1950 Ford F2 – Classified of the Week

The world of the hot rod is one full of bravado, full of noise, and full of a need to be seen and of course, heard. Nobody has ever built a hot rod so they can pop to the shops without anyone noticing. The origins of the hot rod were cast not in clean-cut factories, but in the chaos and mess of home garages. Hot rods are about expression, they exist to be seen. And being seen will most definitely be a regular occurrence for whoever buys this unapologetically bright 1950 Ford F2 pick-up. It could be the gloomiest, darkest, dankest winter’s day – open the garage to this and you are getting a tan. And we love it.

This arresting 1950 Ford F2 is obviously not the product of a home garage. Instead, it’s a modern take on the hot rod. The desire for expression is still present, but it’s just a little bit neater and clean cut. And that’s fine. Hot rodding isn’t synonymous with being rough and ready. A hot rod can be a refined, sharp, well-executed build with deep, glossy paint and acres of chrome. A hot rod can also be a truck, too. In fact, these old American pick-up trucks have been part of the hot rod scene for as long as the hot rod scene has been a thing.

This Ford F2 is, for us, a glorious thing. It’s a hot rod, but a mild one. Yes, the bright green paint is… sudden. But the truck itself has not been chopped about or changed too drastically. But under those glorious, curved panels, plenty of custom work has been carried out. It’s a hot rod, but one you needn’t make any significant sacrifices to drive (some chopped and channelled ‘rods can be… uncomfortable). This is still a truck, it’s still usable, but it’s cooler than any other of its kind. Talk about striking the perfect balance.

Completed in 2017, this 1950 Ford F2 has covered a mere 1,500 since the tools were put away, so it’s fresh. And those aforementioned tools were busy. The truck has been subject to a full frame-off restoration, the body and chassis were restored to factory specification, before being splashed with that custom two-tone paintwork. The chrome has all been re-plated, the suspension is all new, a custom wooden bed has been installed, it has been converted to run on an alternator and also has electric wipers. Inside the can has been lined with sound-deadening, and everything has been fully re-trimmed, meaning it’s better than new in there.

What about the mechanicals? Well, under that giant bonnet you’ll find a frankly stunning 255cui flathead V8, fully detailed and serviced, it’s in outstanding, show-ready condition. Backing up the engine is the star of the show. Normally, this truck would have had a crash ‘box, which was less than fun to use. Now though, it has £6,000 worth of Tremec five-speed manual, which transforms how this Ford F2 drives. It makes the whole operation slick and rewarding. No more worrying about missing a gear, getting the revs wrong, or breaking your wrist! Much better.

In terms of build, this isn’t the most wild ‘rod out there – the suspension and brakes etc are all as per original specification. However, the restoration, the paint, the interior and that slick transmission do indeed push it into the hot rod arena. And if you buy it, you could go further with it. Parts to lower it are available off American shelves, the same can be said for hop-up engine pars, bigger brakes, wheels and more. This truck is cool, but it’s also dripping with potential. Or, you could just enjoy it as it is. And enjoy it you will, because who can look at a Ford F2 like this and do anything other than smile?