Description
Offering my '51 Ford F1 - All Wheel Drive - V8 - 5 speed - shop truck for sale.
I built this truck as a shop truck for my business. I use it several times a week for picking up parts and just general running around town. I do not need to sell it but I could use the space for other projects. The Buy-now price is much less than it would cost you to have it built, but feel free to make an offer and if it's reasonable I will consider it.
The truck has a nice natural patina on what's left of the original paint. There is no hidden bodywork or repairs, what you see is what you get. This is an authentic look that only comes from 65 years of hard use and weathering, not some ridiculous fake patina. The bullet hole in the door is real, but the story of how it got there has been lost. The body has been treated with hand-rubbed pure Tung oil to delay any further deterioration. The front lower cab corners have been repaired for structural reasons, as have the lower portions of the rear stake pockets. All new glass has been installed with new rubber gaskets and new felt window channels. The body is mounted on a 2004 Ford Explorer chassis. The Explorer floor and lower firewall were cut out, carefully trimmed to fit and welded into the F1 cab. The cab is mounted using the Explorer's original mounting points and rubber mounts. The frame has only had minor modification for mounting the bumpers and running boards. Most of the mechanical components are 2004 Explorer including the 4.6 aluminum block engine, front and rear differentials, independent front and rear suspension, four wheel disc brakes, etc. The suspension, steering, and cooling system have not been altered. The only modification to the brakes is the use of a hydroboost in place of the original vacuum booster. The 5 speed manual transmission is from a 2003 F-150, no manual transmission was offered in the V8 Explorer. The Explorer dashboard, instruments, steering column, seats, and center console were used. The truck retains most of the modern features from the Explorer including dual zone electronic automatic temperature control with A/C, power adjustable heated leather seats, tilt column with steering wheel controls, cruise control, speed controlled delay wipers, power windows, auto dimming mirror, CD stereo with speed controlled volume, Passive anti-theft security system (chip key), tire pressure monitoring system, ABS, and full OBD-II diagnostic capabilities. The parking brake is a pushbutton activated electromechanical unit from a Lincoln LS, push a button to apply the brake, push again to release. The airbag system has been eliminated and airbags removed. The truck has three point seat belts from the Explorer. All exterior lights and lenses are new, headlights are upgraded to H4 halogen type. The wheels are 17x7.5" Crown Vic Police Interceptor steelies with 235/55R17 tires in new condition. The bed floor has been replaced with new hardwood. The floor has been raised six inches in order to clear the rear independent suspension, This also makes room for the battery and the parking brake actuator which are mounted under the front of the bed. The bed floor lifts up to access the battery. The fuel filler remains in the original location and is connected to the Explorer fuel tank. Evaporative emission controls are in place and functional, as are the catalytic converters. The exhaust system is completely stock and is very quiet. The truck runs perfectly and without errors. It can be diagnosed and repaired as a 2004 Explorer with a few minor exceptions. You get classic good looks with modern conveniences and driveability. This is a street rod without the expensive paint job, which means you can use it like it's meant to be used and drive it anywhere in any weather without worrying about it getting scratched or dinged.
The interior is not completely finished. There are no inner door panels, kick panels, headliner, or back cab panel. The dash has not been finished at the top and sides where it was cut to fit the cab. The heater works, but there are no defrost vents in the dash, they will need to be added and connected to the HVAC unit. The A/C system is complete, the hoses and o-rings are all new, but it hasn't been charged with refrigerant. I have no reason to believe it wouldn't work, it was working in the Explorer and hasn't been changed except for relocating the dryer and re-routing some hoses. The cowl vent is functional, there is no interior control for it, it must be opened and closed from outside. The cab is wired for four speakers but no speakers are installed. The cab is wired for a dome light but no light is installed. The door locks are missing. The message center displays a tire pressure warning at startup because there are no pressure sensors mounted in the wheels. The message can be cleared and won’t reappear until the next startup. I will include the sensors, they will need to be installed and programmed. There are no other diagnostic trouble codes or error messages displayed. There's obviously lots of rust on the body but none that presents a structural or safety concern. There is some pretty serious rot on the bottom of the right door, right rear fender, running boards, etc. There is a large piece of the right front fender extension missing. It doesn't appear that it rusted off, I believe it was smashed in and subsequently broken off. Since the pictures were taken I have repaired the tailgate, it is now functional yet still retains the worn look to match the rest of the truck. The lettering on the doors is done in vinyl and is easily removable. The chassis has typical surface rust as would be expected for a 10+ year old truck from this area, but nothing serious. There are no springs on the hood, I use a stick to prop it up.
Prospective buyers are encouraged to inspect the truck in person. I have attempted to describe the condition of the truck completely and accurately, but this description should not be considered a substitute for an in-person inspection. Although the truck drives, rides, and handles like a modern vehicle, it is still an old truck and has lots of squeaks and rattles. I use this truck several times a week, the mileage listed is approximate. I’m confident that the truck can be driven anywhere in the country without any trouble, but of course there is no warranty or guarantee. I will provide a complete list of every part used to build the truck, so that replacement parts can be easily obtained in the future.
The truck is titled and registered as a 1951 Ford F1. The original '51 VIN plate is attached to the upper part of the firewall with the original rivets and is easily readable. I have a clean PA title in my name.
- Engine - Ford 4.6 2v aluminum V8 (2002-2005 Explorer/Mountaineer)
- Transmission - Ford/Mazda M5R2 5 speed manual (1999-2003 F-150)
- Transfer Case - Borg Warner 4404 (1998-1999 Explorer/Mountaineer)
- Axle ratio - 3.55:1 (2002-2005 Explorer/Mountaineer)
- Wheels - 17x7.5 steelies (2006-2011 Crown Victoria)
- Tires - Cooper Zeon RS3-S 235/55R17