Back in my less than aware youth of the early '70's I got rid of my 56 F100 panel truck. I traded it straight across for an almost new 250 Kawasaki Samurai street bike ('73 I think). It went through a couple owners in the San Diego area but the last people I met who owned it took it out of state. I don't have the VIN anymore due to a couple moves and loss of old records but it had a couple mods that might stand out.
It had a 352 from a '59 Fairlane mounted with home-made engine mounts welded to the frame and a 3 speed cruise-o-matic. It also had a diff from a '64 merc and 356 gears mounted under the springs with blocks welded in. The insides were pretty beat up, it belonged to a meat packing company and the inside fender wells and rear doors looked like somebody used a large ball-peen hammer all over them. When it left California is was several colors...mostly faded red...with silver, purple and gawd knows what others.
It was my party vehicle as I was turning 20.

I was just sitting here day-dreaming of the "old days" and it popped to mind. I realize chances of ever finding out what happened to it are pretty slim but...you gotta ask.

The old plate was Ca. 43637F I believe.

JohnF

 

I also am looking for my first 56. Mine was a f100 with a 383 dodge and automatic trans with fiberglass front fenders and was black metallic....then the next guy in DUBOIS,Pa painted it 2 tone maroon.
It was all imron and held up real well. I located it till 2004 and now wonder if it is still in Pa.
Funny....I couldn't care less about the other 220 vehicles I had except a few....LOL

 

Maybe we can get their pictures printed on the sides of milk cartons? Good luck on your searches!

 

Hey, you never know. I accidentally came upon my father-in-laws 51 Panel truck a few years ago. He sold it in the mid 80s and about 20 years later it reappeared for sale again locally. It changed hands about 2-3 more times after he sold. It was also in a minor accident with the right fender and door being replaced. After this seller sold it, I found it again for sale up in the Yosemite foothills. Lastly, it was traded and I found it again for sale at the Turlock swap meet. This time, a guy from Visalia had it. After that, I lost track of it.

His was an ex-Army truck. Throughout all of this time, it still retained the special rating plate inside the glove box door.

 

51 PanelMan...You need to learn to take a hint. I think you were destined to bring that Panel back home. That's amazing that you ran across that old truck that many times.

 

My wife already bought a Panel for her father to replace the one that he had. Him and I looked at his old Panel when I first found it. He didn't like it. It felt like a bad break up or a divorce. I could tell that he didn't want it back.

Interesting that the price of it kept getting increased with each seller. When I first found it, it was priced around $5-6k. Then when I last saw it, the new owner was asking something like $10-12k for it. It was way overpriced.

 

See where the founder of Papa Johns Pizza paid a $ 1/4 mil reward for finding his 1971 Camaro he sold to start the business?

 

In California ...I can see the trucks lasting a long time and having many owners and fixing them up or hoarding them....but here in the rust-belt you always wonder if it is a piece of crap or junked or worse....Iwill offer 100.00 to the finder of my ole 56.
Bill

 

Ax either that guys got waaaaay too much money or he's one sentimental guy! I wonder what kind of condition it was in and what the real value was. I'm sure it wasn't anywhere near 1/4 million he shelled out.