The styling of trucks from the 1940's and 1950's has aged very well over the years; their shapely, and purpose-built nature has struck a chord with past owners and contemporary enthusiasts alike. Unfortunately, not all aspects of these vehicles have aged as gracefully. These trucks were well suited for work and farm use, but are not that great on modern roads and highways. Small brakes, minimal power plants and short gearing makes the majority of older pickups really only practical for low speed use.

Enter this 1949 Ford F1 truck. Prior to restoration, it had just one owner and was still in running and driving condition. At the crossroads of old and new, the 2nd owner wanted to have something that he could take on highway trips, with safe, modern brakes, improved handling and a lot more power. He also threw in air conditioning for good measure.

The restoration was a frame off job and uses a Mustang II front end with power rack and pinion steering, tubular control arms, and power 4-wheels disc brakes with a remote mounted master/booster. In the rear sits an 8.8 Explorer rear end with 3.73 gears and upgraded springs.

The engine is an LS-series from a Tahoe with a Professional products intake, Vintage Air front runner kit, and factory computer. Keeping the engine cool is a Walker radiator and Walker condenser for the A/C set up. The motor is a great compliment to the truck and pulls very strong. The transmission is an overdrive 4L60, and paired with the 3.73 gears, provides both quick acceleration and easy highway cruising!

The interior all all business with a VDO gauge package and classy brown upholstery. A standard rubber floor mat lines the floor, and if you look up, you%u2019ll find a new headliner card. Keeping the cab extra cool is a Vintage Air set up that tucks the billet controls out of sight in the glove compartment. A custom Auto Sounds head unit supplies the tunes and stays unobtrusively mounted on the bottom of the dash. The wipers are a modern Newport conversion and (drum roll)... actually work well in comparison to the wipers of yesteryear.

Driving the truck is a breeze with the updated suspension and brakes. The front end is rock solid and there%u2019s no excessive old pickup truck gear box slop. At highway speeds, the brakes are reassuring and help the drive to avoid that "will it stop?" thrill. For the pick up truck enthusiast looking to experience the old without sacrificing too much of the new, this truck rides that thin line like a champ.