The current owner of this F-100 inherited it from his father, who acquired the classic pickup back in 1982.
Family Affair
For decades, Ford trucks have served as what amounts to just another member of many families. Many of us own pickups that have been passed down one, two, or even three generations. And that's precisely the case with Hickory, North Carolina resident Rick Cline, who recently told the story of his dad's 1965 Ford F-100 and how he acquired it to local news source the Hickory Daily Record.
Photos: Robert C. Reed
Fond Memories
Cline inherited the classic Ford truck from his father, who originally bought it in 1982, back in 2002. He has fond memories of riding around town sitting on the floor of the truck while his uncles and cousins filled up the bench seat. Like many of us, he also spent quite a bit of time riding around in the bed, which is something that you just don't see anymore.
Photos: Robert C. Reed
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Fully Restored
Today, this gorgeous F-100 is fully restored, with its original numbers-matching 352 V8 under the hood. It's backed up by a three-speed manual transmission with column shift, and it also has power steering and power brakes. The color isn't original to the truck but is a Ford color at least. And it looks so good we won't deduct points for that.
Photos: Robert C. Reed
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No Sag
Otherwise, this pickup is completely original, according to Cline. He notes that it wasn't in bad shape, to begin with, as his father took excellent care of the pickup over the years. "Older men used to say how great of shape it was in and how straight the frame was," Cline said. "Apparently after years of use, these old trucks used to sag in the middle."
Photos: Robert C. Reed
>>Join the conversation about this 1965 F-100 right here in the Ford-trucks forum.
Pure Passion
Cline's story also sounds very familiar to many of us, as does his passion for dad's old truck. "This truck reminds me of my childhood. I learned to drive a stick on this truck. It’s made with such thick metal that it pings when you shut the door. It’s so easy to work on. I used to hold the light when my dad would work on it. I literally sat inside next to the engine."
Photos: Robert C. Reed
>>Join the conversation about this 1965 F-100 right here in the Ford-trucks forum.
It Was All a Dream
As for the color change, Cline apparently has a pretty good reason for his one deviation from the originality of this pickup. "I love the colors I picked out," he said. "The paint is like glass. I had a dream about my truck being this exact color, I woke up and decided, "Yep, that’s it."
Photos: Robert C. Reed
>>Join the conversation about this 1965 F-100 right here in the Ford-trucks forum.
Familiar Tale
It's certainly hard to argue with the results, as this is one seriously beautiful F-100. And we can also appreciate Cline's story, which sounds much like the ones we hear from many Ford Truck Enthusiasts members. But then again, Ford trucks aren't just a mode of transportation for most people - they're just another member of the family.
Photos: Robert C. Reed
>>Join the conversation about this 1965 F-100 right here in the Ford-trucks forum.
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