RUST-FREE HIGH-SPEC F-100, ANYONE?

We’d go out on a limb to suggest that many light-duty pickup trucks are frequently used like cars these days, hauling little more than occupants to and fro. It’s not surprising since their cabins offer fine-car comforts, as well as a commanding view of the road. Relatively cheap fuel and wide-open roads make it easy for modern-truck owners to overlook the inefficiency and bulk of those vehicles in favor of their versatility. While earlier trucks were almost always workhorses, this 1964 Ford F-100—spotted in the car corral at the 2024 Rhinebeck Car Show—showed how the humble pickup could be an appealing daily driver. 

Gleaming Caribbean Turquoise and Wimbledon White paint and shiny, red-trimmed bright moldings made the 60-year-old Ford stand out among hundreds of vehicles on that grassy New York field. A closer look revealed new delights: period-correct tires on pristine wheels with correct center caps, a bed with no dents and glossy paint sans scuffs and scrapes, a factory under-bed locking toolbox, and “Custom Cab” emblems on each door.  

That Custom Cab option is what made this truck so inviting to spend time in. Replacing bare, single-tone painted metal and hard-wearing vinyl were attractive multi-color cloth and vinyl upholstery over extra-thick seat padding, two-tone interior paint with bright metal trimmings and a special instrument-panel fascia, a driver’s side armrest and passenger sun visor, and more. While its bench seat had been reupholstered in the correct style and the sturdy floor covering looked fresh, the cab interior’s painted metal surfaces showed years of honest wear and scuffs. 

Making it easy to use was the top-spec driveline. This two-wheel-drive F-100 was powered by Ford’s 292-cu.in., two-barrel-carbureted Y-block V-8 that officially made 160 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque between 1,800 and 2,000 rpm. That engine was backed by a floor-shifted four-speed manual transmission, a combination that gave the 3,220-pound truck adequate pep and the ability to carry a 1,600-pound payload. 

Speaking with the Ford’s seller, we learned this F-100’s fascinating history. It had come from Texas with a never-rusted body; a friend of his had brought it to the Hudson Valley and began a restoration that saw the exterior repainted. He’d purchased it unfinished, reassembling the truck and having the never-rebuilt engine cleaned, repainted, and reinstalled; the five-digit odometer showed 14,325 miles but likely rolled over once. Because the factory-fitted upholstery was tired, it was replaced with a cover that incorporated the salvaged, still-good original embossed vinyl on the upper seatback. We learned a fastidious prior owner used to stick embossed tape labels on the metal dash, recording each time the oil was changed; it was once covered in those notes! 

A $30,000 asking price was in the pickup’s window during the show, and while the Ford attracted some positive comments, it didn’t sell. The J.D. Power (née NADA) website suggests today’s average retail value for a short-wheelbase F-100 Styleside is $39,150; actual sale results recorded by classic.com show a slightly more conservative average of $24,700 covering all 1964 F-100 sales, with the highest prices (up to $99,000!) achieved by modified examples. The honest, attractive presentation of this solid truck indicated it should be capable of a healthy return, but it could take time—and the right Marketplace—to attract its next caretaker. 

1964 FORD F-100  

Asking price: $30,000 

Seller description: “1964 Ford F100 Styleside” 

Known issues: The steering wheel rim was cracked and some factory-applied paint in the cab was worn. 

Why buy?: This half-ton pickup was said to be a Texas truck that retained all factory sheetmetal under fresh exterior paint in the original colors. The nicely trimmed interior was a blend of original and restored finishes, and it had the most powerful available engine with a four-speed manual. 

Price new: $1,979 ($20,100 in 2024 dollars) 

Value now: $9,000-$82,500

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2025-01-18T14:26:20Z