The Bonus Built Ford F-Series pickups marked the first of many things for Ford trucks; it was a truly groundbreaking vehicle not only for the company, but for the industry as well. Their revised styling with integrated headlights, a single-piece front windshield and a larger passenger cabin all made them favorites for customizers to work their magic. This one has a unique custom look with the wonderful undertone of a vintage Hot Rod.
A flathead V-8 engine with Edelbrock heads, twin Stromberg 97 carburetors, dual exhaust, MSD ignition and a C4 automatic transmission motivate the F1 in classic fashion. The block is painted a dark red, standing out nicely among the polished brightwork dressing up the entire scene. The frame and suspension were lightly restored, a dropped front axle installed for a healthy rake, and the body was sprayed with a black finish featuring a light, faux patina, giving the truck a unique, slightly aged look. Chrome tastefully dresses up the scene on the grille, bumpers, twin sideview mirrors and smaller points. The bed floor is finished with medium-dark oak with polished strips.
Inside, passengers will love the Chocolate Brown leather upholstery by JS Custom Interior, hidden stereo system, full carpeting and restored dashboard with factory gauge cluster. A floor shifter controls the automatic transmission but gives the first-glance impression of a floor-mounted manual shifter. Rolling on wide whitewall tires and red-painted wheels with bright hubcaps, the F1 is a study in cool and style, lightly interlacing factory correct with custom, Hot Rod, retro and modern. The first purpose-built light-medium duty pickup by Ford, it broke new ground for the company with a robust chassis, heavy-duty suspension, larger brakes, a bigger bed area and much more. It brought Ford into the realm of seriously building durable trucks, a trend that would span through to today.
