Boy, when one looks back and think's of all that was and all that could have been.......
I'm gratefull for all the "rides" I've had, each in there own way.......have allways been a p/u fan, even back when they were'nt "cool".......I like just about anything pre '72, but have allways really liked the earlier style of the 48 to 52 F-1's. For whatever reason the 53 to 56 gained alot of popularity and kind of got "overdone" IMO.....not that they are'nt cool too, in there own way........personal preference and free choice come to mind as well......My 17 yr. old son was working on ideas for his Sr. high school project that he has to do and decided that he wanted to build a "hotrod"......long story short, he got to liking the 51-52 style, the good lord blessed us with finding the one we have and the rest as they say is history.......What makes this project the most special for me, is being able to spend the time with my son, helping him to learn and keeping the hobby alive as well!!!..........Doug

 

I have a 48 F1, a 51 F5, a 79 F150, a 91 F250. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My eye sez 67 to 72 body with aluminum grill, ranger with buckets around 1969, I have been lucky enough to build one for my little brother Carl. He still has it.

 

Jack,

I agree with you! I like the looks of the small window much better too!

 

I like the '54 Ford pickups the best because I have one. If I had another year I would like that year best. As someone said earlier, many times it comes down to fate and circumstances.

I have told this story many times: in 1977 my 57 Chevy Bel Air needed the tranny rebuilt. I was at home the summer before my last semester in college. I needed a vehicle to get from home to summer school (nearby) and to my construction job. My Mom says Grandpa wants to sell his old Ford pickup. I bought it cause I needed it, didn;t care what year or model it was. I got the tranny rebuilt on the Chevy, later bought a cool '55 Chevy 2 door sedan, but kept the Ford F-100. After I got my first teaching job I sold the 57. My Dad sold his '48 3/4 ton Chevy pickup 5 window cab. I wasn't interested since it was a 6 cyl and a 3/4 ton, not because it was a Chevy. In 1984 I sold the 55 Chevy to buy an engagement ring. A very good investment, by the way!!!! But I kept the truck and of course it is now a past of me and I think the '54 Fords are the best.

Actually I like the '53-'55 models as they are pretty much alike.

 

This 56 is my second one. I love the big rounded fenders. I like the cowl vent. I like the rectangular wing windows. I prefer the small window cab to the large window, too much green house effect for me. To me it seems there is a bit more room in the cab because the windshield stands more vertical and wraps around to the wing windows. I like the visor-like overhang on the front of the cab roof. I think the grille looks the best of that era.

They are a bit nose heavy but that's to be expected with the engine, transmission and associated hardware up there, and a wooden floored single wall sheet-metal bed.

Just my opinion. I like them all, just prefer the 56 if I am going to own it.

 

I leaned toward the Bonus Builts because at the time they were less common. I like the 53-56 but for me personally, the Cab seems a bit big in respect to the Box. They are probably nice inside with the width though.

If I was starting from scratch I'd get a Fridge. I was at a race shop one day and a guy drove up in one that was lowered with a jillion cubic inch FE Stroker and it was love at first sight.......

 

I chose the 1959 because I never see any of them in my area and just like the ole truck. Im just learning but I really enjoy the truck and hope to restore it to its glory day!

 

I like the looks of the 53-56. Ford made a truck with style and body lines. The vehicals of today seam to look like a box. I puchased my truck when I seen it for sale just down the street from my house. I had a 51 flathead for my first ride as a kid. I do regret selling the old girl. The 56 I have now is a dream of mine to restore one from the fame up. After working on the truck awhile its always great to see that others have the same passion. Keep up the great posts. Tim.

 

Being a hot rodder at heart, I guess I'm not really brand loyal. If it has the style that I like then it's fair game. I really like all of the fat fender cars and trucks of the 30's through the 50's, but the 48-56 ford trucks always stood out to me. I may have been influenced by the fact that my father had a 51 F1 and my brother had a 56 F100 back in the 50's. As a little kid I logged quite a few passenger miles riding around our farm in those trucks.

I've always thought that the 56 F100 was the best looking truck built in the 50's. The roofline of the 56 fixed the greenhouse look of the 53-55. I believe that Truckin magazine in the 70's kind of fueled the 53-56 popularity since they always featured one in every issue and had numerous tech articles on them. NOW.... I've got to go upstairs and dig through my old magazines. I think I have the very first issue of Truckin, 1973 I think. Those old trucks bring back the memories................

Andrew

 

I chose my '50 because I like the look. In retrospect, I would have been better off with a later model for parts avaibility. Most salvage yards don't keep older stuff anymore and when I see a truck in a farmyard or storage location, etc., they are usually later models.

Maybe the problem is I am in my 3rd year of the restoration.

 

slant cab for me.like most old women,they where all sexy back in the day.when ever it was.

 

I looked around for a long time before I bought my 50f1. I like the way the front end looks. Around here you see a lot of 54-56 running around but not many 48-51. So when I found mine I jumped on it. That was 4 yrs ago. I have never got to drive it yet but I sit in it in the garage and make a lot of VaaaRoooom noises. Maybe this yr I'll get it to the point that I can drive it. I also have a 54f100 that I bought from the fella that I work with. I paid $200 and a 10' single axle trailer for it. I'll start on it after I get the 50f1 on the road. RUSTY

 

I got this 51 F1 about 6 yrs ago.My dad had a 51 F1 & i took my driving test in it.
That got me started on old ford trucks.30 yrs ago i bought my first f1 it was a 6cyl
with a 4 speed,half of the floor in the bed was missing-the speedometer did not work-
emergency brake was broken-the seat had big holes in it.But it was mine!! Later on money got tight & so i sold the old girl after i had fixed her all up.Well no i have another
51 f1 flathead V8 & 3 on the tree (for now,i want to go to the dark side) Bob

 

My thing with 53-56 Ford trucks started when I was about 6 (29 years ago) I drove my first truck in a hay field (1st gear and could not reach the pedals and just steered) while my father was loading hay on a trailer. It was a 53 and I was in love from there on. I finally got my first 53 when I was 12 after hanging sheetrock all summer to pay for it(how many kids do that now?). I remember back then all I had for classic truck info was Dennis Carpetner catalogs and truckin mags. Oh how great the Supernationals were in the 80's from what I read at the time. I do remember that if you had a 56 it meant in a weird way that you had more money than the slant cab guys and oh if it was a BW well then you were the #$it. As I grew older, I understand now the error of my uneducated ways but with that attitude and work ethic for the last 25 years, I was able to achieve a dream of mine, a 56 Ford (small window). I just love the factory sunvisor on the truck. I still miss that 1st 53 that I had and sold (stupid, stupid).

 

my truck was geven to me. But I always loved the look of the 51 52 grills. When I was younger there was a 51 F1 on the side of the interstate for years and I wanted one. My truck kinda chose me. I do like the small window on the 48-50 models and the shiftometer on the speedos. Not that I would listen to it I just thinl they are cool.