1948 Ford F1 Pick-Up

Purchased by our vendor in 2019, this F1 ‘restored’ was extensively customised during its time overseas, having been imported from Canada, registered by the import company and then purchased by the current owner as the first private registered keeper in the UK.

Sadly, the full details of the customisation work carried out overseas is unknown, as no specification sheet or history were supplied with the vehicle. What we can tell, however, is that all of the work appears to have been carried out to a very high standard indeed, with only a delightful patina attesting to the age of the customisations.

Under the bonnet, V8 power reigns supreme with extensive supporting modifications, including an enlarged Holley carburettor, plentiful chrome detailing, a free-flowing side-exit exhaust system, upgraded cooling system with electric radiator fans, and no doubt some further works which we’re unaware of.

Similarly, the chassis was modified and lowered. Initially only mere millimetres off the ground, our vendor raised the vehicle by around six inches, as it was not fit for use on broken UK roads and for driving around its home town of Windsor.

Whilst its build and ownership history may be a mystery, there is one particularly important piece of history that this vehicle can boast: the vendor tells us that this is a bona-fide silver screen star. Driven by Jason Statham / Sylvester Stallone in the latest Expendables film (and shown on their Instagram accounts) this highly-customised F1 is a true cinema star with we're told genuine on-screen provenance.

Other than its on-screen appearance, the vehicle has been used sparingly by the vendor during his ownership, and - other than the aforementioned suspension raise - remains exactly as it was when it arrived on British shores back in 2019.

Finished in a timeless shade of satin black, the exterior of this eye-catching resto-mod F1 boasts a fantastic and genuine usage patina, which fits the overall character of the truck very well indeed, in our opinion.

The bodywork is largely straight throughout save for the odd ‘car park’ indentation, whilst the paintwork - along with wearing the aforementioned patina - presents in good order, though there are a few areas of cracking, marks and imperfections to be noted, most prominently on the nearside rear arch and behind the nearside front wheel, the latter of which was a result of the vehicle’s original unusably-low ride height.

The various chrome details, grilles and bumpers remain in great shape with only some minor pitting and dulling to be noted, whilst the front grille, eagle head mascot and rear bed door ‘louvres’ all boast red LED glow lighting, which is illuminated when the headlights are switched on.

Elsewhere, the rear Ford logo badge is also illuminated, whilst all four wheels present well but would perhaps benefit from a full polish and re-chroming to bring them back to their best.

Inside, the custom-trimmed interior has worn well over the years, showing only some commensurate minor signs of wear-and-tear, and generally remaining in very good condition overall.

The bench seats have been finished in a two-tone brown/black leather combination with accentuated piping, and are still in great shape, with only one or two areas of wear - such as sagging on the outer bolsters - worthy of note. The previous owner also fitted modern inertia-reel seatbelts, an upgrade which we’re sure you’ll agree is certainly worth fitting to any classic vehicle.

Up above, the headliner has been covered in a patterned vinyl/leather material, and the door card lowers have been finished in the same way. The headliner has a few areas of sagging (very minor, though) and the centre upper light wiring is exposed, whilst the door cards show some staining and scuffing from years of use, but nothing that requires any immediate attention.

Elsewhere, the original dashboard has given way to a brace of Dolphin gauges monitoring the vehicle’s vital signs, all of which are in full working order, and the steering wheel has been replaced with a wood-rimmed classic-look example, which suits the truck well and remains in great shape.

In the rear, the exposed bed has been finished with a real wood deck, with contrasting fittings and a steel step-plate surround for durability. This remains in very, very good condition, with no signs of any heavy loads having been carried since the customisation was completed.

Under the bonnet, the 5.7-litre V8 engine fitted to this F1 looks to be in fine fettle, and the previous owner has evidently spent considerable time and money in getting this build finished to a very high standard, with plenty of ‘dress up’ parts visible and an overall feel of being well-screwed-together present with the vehicle.

As far as we could tell, everything looked to be in its right-and-proper place during our inspection, with no signs of any oil or fluid leaks that we could see.

Underneath, the chassis looks to be in excellent shape, with evidence of under-seal having been applied, though this would probably benefit from being stripped and a fresh coat being put on for continued protection. We can also see the upgraded suspension system and side-exit exhaust - both of which look in good shape - but still can’t glean any further details or even brands of the items.

Out on the road, the 5.7 V8 fires into life with ease, and idles very happily, though there is a slight misfire and ‘bucking’ under load, which the vendor reports is due to the H/T leads requiring replacement.

Of course, on account of its age, this F1 ‘restomod’ is exempt from mandatory MoT examinations.

Included with the vehicle is the V5 registered keepers document, showing one former keeper. This, as we’ve explained, was the importer that sourced the vehicle, and our vendor is the first private keeper the vehicle has had whilst in the UK.

Other than the V5, there is no paperwork with the vehicle. It’s history is a mystery, other than its on-screen appearance (a BTS/promo shot of which can also be seen here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUuB0sPtHzV/).

We’re always a big fan of well-executed ‘restomod’ builds here at The Market, and this 1948 Ford F1 is certainly no exception to that rule.

Whilst its history may be a little thin on the ground, its on-screen provenance certainly makes this F1 a strong candidate for any film buff looking for memorabilia that can be used and enjoyed, but it is also a fantastic classic Americana build in its own right, which we’re sure will catch the attention of enthusiasts and restorers alike.

Presented in very good condition overall and requiring only a light tune-up to bring it to full health, we’re confident to offer this 1948 Ford F1 for sale with an estimate of £40,000 to £50,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with the vendor in Windsor, Berkshire; To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.