Ford F-series trucks

These classic US trucks are cheap and popular cultural icons

If there’s one thing you learn as you get older, it’s that there’s no accounting for nostalgia. Trucks might not be glamorous or exciting, but they have been an intrinsic part of US culture and everyday life since the end of World War Two. Even if you weren’t there, that makes old pick-ups very cool.

Launched in 1948, Ford’s F-series offered eight different chassis variants, from the small F-1 to the ‘Big Job’ F-7 and F-8. Power came from an in-line six or a V8, both of them flatheads, and all were equipped with manual transmissions. The smaller F-1 and F-2 models proved an instant hit with farmers.

The first F-series wasn’t without its shortcomings, but the second generation – the one we would recommend you seek out today – put most of them right when it was launched in 1953. The new F-100 and F-250 tweaked the formula, bringing more creature comforts and better ergonomics to the cabin, and more car-like performance and handling.

To begin with, the old in-line six carried over as the standard engine with the flathead V8 still an option. A new Ford-O-Matic transmission was now offered, and in 1954 the much-improved Y-block V8 engines arrived. These started at 239ci (3.9 litres), rising to 256, 272 and 312ci (5.1 litres) over the next few years. Although this engine often had oil circulation issues – caused primarily by neglect – it’s a relatively simple unit that shouldn’t give any problems, especially if it has been rebuilt by a specialist in recent years.

Everything about the construction of these F-series trucks is simple. Rudimentary, even. It was designed to be a hard-wearing, easy-to-fix tool, which makes the fact that these trucks are relatively good to drive even more impressive. Easy to look after, too.

Second-gen cars went through various cosmetic changes in this short time, but it’s the 1956 model (pictured) that is most sought-after. This body style with the wraparound windscreen lasted just one year.

A considerably updated third-generation range was launched in 1957, gaining the option of four-wheel drive in 1959. With each later incarnation, the F-series became more popular and more diverse, with configurations to suit most needs.

The big turning point for Ford was in 1977, when the F-series became the best-selling American truck – finally overtaking the previously more successful Chevrolet. Even more impressive was its continued rise as the USA’s love for the pick-up continued. It progressed to being the biggest-selling vehicle in the US in 1986 and has remained in the top spot to this day, more than 70 years since the birth of the F-series.

It’s an undeniable classic, but every one of these trucks was bought to serve a purpose. They generally served their owners well, and would be used and abused until they were no longer worth repairing. So finding a classic truck in perfect condition is very difficult, and it’s likely to be expensive.

But part of the appeal of classic trucks is that they don’t have to be perfect. Find an F-100 that has lived a life. As long as you keep on top of the mechanicals, all those scuffs and scrapes just add to the character.