1955 Ford F-100 - Factory Fresher

We're the first to preach "modern upgrades" on classic trucks. We're also the first to recognize and appreciate a finely restored pickup too! Jeff Day's '55 Custom Cab Ford literally stopped us in our tracks earlier this year, and hopefully you can see why.

A collector of all things F-100 (the real stuff, not repops), the New Jersey resident came up with this low-miler recently. Though it looks fresh from the factory, it's actually just been victim to a complete frame-off restoration. Using skills honed from blacksmithing school and a subsequent career in carriage restoration, Jeff handled the redo himself. With only 35,000 ticks on the odometer, the chassis needed nothing but a cleanup, while the pristine body required no major work other than some time with a sander. The stock teal and white two-tone was laid back down (sans clear!), perfectly complementing the whitewall-shod 16-inchers, chrome bumpers and accented grille, and the aftermarket canvas tonneau cover, which is one of the very few non-original items on the truck.

Mechanically, the '55 still runs the stock 239 Y-block and two-speed Ford-a-matic trans. Jeff added a rare set of cast-iron ram's horn exhaust manifolds that feed into stainless tubing and Never Rust mufflers. Suspension is all stock, and according to Day, "the original parts make it tight, like it was 1955 all over again." Inside the Custom Cab is no different--from the original rubber floormats to the vinyl-covered seat and Spartan door panels, there's no fancy late-model frills to be found.

Sure, some of us might have had the gall to chop a pristine stocker like Jeff's. But it's probably safe to say that no matter what our particular personal tastes may be, we all can appreciate a well-kept (or in this case, well-restored) original.