1951 Ford F1 'Modified' Pick-up (LHD)

Description

Ford's classic F-series pickups and trucks have become a legend in their own lifetime it is now the biggest selling passenger vehicle in America. The new F-1 and F-2 series trucks were the first all-new Fords in the post-war era, an indication of the importance of the F-series to Ford more than half a century ago. The first generation of F-series really began in 1948, with the ?Bonus Built? range of 1/2 -tonne trucks riding on a 114-inch wheelbase platform with a new, all-steel ?Million Dollar? cab (it reputedly cost that much to develop and tool) bringing car-like features and comfort to the working man's vehicle. Under the bonnet was a choice of dependable motors, namely a 226-cid six or a 240-cid Flathead V8. A long list of improvements came in 1949-1950, followed by a major facelift for 1951, the toothy, horizontal grille reflecting styling trends for Ford's passenger cars of the time, along with spear-shaped chrome decoration on the hood, itself flatter and wider. Above the grille sat a chromed airscoop at the leading edge of the bonnet, incorporating the Ford badge. Better brakes and stronger transmissions also characterised the new '51 F-series, available in a range of body styles including a platform, chassis/cab, panel, pickup and stake. Inside Ford restyled the dash and offered the F-series in two trim levels, the ?Five Star? and ?Five Star Extra? which featured a padded foam seat, twin sun visors, insulated headlining, locks on the doors, twin horns and a dome light in addition to more chrome decoration. The '51 pickup featured a bed with a tailgate considered so tightly fitting it was termed ?grain tight?. Today, the first generation F-100 Fords are keenly sought after by collectors for their classic style and have been a firm favourite of customisers around the world for many years. Ford built 117,414 pickups for the 1951 model year and the number of surviving examples in Australia is relatively small, ensuring values remain solid into the future.