Helping Kevan Sledge on FB identify this truck Here's his description This is an old Custom that was possibly done by Barris, Bill Hines, or Dick Dean. It was all gas welded like they would've done in the old days and has great looking lines! It's chopped, channeled, and sectioned and looks incredible! I was going to make this my shop truck but I just have too many projects right now. The front end, rear end, and running boards have been completely chromed so it looks like it may have been some sort of show truck at one time. There is also some traces of lime green metallic paint so that may have been the color it was in the 50s or early 60s. There is no engine or transmission and the dashboard looks to be out of some sort of Buick from the late 60s which I'm sure was added later. The galaxy grill that is in the truck in this picture was added by my friend and not with the truck originally. Message me for more pictures and details. Sent from KUSTOMS
Cool truck but how did you come up with those 3 names as the possible builder? Could be anyone, heck I chopped and sectioned a 56 in the 90's, looked a lot like yours (gas welded as well) and I'm a nobody! Surely someone on here will recognize it I hope, always cool to find the history.
Kevin Sledge of Sledge customs came up with names Just doing a shout out if anybody knows the truck Sent from KUSTOMS
Need to shut the door and take some more pictures from all sides; especially if that grille in not a long time part of the truck. JMHO. A prettier model wouldn't hurt either!!
More pictures and the price are listed in the Cars for Sale section. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1954-ford-f1-truck-old-radical-custom-barris.1073720/ Helpful Al
'53-'55. '60s era FoMOCo grill. Could have been done by anyone a lot of us gas welded 'em. Good lines it would make a good shop truck at the Pork N Bean Ranch
I saw the ad for it last night in the classifieds and sent him a message. That dash is from a 70-72 Pontiac GTO or LeMans, it's unrelated to that steering wheel. It's a pretty wild truck with a lot of really extensive work done, the chrome on the big parts makes me think this was fully finished at one time and not just a project that got abandoned. Really hard to nail down a time period on the build though. Customs evolved a lot over time, with certain things getting changed out over the years, and this one has pieces from all over the spectrum so it's hard to say. I hope some history turns up on it, and I also hope it gets adopted and restored.
Judging by the side profile, I don't think it was sectioned or channeled. I think the front fender might have been moved up to make up for the pancaked hood, though.
So true old customs would get upgraded over the years so really no telling till they find the history. Wish the original grill was there, might of been a clue. Really, I think it could be a 70's build myself, things add up to that time frame to me. Besides the dash it looks like maybe Mustang lights were fitted to that rear pan, both would fit a 70's show truck thing. I'm curious about the body work, done in lead or plastic filler, that would date it as well. From the looks of the pictures might it be scary to strip it down and find out what's under the primer! Someone needs to save it for sure.
Sure would like to see pictures from when it was "fresh". Lots and lots of work went into that truck. Hoping someone remembers some details about it.
Went back and looked again, I agree it's not channeled, the way the running boards fit the body looks stock. Looks to me it is sectioned, too bad the pics don't show a better shot of the insides of the doors, that would tell.
By the looks of the roof I would say it is filler and not lead. Neat truck definitely looks like it could have been built in the 70's.
Can't tell if it's just the angle of the photos, but those fenders look really oversized. Widened? From a "big truck" donor? We have a '54 and I don't think they come out that far from the body. They look way wider than the rears.
I don't know if he built any more rigs after I left Texas in in the mid 70's but somehow that Has JD Fikes of Waco written all over it. They didn't call him "Bondo John" without reason either. He was real handy with putting rigs together with pieces out of the scrap pile. It would be nice to see someone take it down to bare metal and build it back right as it has a lot of potential .
I agree with the ones that think it might be a 70's build from when the van and truck craze was going on strong. I wish it had more of the original build left on it because it does look a little familiar but can't place it yet but I might just getting confused to other similar builds from the 70's.
I think the pancaked hood makes the fenders appear bigger / wider. I also believe it was finished at one time and someone tried to improve / update it, especially judging by the tail light area. As has been said on this forum, the custom competition show circuit necessitated ever wilder / newest trick / constant changes to the entrants.
I like it. JMO, But I think that the forward sloping chop (as well as the door handles) would 99% eliminate all three proposed builders.
The fenders and hood were extended forward to create the grill opening, might be whats throwing the overall size off. The panel between the box and running boards has been removed, and the running board moved up(?) but the running board still looks like its running up hill from back to front?
This caught my eye too. I thought the asking price is more than a bit high, given the lack of proven provenance and rough condition, but to the right guy with enough ambition it has possibilities...
Couldn't someone just trace the plate back to whoever owned it last and possibly get some information from them???
It's a 55 Ford alright. Looks to have about a 4, 41/2 inch chop, channeled maybe 2 inches, custom grille, head light treatment,etc. Also appears to have been shortened length wise. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
I agree on it being a 70's build. Chrome rear suspension components and air shocks scream 70's. Also agree it was probably finished at one time, then went through a downturn condition wise as it sat or went through owners. Any telling what color it once was?
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