I'm looking to purchase one of these but there's not much variety on eBay and I've searched Hemmings. Anyone have any ideas as to where I can look. Thanks very much! Phil from NY

 

Phil, welcome to FTE, The first thing we need to know is just what are you looking for. Are you looking for a project truck, a finished truck and of course what truck are you looking for..ie. F-1, F-2 F-3 or are you looking for something larger than a pickup? Have you checked your local area craigslist?

 

Hi Joe,

Thanks very much for taking the time to answer me. I guess I want the small one, an F1 1/2 ton. I think that's what I'm looking for. Finished and with a modern V8, power steering, you know, modern. I had my eye a on a couple of beauties on eBay but the year wasn't right. I prefer the smaller width and smaller hood than on the 50 and up models. I can spend 25 thousand and I think I can get something pretty nice for that. I haven't tried Craigslist but will do that next. Thank you, Phil

 

Welcome to the forum. 48-52 are essentially the same size and pretty much the same truck with very slight variations. Starting with 1953 and through 1956, Ford enlarged the trucks slightly, a bit more cab room, a bit more refinement. $25K should get you into a nice decent driver quality truck.

 

Phil, 51 and 52 have the narrow hood also. I found numerous f1s on Ebay for less than your budget but ultimately did a google search for F1 for sale and found one at a specialty dealer in Ca. Here is one to get you started, has flathead but for the price you could change.
1951 Ford F1 Two Wheel Drive Pic

 

Here's a few that I found
1952 FORD F1 PICKUP
51 Ford F1-Custom Pickup-Must See-
19 49 custom street rod Ford F 1 Sell or trade
1952 Ford F1 Pick up
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1948-Ford-F-100-F1-Custom-Pro-Touring-Pickup-Truck-/121186061581?ViewItem=&item=121186061581&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&forcev4exp=truehttp://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1949-Ford-F1-Custom-Truck-Frame-Off-Restoration-/290984493557?ViewItem=&item=290984493557&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&forcev4exp=truehttp://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RESTORED-SHORTBED-STEPSIDE-V8-AUTOMATIC-DISC-BRAKES-POWER-STEERING-/370906956726?ViewItem=&item=370906956726&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&forcev4exp=true

 

I'm going to bid on this:

1950 Ford F1 for Sale | ClassicCars.com | CC-452985

I managed to track the owner down. It was on eBay a month or so ago and I saved one of the photos and on the photo it had the builders name. They're trying to get 45, yes, forty-five THOUSAND dollars but after speaking with them they said that they may lower the reserve. We'll see. Phil

 

Thank you, thanks to all of you! I think I'm liking the earlier grill that's on the 48 and 49. I've seen a few of these trucks but I'm finding that for a little more money you can really go up in truck quality. maybe I should wait until I have more money. i don't know. I've been looking at trucks for so long I'm at the point of just forgetting about it. Phil

 

This is by far the nicest one I've seen but the wrong year. I might consider it though it's so nice.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-Ford-Truck-Pick-up-F-100-Custom-Cab-/261294024678?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&nma=true&si=kB%252FAc6gBMiGODsR9GCjuS0e09cQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

Oh, another man with good taste, who recognizes the beauty of the "Monkey Face" over that of the "Manure Spreader."

Seems that in this hobby, bargains sometimes show up when least expected and sometimes where least expected.

So far as quality, a personal evaluation, sellers reputation, or trusted knowledgeable person on site is really the only way to determine what quality you're looking at. There is a lot of questionable quality in some builds.

 

Yeah, my parents taught me one thing well, taste. I grew up working on cars and motorcycles. I have my 5th Harley now, have had 3 Ducatis' and a bunch of others and a Buick Grand National. THIS is my idea of a quality build but they want a hundred G's and it's much too much motor than I need but this is my goal to get to:

RickDesign.ca > Gallery

 

And like half of the trucks I look at have Chevy 350 motors. What's up with that? Phil

 

Phil, the earlier grill, what we call the 'Monkey face' was on the 1948,49 and '50 models. The other grill, what we call the manure spreader was on the 1951 and '52 models. As for the chebby 350 motor, they seem to be a motor that fits, can be had in many cases for a reasonable price, is widely available and has countless options and after market parts available. Many on this site, myself included prefer to stay within the brand. I am about to pull my flathead out for a rebuild, but I did also consider installing a more modern engine in it's place, but I was adamant that he would have to be a Ford engine.
BTW, we do have many members from NY but I wondered what part you may be in. Having moved to Tennessee 8 years ago I realized quickly that if I told folks I was from NY, they automatically thought I was from NYC, so I learned that I had to qualify that by adding the WNY or Buffalo/Niagara Falls before they understood.

 

I've looked at so many trucks I'm losing interest. I'm from Westchester County, one hour north on the city. I want to stay within the brand too but would prefer a more modern engine and a chassis that handles. I'm considering a Coyote motor when I have the bread, probably ten years after I buy the truck. Then, in fantasy land of course, putting a blower on it. Yeah, right. Phil

 

Everybody has their own opinion but I think you should be able to get a real nice truck for $25k.