1951 Ford F-1 - Pretty Little Lady

Last year at the F-100 Supernationals, Harold Hall was busy polishing up his recently completed '51 F-1 when a "pretty little lady" came by and asked if he could help her with a problem she was having with her '56 big window. She introduced herself as Lori, and Harold was impressed that she took the time to check out his ride. As she walked away, Lori turned to Harold, smiled, and said "nice truck." Right then and there, Harold knew the last two years of wrenching on his F-1 were worth it.

Harold is the owner and operator of H-Square Machining & Street Rods in West Jefferson, North Carolina. A few years ago, a customer delivered a rough but complete-and-running '51 Ford with instructions for a complete street rod build. It had been updated with a 390 and three-speed, but plans called for a new Chevy drivetrain. Harold took a keen interest in the F-1 and began building it as if it was his own. This turned out to be a good thing because, in the midst of the build, the owner decided to sell it. Harold offered up a solution that was favorable to both parties and finished the truck for himself.www.carolinastreetrods.com

The foundation of the yellow Effie is the '82 Malibu front clip grafted to the stock frame. Elsewhere, the frame was boxed, and all non-essential holes were welded up before being powdercoated black. The lowered stance comes courtesy of Belltech spindles, V-6 coils in the front, and 4-inch dropped leaves in the rear, while the ride is smoothed out from a set of Nitro-Drop shocks. A Posi rearend from a S-10 hangs in the rear and is fit with 3.73:1 gears. The natural wheel and tire choice was a big and little Torque Thrust II combo with BFGs up front and Mickey Thompsons in the rear. A '95 LT1 with matching 4L60E tranny was located, and the engine was topped with the appropriate amounts of chrome and polished billet, as well as Corvette fuel rail covers.

Harold massaged the F-1 cab back into shape and welded up the seams in the process. He also shaved the door handles, frenched the antenna, and nosed the hood in the process. The stock bed was abandoned in favor of a new unit from Early Ford; they also supplied the oak bed floor and roll pan. Fairlane Co. rear fenders were bolted up before the many hours of metal massaging took place. Finally, Harold shot the DuPont '00 Corvette Yellow paint and reassembled the truck using nothing but polished stainless bolts. Harold also handled the interior chores. After the one-piece power windows and Billet Specialties-topped GM van steering column were installed, the Olds Alero power bucket seats were re-covered with gray tweed, with the door panels and carpet stitched up to match. Auto Meter gauges and Vintage Air controls were located to the dash, but the bulk of the wiring harness and electronic controls reside behind the seats.

Harold's life seems just a bit more charmed since he completed his Effie. When he debuted the truck at the Goodguys Southeastern Nationals at the end of 2001, we immediately awarded it a Top Five pick. Soon after at the 2002 F-100 Supernationals, Harold walked away with the F-1 Truck of the Year award. He also got to know Lori better, and the two began showing their trucks together at local shows and eventually started dating. At this year's Supernats, the couple, as well as the trucks, were sitting side by side, and we got the whole story early in the week when we shot the photos of the F-1. Later in the week, following the awards ceremony, Harold got down on one knee and proposed to Lori on their one-year anniversary. You give us all hope, Harold. Who says you can't meet the girl of your dreams at a truck run?