1949 Ford F1 Pickup

- Western Truck
- Priceless Patina
- Freshly Rebuilt Engine
- Original 239ci Flathead V8
- 3 On The Tree Manual

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1949 Ford F1 on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the truck due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 130 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“1948 marked the beginning of Ford's 'F-Series' trucks that today represent the largest share of the American pickup-truck market.” Internal Ford history document

The 1948 model Ford pickup represented a major leap in Ford's truck development following World War II, and the design would continue in the 1949 models. The company's “Bonus Built” trucks, as they were marketed, were completely different from the car-based trucks they replaced. Improvements were made across-the-board. All-new front sheet metal featured integrated headlights, a one-piece windshield which increased visibility, and wider, longer, and taller cabs. Increased interior dimensions started with a seven-inch stretch in cab width. Door hinges were positioned three inches farther forward for easier cab entry. The steering wheel was more horizontal and mounted closer to the driver, and a three-person bench seat moved back and forward on roller bearings. To help isolate frame flex, rubber mounts were used between cab and frame. The 1949 model featured a 6-1/2 foot cargo box with 45-cubic-feet of load space. Many truck historians rate these trucks as among Ford's most iconic automotive designs. That helps explain why this era Ford truck had a starring role in the Disney movie, “Cars.”

Offered here is a 1949 F1 Ford pickup truck, a survivor example from the western U.S. Beyond minor changes, such as the addition of a newer alternator, the truck appears completely stock and wears its patina with pride. The exterior gray paint shows its age with generalized light surface rust, and overall general dulling of the finish. Body sheet metal has minor dents in a number of places. Chrome surfaces—the headlight trim, F-O-R-D letters above the grille, trim on the front and sides of the hood, door handles, and taillights-- also show patina from age and use. Exterior badging is complete and correctly located. The embossed Ford script logo in black on the tailgate is still legible. Blackwall tires are mounted on black-painted steel wheels with no hubcaps. The cargo box features a plywood floor with black metal rub strips. Cargo-box walls show more evidence of regular use.

Inside the cab, while the seats have been upgraded for more comfort, virtually all other surfaces in the cabin retain their original appearance… and patina. Door trim is simple with a wood panel for access to window mounting. Behind the stock steering wheel, the art-deco-design gauge cluster offers the driver straightforward information on fuel level, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and battery charging. (A trio of Equus® gauges mounted below the dash also keeps an eye on engine-coolant temperature, voltage output, and oil pressure.) The large, round speedometer is offset to the left side of the display. Simple pull levers operate heating and defrosting, and the choke. “Start” is just a button. A brushed-metal grille with embossed “Ford” lettering adorns the center of the otherwise gray-painted steel dash, while a pull-out ashtray and glove box are on the right. The standard 3-speed, column-mounted, manual transmission shifter is in place.

Under the hood, the legendary flathead 293 cubic-inch flathead V8 has been recently rebuilt for reliable performance. Surfaces are clean but the engine bay has not been overly detailed. All components appear properly mounted, all hoses and wiring properly routed.

Seen from below, the chassis is clean and shows no damage. There is little surface rust on some untreated metal. No exhaust system is mounted rearward of the headers.

While the more than 130 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this '49 Ford F1 in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

There was a time when it seemed like a Ford pickup truck of this era was at work on every farm in the country. Today, they're a rare, but nostalgic part of American history. It's no wonder they draw a crowd wherever they stop.