1953 Ford F100 – James S.

Always loved the body style of the ’53-’56 Ford F100. The fat fenders and stance made it my truck of choice. After locating a ’53 in an old salvage yard, the owner and I made a deal for $500. Not much of an income, I had to make payments until 3 months later, I was loading it up and taking it home. No motor or transmission made it easy to start taking it apart. The cab had its usual rust and fenders were torn in the middle. My lack of body knowledge caused me to scrap just about all sheetmetal and look at aftermarket. That’s when everything changed. Three daughters playing softball and I’m coaching 3 teams, the truck was mothballed for years. The wife and I had been going every year to the F100 Supernationals and Grandnationals in Pigeon Forge Tennessee and having a wonderful time. The fire kept reigniting the passion of the restoration. I gave up on the ’53 and parked it in the pasture. I searched on Marketplace for another more complete, but I was having trouble on the price range. I located a ’71 Ford F100 in beautiful condition and was prepared to travel three hours to South Arkansas to look. That’s when a 1954 kept showing up on my searches in Claremore, Oklahoma. After messaging the owners, my grandson made the trip and the deal was done. So I thought. Returning home and next day with a borrowed F250 and trailer, we headed back to pick it up. We lost a ramp on the way, then got lost and missed an in ramp to the turnpike and got a good tour of Oklahoma at midnight because GPS hates me. The ’54 had been restored several years ago, but time had done its toll on the paint. After receiving my LMC catalog, I went to work replacing old worn out parts. Summit Racing helped freshen up the 351w and it’s been on the road ever since. Looking for an affordable paint job is next on the list. Now if only I can decide which daughter gets the truck after I pass. Lol.