....we (at least me) are always too broke to buy anything.

Funny how that works out isn't it?

 

That is a very nice truck. Too bad that my 53 F-250 doesn't look like that. I guess I could throw $30K at my truck and it would look that nice. I just happen to have a "top secret-no wife" bank account, but it never seems to have enough money it it to do anything!!

Bruce

 

I read someplace that over 70% of US drivers can't drive a manual shift.

Reminds me of the old joke about kids conceived in the back seats of cars, grow up to be shiftless Bast*rds.

What'll hurt that truck for some will be the long bed..too bad.

 

The thing about this kind of resto'd truck is that it has what they call "provenance" on Antiques Roadshow; two owners, completely traceable history. That and the fact it's in VA would make me suspect it was an easy resto; there is a big difference between a rust bucket that's had $1,000's in patch panels and repairs and a truck that was never rusted out badly to begin with. This one looks to be cherry.

I would die if someone bought it and hacked it into a SBC-powered rod with Z'd frame and 18's...

 

It's ironic that sales literature for cars of the late '40's early '50's tout column shift as a big improvement (mostly to allow 3-across seating I guess), but rodders have been tearing them out for floor shifts ever since.

Personally, on these trucks I find the stock floor shift kind of clunky, while the column shift has a rhythm that just feels "right".

 

You miss the point - the column shift used 1/4 inch rods that would twist and bend when shoved into gear, and a worn tranny could be pulled into two gears at the same time - locking it up. Floor shifts were much faster, more sure, and less prone to missing a gear. The column shift is great, as long as you are not trying to run a 1/4 mile, or even light to light.

The stock floor shift was kind of clunky, but it was for a truck tranny, with a long throw. That transmission was never built to race. It takes too long to shift an un-synchromeshed tranny, and even when they did put synchros in it took to long for them to line up.

 

Great looking truck I sure hope that mine will look almost as good some day. Problem is I would rather have something that I can drive and not worry about getting a scratch on it not to say that I wouldn't like to have this one as well. Guess I'll just keep puttering away on what I have and envy those who the ability or money to afford a truck like this one.

Bob G

 

Nice truck, it looks like a top notch restoration. I'm not sure the wheel covers are right. I think they should have the old blue block letter ford truck hubcaps.
Not to pick on it but if it won trophies shouldn't it have teeth?
As far as the floor /column shift debate, I have a 48 F1 and it has a floor shift which I love. I also have a 53 F100, which is not on the road but is a three speed column shift. I think I will like it, plus I think the column shift is an easier mate with a overdrive unit.
I would love to have that truck, except I have no money to buy it and no garge space to park it.
My.02
Jeff