Joen Ellen: A Sentimental ‘57 Ford

ROOSEVELT, UTAH, MAY BE KNOWN FOR GREAT GOLF AND FAMOUS PRESIDENTS, BUT MARK BROTHERS—OUR HOMETOWN HERO FOR HIS AREA THIS MONTH—ONLY CARES ABOUT TRUCKS.

“I’m sure you get plenty of ‘Readers Rides,’ however I wanted to share a story and pictures of my truck,” he says. “I am a Ford guy, own a small collection of them, and the ‘57 F-100 is my fourth F-100. I’ve owned a ‘52, ‘53, and a ‘56 over the years. My daily driver is a 2016 F-250 4x4 crew cab diesel.”

We love it! A true truck guy who isn’t afraid to reach out to us. Mark’s ‘57 has its original

272Y small-block engine but now sports some custom fender wells, headers with electric cutouts, and it received a brand new Edelbrock four-barrel carb when the engine was overhauled. He used an Odyssey space saver battery to replace the old conventional box under the hood. A 1966 T-10 BW four-speed was installed to replace the original three on the tree, and power steering was added as well. The suspension is original with exception of two small rear airbags for help while towing big loads. The truck has only 64,500 actual miles on the odometer, which is impressive to say the least. The original AM radio still works, and Mark lettered it like the ‘57 shop truck his father drove while working for Robert Murphy’s Speed

Shop in Valdosta, Georgia, in the late 1950s.

“We drive her throughout the summer and take her to car shows in mostly Utah and Nevada,”

Mark says. “The ‘57 F-100 was the first truck I remember my father driving and I wanted a ‘57 due to that fact. We named her ‘Joan Ellen’ after my mother, and I have owned her for close to two years.”

What a great story! Thanks for sharing your pictures Mark!