READY TO ROLL: This F-1 hot rod pickup is a showstopper

August 21, 2019
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Statham

Red-hot stunner: This professionally built custom 1950 Ford F-1 hot rod pickup is crossing the block at No Reserve during the 2019 Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction.

Pickup trucks were always intended to be do-anything vehicles for people from all walks of life, but Henry Ford himself could never have imagined what future generations would do to his simple pickup trucks. Post-WWII pickups, in particular, have proven to be catnip for modern customizers.

For proof of that, look no further than the custom 1950 Ford F-1 pickup that will be offered with No Reserve at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas Auction, Oct. 3-5. Light years removed from its farm truck origins, this professionally built custom incorporates race car levels of horsepower, state-of-the-art suspension, a striking custom mix paint and one-of-a-kind Wheelsmith Artillery wheels.

The talent behind this build is a veritable roll call of top names in the hot-rodding industry: Austin Speed Shop, John Kaase Engines, Ace Fabrication and Redline Finishes, along with advice from noted painter and fabricator Charley Hutton and PPG. The truck made such an impact that it debuted at the 2014 SEMA trade show in the PPG booth.

Any custom hot-rod project starts with the engine, and this showstopper of a V8 is a John Kaase Engines-built 547ci powerplant fed by a FAST fuel-injection system, with a custom 3-inch exhaust system downstream. It puts out 878 horsepower and is backed by a TCI-built C6 automatic transmission. A Ford 9-inch rear end with 3.00 posi-traction gear puts the power to the ground.

Obviously, no stock F-1 was built to handle that much horsepower, so this one received upgrades from bumper to bumper. The frame is boxed front and rear. The RideTech suspension and Shockwave bags at all four corners allow the truck to handle the curves, as well as allow the driver to adjust the ride height. Four-wheel disc brakes bring it all to a rapid stop, and dual Optima Redtop batteries mounted in the rear aid weight distribution.

All that hardware under the skin is impressive, but it’s the looks that truly command attention. The paint is a custom mix, with a flat red finish on the main body and high-gloss red on the visor, running boards and wheels. Detailing includes recessed Lokar taillamps and a custom bed with stainless-steel strips. An extra set of wheels is included with the truck.

And since this truck’s days of hauling brush at the ranch are long behind it, comforts and interior detailing were a big part of the overhaul. A full Vintage Air heating and cooling system keeps the cabin at just the right temperature. The custom-made TMI bench seat offers support to go with the good looks. The dash is a combination of classic and current, with period-correct AutoMeter gauges and a Banjo Grant steering wheel. Interior handles were fitted with bear-claw latches. Noise levels are kept to a civilized volume thanks to Dynamat sound-deadening material behind the door panels, headliner and carpet.

The F-1, the designation for Ford’s new post-war half-ton pickup, was introduced in 1948 and represents the beginning of the Ford F-Series truck nomenclature that is still with us today. But this custom ’50 is as far removed from those simple farm trucks as a new Mustang is from the first one. And despite the millions of F-Series trucks built over the decades, the next owner of this unique 1950 F-1 can rest assured that, no matter how many car shows and cruise nights this beauty attends, there will never be another like this red-hot stunner.

For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE. For a look at the 2019 Las Vegas Preview Docket, with more vehicles being added daily, click HERE.