Is it worth restoring?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,374
Likes: 5,382
From: Central PA
If you got a title with the deal, $300 is a steal. You could easily resell it on eBay for 5-8 hundred. If it were mine, I would do a Mustang II front end, 302 carb engine with C-4 auto
trans. Probably the hardest part to find would be stock bench seat, so be willing to settle for salvage yard buckets or Ranger/S10 bench type seats.
trans. Probably the hardest part to find would be stock bench seat, so be willing to settle for salvage yard buckets or Ranger/S10 bench type seats.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 24
From: Maryland
I think you have to answer some questions first. What are my skills like? do i have the tools ,welder grinders etc. Will i tire of working on this a year from now? do I have a son of age that would want to bond with his dad over this truck? If you feel you are missing a passion in your life this just might be the boost you needed.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 191
From: Wharton, PA
Here is what mine looked like before I started. I was looking for a shop to have the metal work done, but was convinced by members of this forum to do the work myself.
It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
Likes: 13
From: Littleton, New Hampshire
I started with a truck about that shape. It was a 5 year project that I enjoyed immensely. If I had the energy and the time I'd do it again but arthritis and old age has done me in...
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 3,648
Likes: 816
From: Swan River Valley M.B Can
Many personal questions and goals to answer first but I ( with 30+years of autobody ) am amazed at what some on here have tackled and done well at with the vast amount of help and encouragement found on here . Your truck is in far nicer shape than lots so if you feel it's too much for you I have no doubt that some one would be overjoyed to have such a solid start and you would still have the satisfaction of knowing that you did save it .
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 774
Likes: 10
From: Simsbury, Connecticut
You have a truck that appears to have a body in better shape than my 1956 F500 when I got it. I had gaping holes all over! My floor was collapsed, both doors rotted out, both cowl panels rotted out, both interior and exterior fenders shot, hood shoot, roof shot and both rear corners shot. If your motor is indeed seized then a replacement Y-Block should only be a few hundred on craigslist. If you're lucky you might find one attached to a good transmission. I spent $5200 in parts on my truck (the tires alone were $1500) and one year of calculated, hard labor to finish my project. You CAN get this truck on the road and absolutely love it for about the same if you are diligent and practice patience. Not to toot my own horn but I am proof of that.
Before and after:
Before and after:
FTE fan
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,674
Likes: 11
From: paradise, northern calif.
If it has a title, keep it, build it, love it, drive it, and enjoy the process you will not be disappointed. looks as sound as most new projects. Oh yeah, welcome to FTE the best darn site on the web when it comes to these old beauties and us old guys that bring them back to life (some better than others) but they are all very nice eager to help kind of guys.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 111
From: southwest missouri
I would not build it (I say that in jest anymore I like them running and do little things to them) . I say that since I am older now ten years ago I started one like that and it was fun. The first thing that I would do is dismantle it and have it blasted then you can tell if it is what you want to tackle. Its the trip not the destination .Good Luck on what ever you decide. I love what these guys do on here It is nice to read and look.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
Welcome to the site
As already stated the truck looks to be in solid condition. Do an inventory on what you don't have, then put a cost to acquire the parts in order to get it road worthy.
I think the key is whether you have the "passion" to see it running. I know I enjoyed every challenge I encountered to get mine on the road. There is definitely more info on this site than you will need to complete the project. It took me 8 1/2 years to get mine on the road but this site is the place to be if you are looking for enablers.
Its only money and time.
I think the key is whether you have the "passion" to see it running. I know I enjoyed every challenge I encountered to get mine on the road. There is definitely more info on this site than you will need to complete the project. It took me 8 1/2 years to get mine on the road but this site is the place to be if you are looking for enablers.
Its only money and time.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 645
Likes: 10
Looks solid for something sitting outdoors untouched for years. At least I don't see any rust through in the pictures. I think if you got it to the stage of media blasted to remove all the rust and sealed with something like an epoxy primer it would seem like a completely different truck and not seem so daunting of a task. You have to break projects like these down into stages. It will get overwhelming if all you see is the entire truck to be restored instead of individual parts or subassemblies of it.
From the looks of the area you won't have to worry about neighbors complaining of paint odors or overspray.
From the looks of the area you won't have to worry about neighbors complaining of paint odors or overspray.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,685
Likes: 80
From: Northville, MI
I purchased a 53 f100 yesterday for $300 because the owner was going to put it out in his field to let rot as yard art and I couldn't stomach the thought of letting that happen. This is my first truck of this age and I didn't realize how much more expensive and difficult it is to get parts for vs my 75. That being said is it worth me sinking a bunch of time and money into this truck or should I part it out? Sell it to someone with a little bigger budget? Or? I hate seeing old rigs go to waste but I may have gotten myself into more of a mess than I can handle at the moment. Now for pictures.
My wife is convinced I have addiction issues, I disagree.
My wife is convinced I have addiction issues, I disagree.
I'm not sure what parts you priced out but I don't think that there is much difference in parts prices. Also I would think that the '75 has more parts. Obtaining the parts you need for you '53 is not difficult but the best sources are on the web for most parts not local parts stores..
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 772
Likes: 1
Your '53 isn't a whole lot worse than my '56 was. Just about everything on mine had some sort of dent or rust spot in it except the hood & the bed. And with a little patience and of course a lot of elbow grease, anything's possible. Since August, I've found 3 good rust free fenders, one door and a better cab for less than $1000 combined on Craigslist or in one of the nearby small towns. And there is no way I'll have $25K to $30K in it unless I have someone else do all the work & I feel there's no need to spend $10K on a paint job when Maaco will do it nice for $1500 as I'm doing this for me and not to win any trophies.