Barn Find: 1960 Ford F-100
Ford’s third-generation F-series pickups were made for only four model years but they bridged the gap from the older style 1940s and 50s pickups to the more modern Ford trucks. They remind me of the difference between flying and going to the moon, at least design-wise. The seller has this 1960 Ford F-100 listed here on eBay in Keego Harbor, Michigan and they’re asking $7,500.
These trucks were made from 1957 to 1960 and if a person wanted to confuse people at car shows, maybe even Ford pickup fans and fanatics, the 1957 models were the only ones to have single headlights on each side. After that, until the third-generation trucks were done at the end of 1960, they had four headlights. They had a bold look and this one appears to be solid.
The seller says that this truck is in as-found condition with a great “patina” but it does have some rust to deal with. There aren’t a ton of photos but they seem to hit the high points which is a nice change from a lot of online listings recently. Here is a perfectly-restored one that sold at a Mecum auction in 2021 for $45,000 in this same beautiful color scheme. Although, that one has wide whitewall tires. Any thoughts about those on a pickup?
I have a soft spot for a three-on-the-tree manual shifter having driven a Dodge van with one for years and my brother had a 1964 Ford pickup with a column-mounted manual shifter. That’s what this truck has and you can see that the interior looks great in the photos. The seller found this truck somewhere five years ago and they refer to it as a barn find, but it isn’t currently a running and driving truck.
In fact, they aren’t even sure if the 126-horsepower 223 cubic-inch inline-six turns over which is always unusual to hear. I would have a hard time not trying to turn an engine over by hand if it were mine. Hagerty is at $11,100 for a #4 fair condition truck which is a fair distance from this non-running project but it’s something to shoot for. Are there any third-gen Ford pickup fans or owners out there?
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Comments
I had two of these years ago. That 223, 3 on the tree is a anemic. Solid front axle will put you in the ditch on a washboard. Rusty fenders, foot wells, area below tail lights. Can’t believe these are gaining traction. What a clunky truck.
$500 truck..Auction prices? bwahahaha…
My Dad went to a local Ford Dealer in November of ‘59 to get a “deal” on a leftover ‘59 F100. It was a red standard cab. Parked nearby was a 1960 Custom Cab with a wraparound rear window-painted cream and baby blue. The “savings” on the ‘59 now seemed inconsequential. He loved that truck. It was the first vehicle that I was allowed to drive, and later bought. 223 6 was functional and durable- that’s all. I had no issues with three on the tree, but the lack of synchromesh on first gear was a pain in traffic. Also seemed to have 3 second gears. First was not particularly low- row through the gears and it was begging for another gear on the highway. Wish I still had it.
And…gone.
Given the price of a new Ford Truck, this is not a bad deal. But it is a work truck, not a Hipster quad cab! I have the F250 version of this workhorse, 223 Inline six, 4 on the floor, long box like in the pic. 1st gear could pull ole Joey B right out of his bunker! I bought it sight unseen, online, when I got home from Iraq in 2004. It was an Iowa farm truck that probably got parked in the pole barn at dusk. Love that truck…when I go to the local flea market, I have to post the NFS sign on the window. ✌️
My dad had one of these with a 3 on the tree when I was 13 and he wanted me to drive it and follow him delivering a costumers car. We was going down a hill so I thought that I would shut the key off so save gas and when I turned the key back on it blew the muffler apart the side was swelled up with a big hole in the new muffler that he recently installed Ouch
Good humor trucks were made out of these, right?
Auction update: someone must have grabbed this truck as the auction ended early due to it not being available anymore.