1956 Ford F100 Panel Truck

The Ford F100 series of pickup trucks are loved in the United States and around the world for their simple, approachable design, and reliable load-carrying ability. Over the past few years classic car collectors have been turning their attention to classic trucks and 4x4s, and unusual factory-built vehicles. Although Ford produced prodigious numbers of F100 trucks throughout the 1950s, it produced very few panel trucks, and their desirability has been low up until more recently. Many were scrapped and those that weren't shipped off to the knacker's yard usually rusted away unceremoniously in a forgotten corner of a farm somewhere in the countryside.

For consignment this fabulously restored rare catch, seldom seen restored, 1956 example of the Ford Panel truck. A delivery van if you so desire, fully restored, no rust, and a custom snappy interior, this “van” is bathed in Calypso Green (should I say shades of Jacques Cousteau?) and now sports a Ford 460ci racing crate engine. Lots of other goodies, so hold your breath we are going to do a deep dive on this beauty!

Exterior
A close inspection of this truck, and one has to look very hard to find any faults on this catch. As noted, Calypso Green Metallic bathes super straight steel panels which are very much minding their gaps. We are still in the exterior bulbous fender age connected by running board era, although as with the rear fender, they are starting to melt into the actual body. A small body matching running board, with a nifty shiny Ford badged foot plate will guide you into the snazzy interior. Badging is all there and very nice, but the rear bumper has been shaved for just a bit of a cleaner look. The front grille is now completely chromed with single flanking headlights and looks like it was just dipped and shines wildly. So does the simple bumper framing the bottom of the grille. On the large curved downward front hood, complete with very tasteful ghost flames, is a beautiful and large cloisonné Ford badge, and also on either side of the hood is some F100 badging. All chrome window surrounds are beautiful as are exterior mirrors, and handles. American Racing Silver Nitro wheels are all around, and this whole van shines like a freshly caught swordfish, and it's quite a catch if I must say so myself.

Interior
Flip open any door front or rear, and you will be met with gray vinyl door panels with embossed stitched flames licking towards the center of the truck. The original design of the single curved metal dash now houses great white-faced gauges with black lettering and just neat Ford badged bezels. These are set in a perfect gray metal field and fronted by a chromed tilt column and LeCarra topped modern style banjo steering wheel. Gray cloth buckets are now installed, as well as a rear bench. A nice curvaceous black center console sits firmly between the buckets, and clean gray carpeting floods all the floors. A shout out to the rear panels of this panel truck as they are also embossed stitched flames. Hot! Vintage air, and an aftermarket AM/FM/CD radio is now neatly installed to drivers left in line with the tilt column. The headliner is nice smooth fuzzy felting and is tight as a drum. All inside is presenting just swimmingly.

Drivetrain
Flipping the clamshell hood forward we see a Ford Racing 460ci crate engine looks at itself in the mirrored firewall and is all buttoned up and beautifully presenting. It has a chromed air cleaner cover, polished valve covers and a nicely showing Ford Motorsports intake topped by an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor. On back is a C6 3-speed automatic transmission and way back is a Ford 9-inch rear. Nice powder coated black headers sea snake downward to belly and melt into a Flowmaster exhaust.

Undercarriage
A Ford F-100 Connection frame is under this beautiful steel and shows not even a hint of rust. Up front is a Mustang II Fatman setup, and on the rear are TCi 4 bar suspension parts. This is also bagged with Shock Wave Air Ride Technologies bags. There is a custom fuel tank, power disc brakes upfront, and power drums on the rear, and all presents just beautifully underneath.

Drive-Ability
My partner in crime and I could not wait to dive into this beauty, and it did not disappoint. Stylin would best describe the feeling when inside. She fired right up, and it was off to the test track. Here she showed us her stuff with snappy acceleration, good handling, and awesome stopping power. Inside, a fairly quiet ride, but outside a great exhaust sound resonates through the valley of our test track. As we slipped off the track and headed back to the mall, a satisfied look was seen on both our faces as we were hooked! We noted the fuel gauge is not working.

This panel van is a fully documented restoration and is souped up with a hot crate engine, new brakes, a bagged rear, and paint as deep as the Mariana Trench…all here at Classic Auto Mall. Hurry in as this will not take long to be caught, and for the price as it is, you certainly will not be left underwater.

VIN DECODE
F10V6U25170
F10-F100 1/2 Ton
V-272ci V8 2bbl
6-1956
U-Louisville, KY Assy Plant
25170-Sequential Unit Number

WARRANTY PLATE
TR 3-3 Speed Manual Regular Duty
COLOR G-Light Green
PRODUCTION CODE 23M4126P21
December 23rd 1955 Build Date

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.