Sometimes the best thing about an old truck is that it doesn’t ride like an old truck. Pickups – particularly classic ones – have a reputation for giving a rough, jarring ride. But some custom builds iron out those bumps with upgrades to more modern independent suspensions. Here is one such example.
The Pick of the Day is a 1956 Ford F100 pickup listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Newhall, California. (Click the link to view the listing)
“This hot rod truck was built in the late 90s with some help from the legendary builder Sam Foose,” the listing begins. While specific details about Foose’s involvement are not clarified, the build is one of the more attractive early F-Series restomods I’ve seen in some time. The paint finish was the first thing that caught my eye. I don’t know if it’s called Candy Apple Red, but it’s stunning in the sunlight and it is nicely complemented by the wide whitewall tires and a set of “smoothie” chrome wheels.
“Body is super straight, rust-free, and I can’t find any signs of major body work,” the seller says. “Paint is very good for being done in the 90s but definitely has its share of nicks, chips, and scratches.”
1956 marked the final year of the F-Series’ second generation, and designers introduced a few changes: the cab was redesigned to include a wraparound windshield and a vertical A-pillar. Seatbelts became optional for the first time, and electric windshield wipers replaced the old vacuum-operated ones.
Power for this custom truck comes from a Chevrolet 350cid small-block V8 mated to a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission, both of which have accrued roughly 15,000 miles since restoration. The seller says, “Runs and drives great, like a car, not a bouncy old truck.” The refined driving mannerisms are probably due in part to the suspension upgrades: This truck has a Chevrolet Corvette-sourced independent rear end and a Ford Mustang II front end.
The listing calls out that there are a couple of outstanding mechanical needs. Namely, the fuel gauge and the windshield wipers are inoperative. Even with those flaws in mind, the seller says, “You can’t build a ’56 Ford truck to this level for the asking price.”
Unfortunately, Sam Foose passed away in November 2018 – exactly five years ago this month. I did some searching around the internet to see if I could find Sam’s ties (if any) to this specific truck, and I came up empty-handed. However, Sam and his son Chip were known to work on several Ford pickups of this era, so it’s likely the seller is right about that connection. I’d ask them for some documentation!
The asking price is $45,000 or best offer.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
45k and he can’t be asked to fix the fuel gauge and wipers. What a joker.