Asset Situation
Married gearheads know full well the intricacies of negotiating spousal approval. Creative thinking can be a real asset when trying to land a new project—a little innocent persuasion can also help. Back in 2019, Todd Allen faced this exact situation when a 1959 F100 caught his eye. It quickly became a 'must have' truck, so he hatched a somewhat sly plan.
Photos courtesy of Goodguys|Fuel Curve.
Approved Preference
Without consultation, Allen purchased the truck and took it to a friend's shop to make the old Ford roadworthy. In order to get his new project 'approved,' Allen decided to appeal to his wife's preference for eating organic food. Intentionally worked to look sun-faded, fictitious Misty River Farms logos were added to the doors by signpainter, Seann Glaspy.
Lettered Ploy
To help the cause and hopefully seal the deal, Glaspy added 'Always Organic' under the logo. To complete the ruse, 'Farm Fresh Since 1972' was lettered along the bedsides. Selecting the name Misty was not a random choice either, it is Allen's wife's name. The ploy worked, but one can only imagine how that conversation rolled out.
Horizontal Staple
The 1959 F-100 is a third-generation F-Series truck. Produced from 1957 to 1960, these pickups marked a significant design change at Ford. Notably, the cabs were widened and the wrap over hood followed suit. Initially released with single headlights in 1957, dual headlights became a staple for the rest of third-gen production. They are the only Ford pickups to have dual, horizontal headlights.
Economy Appliance
Along with the integration of the front fenders, the smooth Styleside bed made its debut on third-gen trucks. Allen's F-100 retains its original but faded paint—replete with age-related patina. Ford tried the brand slogan 'Certified Economy' for its third-gen line but it never stuck. Instead, 'Fridge' became the nickname of choice for most enthusiasts, given the truck's resemblance to kitchen appliances of the time.
Dropped Custom
In the 'definitely not stock' category are the eye-catching, 20'' copper-coated rims from Detroit Steel Wheel Co., shod with low-profile white-wall tires. The pavement-scraping stance is courtesy of Slam Specialties airbags and custom suspension from Outkast Kustoms in Newark, California. The front now rides on a Mustang II unit with dropped spindles and the rear was fitted with a four-link.
Dual Power
In the 'definitely stock' category is the original inline-six, but with some go-fast goodies. The 223 cubic-inch motorsports a pair of Weber two-barrel carburetors attached to a dual intake manifold. Doubling continues down the line with dual outlet headers and dual peashooter exhaust. Power gets to the big back wheels via the factory three-speed transmission. The clunky, three-on-the-tree, column shifter was also retained.
Healthy Fridge
The F-100 may not be fast, but it sounds good and looks cool. A Mexican blanket and a healthy swath of pinstriping complete the interior. The Gem Top cap perched on the short beds box rounds out the restomod theme. It is hard to fault Allen's cleverly executed bit of deception. After all, looking into this 'Fridge' reveals nothing but healthy choices.
>>Join the conversation about this F-100 right here in the forum.
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