Description:

Here is a very presentable ‘driver’ in meadow mist green and cream white. The truck was assembled in Richmond, CA and appears to have been a ‘dry’ California truck for most it’s 66 year history. It is not a show truck, but with its appearance, it can make a respectable entry at a show. Paint is amateur quality with minor  ‘runs’ and with some variations in the gloss of the paint. The general appearance of the truck brings lots of compliments and messages of approval.

The major modification to the truck since leaving the factory represents an improvement without any compromise to the ‘era integrity’ of the truck. The factory installed in-line six cylinder engine has been replaced with a 292 cubic inch ‘Y-block’ Ford eight cylinder engine that was cast in the Ford foundry, Cleveland, OH, in 1956.  (This comes from inspection of the block casting numbers below the exhaust manifold on the left bank of the engine.  Y-block engines fitted into ‘56 Ford pickups had 272 cubic inch displacement, this engine must have been originally fitted in or intended for a passenger vehicle.  The voltage regulator is mounted on the left fender well as it would have been on a six cylinder pickup and factory fitted eight cylinder pickups had the voltage regulator on the passenger side of the engine bay. A second evidence for the engine change is the outlet angle of the thermostat. It is at a 45 degree angle towards the passenger side of the engine bay and a pickup engine would have had the outlet angle coming straight forward with the top radiator hose coming to the center of the radiator.  The engine has a two barrel carburetor. I have removed an atmospheric crankcase vent tube that had been plugged by a previous owner. It also had a vent line fitted from the draft tube to a vented fitting on the oil fill cap. A blanking plate and gasket replaced the draft tube.  I drilled the chrome valve cover and installed a PCV valve which was routed to a fitting on the carburetor.  This eliminated a major source of oil consumption. The engine runs smoothly, produces an abundance of power, with minimal smoke or loss of oil.

The truck still has shoe / drum brakes, leaf springs from and rear, straight axles, and NO power assist for the steering. This requires “arm-strong” steering especially on parking when the truck is rolling slowly or stationary.

The cab of the truck has a nice appearance. The seat has been recovered, a new headliner has been installed along with a new rubber floor mat. The slats for the bed wood have been replaced with a sheet of plywood. I removed and refitted the metal strips on the bed floor and sanded and used steel wool on the plywood (top snd bottom) and then applied a polyurethane treatment to the wood.  The truck has been regularly washed, waxed, garaged indoors and fitted with a car cover.  The truck has received frequent oil changes, oil, air, and fuel filter changes during my ownership since 2015.

In the six years of my ownership the truck has logged < 10,000 miles and the following maintenance / repairs have been made: new radiator, radiator shroud, water pump, hoses and belts, complete new dual exhaust, new tires, new generator, fuel pump, new points, condenser, ballast resistor, spark plugs, new shock absorbers, and new king pins. 

Recent cancer surgery, a Stage IV cancer pathology report, five heart stents last November after six way bypass surgery 18 years ago and now the beginnings of renal dysfunction are NOT forcing a sale, but it is time to simplify affairs by the selling of some toys and reducing some rental expenses for toy storage. (Will also sell a 2009 Suzuki Boulevard S50 805 cc,water cooled, shaft driven, motorcycle and a 1977 MGB roadster sports car.)

The Hagerty price guide for a 1956 F100,  short bed, small window, pickup in #3 condition (this truck is a VERY GOOD #3 possibly approaching a #2 condition by the Hagerty rating scale) and their price for a #3 is two to four thousand dollars above my asking price of $15,000.  I am setting my price below the established collector car value because I live in a somewhat isolated rural area in the Cascade mountains of SW Washington. (It’s a bit difficult to get people to travel out to our location to see things that are offered for sale. Just as housing and real property have lower prices in rural areas as compared to metro areas, perhaps collector vehicles should have lower prices in the hinterlands too.)

I have never tried or intended to make money on my collector car / sports car hobby acquisitions. My objective has been to enjoy them.  Mission accomplished!  Now, in selling my ‘toys,’ my desire and intent is to be honest and fair in my dealings with others.  I will be selling these items well below what I have put into them monetarily.  -  Somebody is going to get a good deal here!

Interested parties are welcome to come for and inspection and a drive. Morton, Washington (98356) is 30 miles east of I-5 and Chehalis, Washington, about equidistant (100 miles) from Portland, OR and Seattle, WA.  All reasonable offers will be considered, but no trades will be considered.  I am offering the pickup first to the Ford Truck Enthusiasts group. I will later offer the pickup for sale through Hemmings or other collector car market places.

If you desire more information, I can answer questions at 219-863-0331. I do not need any assistance in selling these vehicles. Please, if you call, leave a message, your name, and a number for a return call.  We have spotty cell service in the mountains. Your call might not ‘ring in,’ and I receive so many nuisance calls that I often don’t pick up on numbers I don’t recognize. I only return calls when a message is left.

THANK YOU for your interest in what I think you will agree is a fine old truck.

Respectfully yours,
Rob Blubaugh (aka brit-wheels-fan)