Haul With Flair: 1961 Ford F100 4WD
Ford’s F-series trucks began as the company’s all new post-war trucks that were offered in 1948. In those early years, along with the pickup truck (F-1 through F3), the F-Series was sold as a pickup based panel truck, cab-over engine chassis (F-5 and F-6) and school bus chassis (F-5 and F-6). Above the F-5, the F-Series was a medium-duty and heavy-duty conventional truck sharing the bodywork of the smaller F-Series. In 1953 Ford designated 1/2 ton models F-100s, and this model name continued to be offered for thirty years ending in 1983.
In 1961, Ford took a big chance and redesigned F-100 Flareside trucks to have the cab and bed integrated, both for style and functional purposes – the streamlined look was new and modern, and the truck bed gained increased capacity. Unfortunately, this design was also prone to flexing under heavy loads and proved to be unsuccessful enough to be abandoned after 1963.
Even in 1961, Ford knew its four wheel drive trucks would flex too much for the unibody design, so both the wide bed Styleside design and the traditional Flareside bed 4wd models were made traditionally, with separate cab and bed (and some were also sold as cab and chassis or even cowl and chassis offerings).
In the early sixties, four wheel drive trucks were mainly put to utilitarian use, mainly farms and industry; in 1961 Ford made only 2,809 Styleside and 967 Flareside F-100s, and just 2,200 three quarter ton F-250s. The vast majority of these working trucks are long gone, making this low-mileage F-100 for sale in Greenwich, Connecticut here on Craigslist a somewhat unusual find.
I wish the seller would explain how this truck managed to accumulate only 25,860 miles over the course of the 55 years it has been on the road. Where was it purchased originally, what was it used for, and can its history be documented? Is that upholstery factory original? The seller says it is a “survivor” but that is the extent of what he says about its history.
With an asking price of $16,999, buyers will want to know this truck’s story, and will need to verify this truck’s history and mileage (not to mention its condition).
The seller call his truck a Styleside, but it is in fact a Flareside, and while I can’t tell if the off-white paint it has now is original, the seller’s claim that it has no serious rust issues seems to be supported by the photos provided. The engine is said to be a numbers matching 292 Y Block V-8 and it’s got a four speed transmission, with the shifter on the floor. The truck is outfitted with a factory original Dana 24 Spicer transfer case and Warn lockout hubs, and the four wheel drive system is said to operate as it should. That looks like a new or at least a rebuilt carburetor in the photo above.
Additionally, the seller states that “everything works: gauges, lights, brakes, wipers, heater.” The bed certainly does look original, and is in fair condition as well, some surface rust here. Maybe this truck has always been this color?
Overall, this is really a fine looking truck. If the mileage is as low as claimed, and the body and frame truly rust free, given its rarity and solid condition, the asking price might be a bit high, but not excessively so. The seller says it will be auctioned at Barrett Jackson later in June. There’s no telling what will happen at an auction, especially now that old trucks are so popular. Is this a truck you’d like to own? If so, do you think it is the original survivor it is claimed to be? The more I look at these pictures, the more I think it’s been repainted. So what should it sell for? Would you try to buy it now or wait for the auction?
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Comments
Interesting info on the F series history.
Rust in the front corners of the bed looks deeper than just surface. Nice find.
The carb looks like a new Holley 500cfm 2V.
Hi Rocco. I agree with you. Through the years I installed a few of them on FE engines, including a couple of my own. Worked real good.
I don’t understand why he has a CL ad and an asking price if it’s going to auction?
If I can sell it before the auction I will. If not it goes to Barrett-Jackson to be sold on June 24th lot number 25a.
I am the current owner of this F-100. The truck spent its entire working life -1961 to 1981 on the Ione Cattle Ranch in Nara Visa, New Mexico. For unknown reasons the owner of the truck parked it in1981 where it stayed until 2015. The paint color is Ford code M which is Corinthian White. It was repainted sometime in the distant past I have no information when or why. The truck has been brought back to roadworthiness and is currently registered. I use it as a work truck – Home Depot and dump runs I recently hauled 1200 lbs of stone with it and it was fine.
The seat was replaced with a close looking reproduction. The starter, fuel pump, hoses, belts and battery were all replaced. The brake cylinders were replaced along with the shoes and drum hardware. The emergency brake cables were replaced with Ford OEM cables which were extremely difficult to find. There is zero rust through anywhere on this truck only surface rust due to paint chips and dents during its working life.
Considering most of these early 4×4 trucks were worked to the death, it’s rarity that one has survived with very low miles. In regard to the miles. I came across a receipt when I bought this truck for tires – they were installed in 1981 when the truck had just over 25k miles, it now has just under 26,000. The bias ply tires on the truck are the same tires that were put on in 1981. 35 year old tires with about 1000 miles on them.
I would drive this truck with confidence anywhere. It’s stable at speeds approaching 70mph. It’s a reliable, interesting and rare weekend work truck or collector truck. Barrett Jackson is selling it for me on June 24 it will be lot number 25a.
I always say, vehicles are valued at what people are willing to spend. I bought a 69 F250 for 300 dollars a few years ago. It was solid with low miles. The truck never left the 7 UP property. I sold it for seven thousand dollars a few years later. If the seller wants 100 thousand for the truck, it doesn’t matter. The auction will bring the real value, my guess 25g.
Hi John. That’s my attitude as well. I look at the asking price and decide if it’s out of MY budget or not. I paid $90.00 for my ’47 Ford pickup and drove it home. Of course that was back in ’67. A vendor has the right to ask whatever he wants it’s a lot easier to come down when dealing than to go up…
I bought a 61 3/4 ton 4X4 flatbed from a local Buick dealer for $600.00 that was 100% original and in about equal condition to this 1/2 ton. It had around 30,000 miles on it, all new M&S bias-ply tires and all good side boards. It was ordered by a local rancher and was in use by him until his death in 1995, when it was (immediately) traded in on a Cadillac by his daughter. Boy, did I ever love that truck. It would only do 70 when driven off a cliff because of a very high ratio pair of diff’s, but would do an honest 60, even when loaded with 3,800 lbs of industrial batteries. This truck seems like a good one, but the price pretty-much dictates that it will never be used for it’s intended purpose again. Too danged bad.
*Mine even came with a dandy pair of hay hooks behind the seat too.
As a Ford truck lover and a truck guy in general I love this one.
73-79 is the best generation.
And it is likely that nothing after 1997 f250 only!
Will be collectable.
Reminds me of a couple of the Pickups that was assigned to the National Guard unit when I served in the 80’s, they were some tough old trucks.
I just purchased a 68 f100 for $500 and am replacing quite alot ,if you want something you’ll pay for it ,truck didn’t run when I got it but one step at a time ….it’s running but small items are still needed to make legal ,electrical, etc…I love old truck and the feeling of bringing them back to life…
I am going to get a 1973 F-100 next week. It has less then 28,000 miles on it. Two wheel drive, all the chrome trim, full wheel covers, cab lights, with a 360 auto. Two tone blue and in mint condition. Inside dry storage it’s hole life. I will send in some pictures. I got it for two grand.
Nice, Honest Old Truck. The rust in bed (where snow/ice/rain sits for long periods) looks more serious that just surface rust. I dont think “Numbers Matching” is a good term on Ford engines…Usually only a casting number to identify them within a few years(and possibly a removable metal tag (easily swapped). Also a stamping on distributor. With the low miles, it’s probably safe to say it’s original.
I really like the Utilitarian /Massive rear bumper-something trucks ‘lost’ in their quest for Style over Function
Good Luck With Sale
Sold at Barrett Jackson Northeast for $12,700
I have this exact same truck that I have bought from the original owner about 23 years ago, mine is not as pretty as this one but it is every bit as good mechanically I love these trucks