1949 Ford F-1

Description

When you go old school, you need to do it right, and it's more than just starting with the right vehicle. This stunning 1949 Ford F-1 pickup nails the original look with a perfect stance, awesome Flathead V8 power, and a great color scheme that seems to encapsulate all that is right with vintage American motoring.

Ford's F-1 pickups have always been perennial best-sellers, even before they were ever known as the F-150. One glance at this great-looking vintage pickup is all the reason you need to understand its lasting success and the early post-war examples are the epitome of "old truck" fun. But this isn't some beat-up farm hand; no, it's had a lot of restoration work done to bolster its curb appeal, including that slick red paint, black running boards, the matching blacked-out grills, plus the inside of the bed that was finished like a dance floor with lightly-stained wood – all adding up to a top-end driver-quality truck that has a great deal of charm. The Vermillion Red paint (or a close facsimile), arguably the most desirable shade from this era, looks particularly good on these big fenders. Even though the finish isn't that of a perfect showpiece, the truck has a great look that makes you want to hop in and take it for a drive every time you pass it by. Factory trim, including the wonderful hood vents and nostrils, means it has an authentic old-timey look, and the black 'Ford' script on the tailgate gives it an ideal 1950s flair. The beautifully finished light-colored wood bed, which appears to be oak and is held together by polished chrome slats, is a perfect complement to the red finish, giving this Ford yet another way to stand out in a crowd.

Simple is good inside, where you'll find a freshened cab with a neatly upholstered black vinyl bench seat that's a nice contrast to the red paint inside and out. Everything's quite authentic in the cabin, from the red-painted steel doors and dash, the original pedals and tall shifter that manages the gearbox, to the vinyl mat on the floor below that makes cleaning this cab up is an easy task. The original gauges offer a pretty good summary of what the flathead V8 is doing up front. The dials are likely restored originals, which is always welcome in a truck like this. The off-white gauge bezel matches the center stack trim, and grill cover – where an AM radio and speaker would've lived had this truck been so equipped. An upright, large-diameter steering is very comfortable, as is the supportive bench seat, but beyond that, it's no-frills fun with a Flathead at the helm.

You simply can't go wrong with a venerable Ford flathead V8. Judging by the 24 head studs, this is likely the most common 239 cubic inch version, which offers great performance and is one of the better exhaust notes ever created. It's nicely done under the hood, with bright Ford Red paint on the engine itself, a correct carburetor, a new oil bath breather, and a new alternator making the electricity. It starts strong and runs great, and with all the recent maintenance and great care since the restoration, experiencing any "flathead fever" in the future doesn't appear to be in the cards, so long as that good care is continued. Using straight dual exhaust pipes, it has a great V8 sound that's exactly right on a vintage pickup, and despite its modest specifications, the truck feels quick and agile around town and doesn't mind cruising at decent speeds. The 3-speed manual transmission shifts easily and doesn't get grumpy, and the rear end looks strong enough to handle any torque curve that Flathead V8 could throw at it. The wheels are steelies painted black to match the truck's accent color and are adorned with 'Ford' center caps, all of which are wrapped in beautiful 6.00-16 wide-white bias-ply tires that look appropriate on the old truck.

Flathead Fords have been popular for decades for good reasons, and this truck delivers a motoring experience that's fun without the hard work. Call today!