- Seller: Andy A
- Location: Branford, Connecticut
- Mileage: 40,000 Shown
- Chassis #: BD83H5028074
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: V8 Flathead
- Transmission: 3-Speed Manual, On The Floor
If there were a light-truck hall of fame, a few trucks would be first-round shoo-ins: Advance Design Chevrolets, perhaps the Second-Generation Dodge Ram, and definitely the first-generation Ford F-1, such as this ’49 that’s being offered as a Barn Finds Auction. Introduced in 1948, the Ford truck was so thoroughly redesigned that it earned a new name: F-1. Powered by the equally hall-of-fame-worthy Ford flathead V8 (or a straight six), the F-1 has become the archetype for the word “truck.” Just look at this classic Ford and tell me it wouldn’t look good on your Christmas card next year. Located in Branford, Connecticut, this is a truck you’ll want to bid on if you’re at all in the market for a classic pickup.
Under the hood of our featured F-1 is Ford’s classic flathead in its ultimate 8BA form. The ’49 V8 displaced 239 cubic inches and produced 100 horsepower (90 horsepower net), all while creating the mellowest rumble a car fan could ever love. The reason for the distinctive sound is the routing of the exhaust passages; a flathead’s exhaust exits through the block rather than the cylinder heads (as in an overhead-valve engine). This one is smoke-free, clatter-free, and it runs cool (which is not always the case with Flathead Fords). A three-speed manual, with synchromesh on second and high gears, was your only transmission choice, and the seller says that the clutch works perfectly with no chatter.
The interior has been reupholstered in brown vinyl and even has a headliner! It’s hard to imagine today that a heater would be optional in your new Ford, but it was. Fortunately, this one has it, so you can drive around on those cool spring or fall days in comfort. You can even take it out for that Christmas card picture.
The seller says that this F-1 was originally from Texas, and it was lovingly restored without patch panels or filler. It has a beautiful wooden bed with decorative wood sides, and as you can see, the seller has nailed the stance; it has just a little bit of rake and looks perfect in forest green with black fenders. Everything on the truck works, including all lights and all gauges. With just enough chrome to complement its lovely color combination, this Ford is ready for you to enjoy right now (or at least when the salt is washed off the road, depending on where you live). If you agree, bid now!
Bid On This Auction
- Ralph Fehr bid $12,500.00 2025-01-27 08:48:20
- Chris Engel bid $12,000.00 2025-01-26 14:13:06
- Ralph Fehr bid $11,500.00 2025-01-26 10:06:19
- Chris Engel bid $11,000.00 2025-01-25 12:19:37
- Garand51 bid $9,200.00 2025-01-25 10:15:56
- Ron Deane bid $1,500.00 2025-01-25 09:45:45
- Chris Engel bid $900.00 2025-01-25 08:36:36
- Pat bid $200.00 2025-01-25 07:19:09
What a beautiful truck. Always liked that color combination, green with black fenders. Love the head bolt heater and sediment bowl. It appears the heater was the only option at $35 and maybe the oil filter. We look at this truck today because it is so unusual to see, but in 1949, the farm coughed up $1333 bucks, and was the only vehicle most had. It was the most expensive purchase next to the tractor. It did it all, from loads of rocks to Saturday night at the Bijou. They usually only looked like this once, on the way home from the Ford garage. I bellyache about not being an automatic today, but by golly, if you want to drive a ’49 F1, then you’ll just have to learn how. Don’t worry, you can’t kill one, just ask the farm boys and girls that tried.
I agree. You’d be hard pressed to find a nicer one. I also agree about the two tone, this just looks right. I will say that blue or dark red with black fenders looks nice too. This is one sweet truck. And to hear that old Flathead V8 run through the gears on a back country road all alone….. ( Ok, Ok, I know, I’m dreaming here a bit) would be all the music I’d need to hear.
Great comment as usual Howard 👍
My daddy went out and bought his new dark red 1949 F1 right after I was born. Drove it for 4 years. I have pictures of him sitting me on the right front fender and my mother standing nearby. Hard to believe it’s been 76 years since he drove it home. He loved that truck. Daddy talked about how good it drove.
The Blue Oval must have bought black & green paint by the railroad tank cars when these were new vehicles…
Still a great look!
I would love to be able to buy it but I’m sure the reserve is way over my $2,000 budget
Of all the trucks mentioned the fat fender Fords are my favorites. This is a great representation of the breed.
A white 49 FORD was the 1stnew vehicle I ever saw, I was animate in the Colorado state reformatory at 16 years old when the warden drove it into the yard. MAN was it shiny!!!!
Mine was a 1952 with the same colours, except the grill was a tan colour. They did not chrome the big toothed grills in ’51 – 52. I bought it at auction in 1977 for $270. My father-in-law said I paid way too much but with routine maintenance, a few repairs (snapped the top off an exhaust valve) and a few upgrades like a newer rear-end so I could drive at 60 MPH without stressing the engine and Bronco seats, I drove it as a workhorse and often as a daily driver in summer. It was pretty beat when we moved from Sask. prairies to B.C. mountains in 2018. It is still going strong after a restoration and boy … do I miss it.
Shame about the air cleaner.
Reminds me of my 1946 Ford Super Deluxe Tudor. The heater looks similar; but I hope THIS one works better than MINE did! The heater-core sits inside of it, with an exposed fan behind it to push the air through its openable front “doors” (your poor curious cat might not make it, if you let your pet-friend ride on the floor!). The bottom line is, if the temperature falls below 45 degrees, FORGET it! On a 20° day, you MIGHT barely thaw out your toes after nearly an hour of pushing it at full-blast; at zero degrees, you won’t feel any heat at all! These are the little “adjustments” and “conditions” you will need to deal with when 1940s-motoring. These Ford classic 239 flatheats are a dream to drive, and the engine is nearly silent and oh-so smooth! The oil-bath air-cleaner works well, too. I drove my ’46 for many reliable years; however, at my age, I might not be ready to return to being my own mechanic anymore. These are easy to work on, if you want to give it a try. The distributor comes right off the front of the block, for easy bench-changing and gapping of the points, and a snug “key” ensures that timing will be spot-on when you re-install it. Old Henry thought of everything!
Reminds me of my 1946 Ford Super Deluxe Tudor. The heater looks similar; but I hope THIS one works better than MINE did! The heater-core sits inside of it, with an exposed fan behind it to push the air through its openable front “doors” (your poor curious cat might not make it, if you let your pet-friend ride on the floor!). The bottom line is, if the temperature falls below 45 degrees, FORGET it! On a 20° day, you MIGHT barely thaw out your toes after nearly an hour of pushing it at full-blast; at zero degrees, you won’t feel any heat at all! These are the little “adjustments” and “conditions” you will need to deal with when 1940s-motoring. These Ford classic 239 flatheads are a dream to drive, and the engine is nearly silent and oh-so smooth! The oil-bath air-cleaner works well, too. I drove my ’46 for many reliable years; however, at my age, I might not be ready to return to being my own mechanic anymore. These are easy to work on, if you want to give it a try. The distributor comes right off the front of the block, for easy bench-changing and gapping of the points, and a snug “key” ensures that timing will be spot-on when you re-install it. Old Henry thought of everything!
Gee, Harrison, my heater worked pretty good in my ’52, except the defrosters were crap. The no-draft vent windows were good at keeping the windshield from fogging up, but that let more cold air in.
A little aside — I had a 1951 Merc in high school that was hard to heat in Saskatchewan winters. After I started working and had some $$$ I installed a second heater in the trunk, hanging from the rear package shelf. Hoses and wiring ran through the firewall and under the seats. When the car was warmed up that rear heater blew warm air up over the rear window and headliner warming passengers from the top down while the stock heater blew warm air onto the floor under the dash. I also installed a truck heater in the heater hose under the hood that heated the coolant and pushed it through the system. On cold winter mornings I could turn the key and watch the temp gauge come up, start the old flathead and get warm air from both heaters right away. I had a bunch of ideas for that car but a drunk destroyed it one night when parked at a friend’s house.
I never thought of a second heater with water / coolant hoses traveling elsewhere. Until 5 years ago I had my 53 F-100 panel delivery truck that I used to drive in the winter if not much salt on the roads. I owned it since 1989 and when I first bought it I used it as everyday driver. Well, back then I did drive it when salt and ice were on roads. If you think I’m weird, I may still be, but even weirder was in 1976 I bought a 46 Dodge 1 ton pickup (WD21) and that was my everyday driver for a few years until it would not start unless I parked on a hill, let it travel down and “pop” the clutch in 2nd gear. The relevance of this long tale is the heaters being insufficient, especially in the panel truck with the larger space to heat. A second heater would have been welcome.
I guess I should have made it clear that my ’51 Merc was a 4dr sedan, not a truck. I never saw anyone drive a truck to school back in the 60s, come to think of it.
Back in the early ’70s when we were back to the land types the older, post war, trucks from the 1940s and early 50s were common around farm and ranch country and could be purchased for not a lot of money. They were only good for local work, like hay, some firewood, and couldn’t really keep up on the state highway anymore. Too slow. In my territory there were more Chevy’s and GMCs than the Fords, but at one point I was able to get a 1950 Ford and it was delightful. Smoother running and more powerful than the GM six cylinders. The exhaust note was fabulous. Reliable too, even at a fairly advanced age. I used it to build my house, hauling rocks, sand and gravel, trips to the lumber yard, even went to the city once and loaded up a couch and some French doors from an architectural salvage outfit. Maybe the best truck I have ever owned.
Chug, chug, chug goes the engine. Chug, chug, chug goes the truck. Chug, chug, chug I’m dreaming of owning this old truck. Listen to the V8 engine as it sings its song. Listen to this old truck rattle as we amber along. Chug, chug, chug goes the engine.
God Bless America
Nice truck for sure. Lots of these around when I was a kid. Would love to see this at my place.
Are you sure that’s a 3-speed? The shift lever looks kind of thick, which is reminiscent of the tried and true Warner T-9 crashbox. You could hear them 3 blocks away when they were behind a Flathead V-8. It was kind of strange that a T-9 howled like a banshee behind a V-8 but was a lot quieter behind a six.
I learned to drive a truck in a ’49 F-3. Sure learned how to double-clutch up and down. Rather proud of myself back then as I was only 10 years old at the time…