1960 Ford F100 Shortbed - 7,560cc V8

Current owner Mike, who also has a rat rod in his impressive car collection, bought this 1960 F-100 on a whim from a chap with a prosthetic leg who was experiencing difficulty operating the brake pedal. 

After spending its last days in the US in San Francisco, it was imported into the UK in 2000, at which point its Californian registration tag of BAS 795 was swapped for its current UK reg number 339 UYM.

Featuring the big wraparound windscreen that typifies trucks from this era, it’s a short-bed StyleSide, which was Ford’s name for the integrated cab/bed look usually referred to in non-Fords as ‘Flareside’.

Mike thinks the excellent restoration was probably carried out in the US rather than the UK. The original red and white two-tone paint has been replaced by a much more moody matt grey and dark red scheme. The red on the roof and on some of the interior panels could well be the original 1960 hue. A very high quality job has been done on re-timbering the bed with an oiled hardwood that (Mike ventures) might be oak.

He also thinks that the truck may have begun life with the base 223ci inline six. At some point in its life, a US owner decided that a more impressive engine would be just the ticket. As a result it now runs a 460ci 7.5-litre V8 that Ford first used in the 1968 Lincoln Continental, where it was billed as a 365bhp engine. The last of the big-block Fords, this engine was also used in ‘small’ 429 (!) format in the formidable Boss Mustang. Very understressed, it was still powering heavy-duty Ford F350 pickups well into the 1990s.

Anyone who drove a factory spec gen-three F100 in period would probably rub their eyes in disbelief at the tightness of the panel gaps on this one. Whoever did the restoration certainly knew their stuff.

Many of the body bits for these pickups like the grille, bumpers, bonnet and tailgate are becoming hard to get now, so it’s a relief to see just how straight everything is here. Mike believes that the FoMOCo watermarked glass is all original, and the window rubbers look fresh and flexible. It’s not known whether the steel wheels with their unusual chromed five-bolt cover plates are the originals, but their patinated look really adds to the truck’s rust-belt appeal.

Close examination will reveal specks of brown on (for example) the edge where the roof panel meets the back wall, on the tailgate, and on the steps and lower trailing edges of the cab unit, and there’s some light shadowing to the bonnet slam panel, but for a sixty year old vehicle it’s really clean and overall the restoration is holding up very well.

The truck has had a 12-inch suspension drop, but Mike describes the ride as comfy and remembers how easily it handled a heavy payload of tiles and cement bags.

Completely refurbished, the F-100’s cabin is a delightful reminder of bygone times and dusty Midwestern roads. If you know any media types who need to create an aftershave ad starring a weird movie star digging holes in the desert for some reason, you could do a lot worse than suggest this Ford for a supporting role.

Even the dimmest actor would find the driving easy thanks to the piston-headed column shift lever for the 3-speed auto, the power steering and the power disc brakes that come with the truck’s Mustang front frame clip. Nor will they find much cause to complain about in the romantically handy bench seat, nicely reupholstered in black vinyl.

The original in-dash water temperature gauge doesn't work, but under the dash on the driver’s side there’s a supplementary water temp gauge alongside a similarly functioning oil pressure gauge. The speedo works too, and although the fuel gauge needle moves in both of the right directions, it never reads above half full even when the tank has just been brimmed. If Mike was keeping the truck he’d be investing a few pounds in a new fuel sender.

A good quality Kenwood CD/radio head unit concealed in the glove compartment plays well through two big door speakers. The floors are now well carpeted, but of course there are no door cards in this utilitarian vehicle.

Apart from the usual surface oxidisation to the chassis rails and suspension components that you’ll encounter on just about anything more than 30 years old, the underside looks remarkably clean. The general impression certainly does appear to confirm Mike’s assessment of the truck as ‘very solid’. There’s no obvious evidence of leakage from the shocks or diff housing and the various fasteners and cables look to be in good shape too. Cars of this vintage obviously don’t require MOT certificates, but when the last test was carried out in 2016 there were no advisories.

Refreshingly, the 460 engine has not been overdressed. The painted and correctly badged valve covers tone in perfectly with the exterior, with the only glint of chrome coming from the Edelbrock air filter that sits atop a four-barrel carb from the same manufacturer. Ignition is by distributor and points. Side-exit cherry bomb exhausts deliver a mellow big-block rumble that isn’t too harsh for civilised early morning starts.

Mike hasn’t had the setup dyno tested, but unsurprisingly he describes the 460 as ‘torquey’ with more than enough power to spin the back wheels. Just as importantly, it runs cool and behaves perfectly in traffic, assisted no doubt by the recently fitted double-core Jegs radiator.

There probably aren’t that many totally dry 1960s American V8s around, and true to form there is a very small oil leak, but it’s never come anywhere near to the point where Mike felt the need to address it.

On top of the fascinating sheaf of invoices relating to its time in the US as a Californian black-plate car, this Ford comes with the paperwork detailing its UK importation in 2000 and what appear to be the first two purchase invoices for £3000 and then £4500 in 2002. There are also some nice old US parts catalogues included in the folder, together with the original "Truck Operator's Manual".

This truck is a great mix of originality and everyday usability. Mike tells us that it cruises easily at 80mph and the engine sounds set for many more years of relaxed service. The metal isn’t pristine, but that’s all part of the charm.

Almost irrespective of the winning bid, which we expect to be between £13,000 - £17,000, with a reserve set even lower, it’s hard to imagine the next owner losing money on it. You’ll always be able to find buyers for an American pickup of this period, and this particular iteration of the F-Series is especially interesting as the ‘missing link’ between the first curvy post-war Fs and the slabbier gamechangers of the early 1960s. Put on some denim dungarees and chuck some hay bales in the back and you’re properly sorted for the Goodwood Revival. And if you don't at least investigate the options for renting it out as an advertising tool we reckon you’ll be missing out on a money-making opportunity.

We always encourage viewings. This Ford is located at the vendor’s home near Witney in Oxfordshire. Just click the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to arrange an appointment. Ahead of that, or at any time during the process, you’re more than welcome to ask any questions or jot down observations in the comments section below. You won’t be shocked to hear that our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section will answer general questions that are frequently asked about how The Market works.

Also please note that we have a network of trusted suppliers with whom we work regularly and successfully: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing,

Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

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