Daily Slideshow: This Rusty Blue 1950 F3 Pickup Hauls a Lot of History

1948 - 1952 Ford F-Series

Every legacy has a beginning, and Ford’s F-series started way back in the late 1940s, with a vehicle simply called the F1. Following the conclusion of World War II, these trucks had a refreshing new look, consisting of recessed headlights, a more rounded exterior, and a wider cabin. The series was available in eight variations, as the F1 to F8. The higher the number, the higher the GVWR of the vehicle. Its limitations ranged from the F1s 4,700 GVWR limit to the F8’s 22,000 GVWR. 

This blue rust pickup featured here is a Ford F3. As the years progressed, these trucks are getting harder and harder to find unmodified. They tend to either be a rotting habitat for the local wildlife, heading to the recycling bin or restored to their original glory. But some owners choose a different the path of restoration, focusing on internal revitalization and keeping the history of its journey in the natural occurring patina, as we see here.   

The Pick Up

Rusty picked it up in pretty decent shape. The cancer wasn’t too bad as the patterns of surface rust created the foundation to polish off a beautiful patina finish. Inside you had the usual foot well rust, but surprisingly no big holes. Although its fair to mention that the center console and gauge components were either missing or broken. The bench seat was in decent shape, at least in terms of the age. And last but not least, the bed has definitely seen better days.  

 >>Join the conversation about this very distinguished F3 right here in Ford-trucks.com.

The Revival

The patience required to take apart machinery that's been rusting for over six decades is nothing to scoff at. Rusty made sure to douse the front and rear drums in liquid wrench and let it sit over a couple days. After some time, the disassembly started. He had the brakes relined at Chucks Trucks LLC, which the bench seat and truck bed were removed to access heavier sections of rust. 

On the outside, he managed to clean some of the aging wear using a polishing compound. While it definitely was not the original color, the blue still held a subtle but beautiful shine to it. The rest of the body received the same treatment, thereby bring this old truck back to life.  

 >>Join the conversation about this very distinguished F3 right here in Ford-trucks.com.

The Interior

There’s a special kind of appreciation to be had for simple restore builds. It’s not about the cleanest paint job or a full-fledged restoration. Instead, we see someone pay homage to a classic, by making their cars a rolling example of history. Inside, Rusty managed to use AJAX to remove a lot of the caked on surface rust. 

The last little touch came from the bench seat. It was reupholstered, with a nice solid black cover. While the dash and center console are still missing a few components, it's still a rolling piece of history. 

 >>Join the conversation about this very distinguished F3 right here in Ford-trucks.com.

RustyBlue’s 1950 F3

RustyBlues 1950 F3 is a great example that encompasses a lot of the history associated with the F-series brand. Its natural patina finish stands out, while some rust eats away at some of the fender wells. The 239 Flathead V8 engine, supplemented with a 4-speed synchro-silent gearbox, and a revitalized drivetrain keeps this thing moving on the road. It's not about the complexity of the build, but its heritage. Inside the interior was minimally redone, with a push-start ignition upgrade, while a freshly weather treated wooden bed sits in the back. 

 >>Join the conversation about this very distinguished F3 right here in Ford-trucks.com.

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