Hey all, I'm really wanting to start a truck project for hauling parts and as a summer car. I'm really in love with the 50s styling. This doesn't mean it has to be from the 50s, I'm just trying to find a truck that I like that will be pretty easy to find for cheap. Lots of farms around here seem to have trucks like this laying around. I want something I can easily update to modern suspension and brakes. Here are some pictures of trucks I found on here that really get me going to start. I put these in order of which ones I like the most to which ones I like the least
I think building a GM product would be easier and cheaper than the Fords, but both look great. 48-55.5 GM trucks were known as AD trucks, for Advanced Design. In mid 1955, they restyled into the Task Force style. I've seen more Chevys than GMCs, and both are similar, except for the front sheetmetal. Gauges and dashboards are different also. The top picture (you're favorite) appears to be a '54 with the one-piece windshield and the bullnose grille.
I don't know as much about the Fords. Not sure of the differences between F-1 and F-100 series or the years they were made. I see less of them around, but they look cool. My favorite style '50s trucks were the Studebakers.
Interesting website I found while web surfing. http://oldcarandtruckpictures.com/PickupTrucks/1950-1959.html
The black one from cl***ic trucks is a mid-50 Ford, so called because they made them in huge quan***ies between the years of 53 and 56. That particular model is the 56 with the wraparound front screen that they only used on the last year model. You can get pretty much anything for these model trucks, including lots of aftermarket upgrades to suspension, discs etc etc. Ask me how I know and bear in mind I live in England; this one is mine and its a Kustom 1954 panel van variation. Notice the screen doesn't wraparound like it does on the one in your photograph. The red primer one (last shot) is its precursor, the Ford F1 and they made lots of variations of these from the 40s up to 53 when the F 100 took over. I know there's a lot more variation in the F1's, because they made them for a lot longer and models differ slightly from year to year, and as far as I know there's lots out there available for them. Although I don't know if it is is readily available as the mid-50 stuff. Hope this helps Paul
I obviously favor the GM AD trucks but there is plenty of support for the Fords too. When I was in my early teens in the late 50's the hot lick was a 53/56 F100 that had been lowered a bit and had a nice paint job. And always a set of great sounding pipes.
Do these trucks all accept modern engines with ease? Could I put a 4.3L vortec or a gen3 small block into the chevys? Will the f100 take a 5.0 without much issue? Wiring and custom driveshafts are no issue to me.
Well, it's not as "new" as you seem to be interested in, but my panel has a' 69 351 (5.8)SBF, still has m***es a room under the hood and runs like a scalded cat. Paul
chevys are fairly easy to modify. The 1st one pictures is either a 54 or 55 1st series. My personal favorite out of the 49-54's. Many will think otherwise. The body can be swapped onto a s10 ch***is and there is a wealth of knowledge on here on how to do so. ANything can be made to fit, motor, ch***is, etc....
Can't tell you for sure, the previous owner did it, but I believe it's a fairly common one. Have you joined the FTE (Ford truck enthusiasts) board? There's a whole separate forum on there that deals with this sort of thing on pre-56 trucks. They are a great bunch of guys and will definitely be a lot more knowledgeable on late-model engine swaps. Anything post 60s is getting towards off topic on a traditional board like this one. Good luck though, second only to my family my panel is the reason I bother getting up in the morning. Paul
early 50s gm trucks did not have v8 motors. they are not ''straight forward'' swaps. the steering gear needs to be modified/moved/updated. late 50s gm trucks had optional small block motors and clearance for big block motors.
To me the ultimate 50's truck is a 56 Ford Custom Cab (big back window), kind like the 32 Ford of the species. And, yes, I own one, but I don't think this way because I own one. I own one, because I think this way. Took many, many years to find one that was in half decent shape. Larry T
Right now I'm leaning heavily towards the AD chevy's on an s10 frame. But I love the rear window on the ford custom cab
Chevy AD trucks are a good choice. Lots of them made, so lots of parts available, both original and aftermarket. The AD trucks are a little roomier, especially leg room, than other makes. Truck in post #21 is a good example of how nice these trucks can look.
My favorite truck of the '50s would have to be a '56 Ford with the big window like Larry T's. Not that it was asked, but my favorite of the 60s would be a early-mid 60's GMC with the big window. I've liked them from the very start back when they were the new trucks. It's something about that grille. It the best one I've seen on truck aside from the '55 & '56 Ford trucks.
There is lots of stuff available for the F1s, though not as much as the '53 to '56 F100s. The '48-'50 F1 series seems to have the most stuff for the F1s, the '51-'52 F1s seem to be the "redheaded stepchild" and some stuff isn't to easy to find, particularly sheet metal. If you find a fairly complete one on one of the local farms that's a good start. An advantage of the Fords is they all had V-8s available, and a flathead v8 is up there in the cool factor. Here's a picture of my '51 F1 project.
I bought this 52 F1 out of the cl***ifieds for $500. It was incomplete, found a bed, rear fenders, running boards, engine/trans and ton of other parts dirt cheap and slapped it together over last winter. Total investment is about $1300. Been driving it daily since may '11.
The grill looks correct. I had a buddy in high school that drove a '54 and I could have sworn his entire grill was chrome. How about a Dodge or Fargo pickup? A little harder to find parts for but are they are making a comeback.
Some of the 54 Chevys had little windows in the C-pillars....they look cool but are harder to find than the version without.
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