1953–1966Collector's Guide

Ford F-100

The truck that gave the F-Series its modern identity — round fenders through 1960, then Ford's first unibody pickup.

The F-100 nameplate replaced the original F-1 in 1953, kicking off decades of Ford's best-selling truck lineage. The 1953–56 second generation carried the classic rounded postwar look; the 1957–60 third generation introduced Ford's distinctive Styleside slab-sided bed alongside the older Flareside; and the 1961–66 fourth generation briefly experimented with a unibody design before reverting to a separate frame partway through the run.

History

The 1953 F-100 arrived as part of Ford's 50th-anniversary truck redesign, replacing the F-1 with a wider cab, curved one-piece windshield, and the option of an automatic transmission for the first time in a Ford truck.

The 1957 redesign introduced the Styleside bed — a flat-sided bed integrated with the cab's design line, offered alongside the traditional stepside Flareside — giving buyers a genuine styling choice that F-Series trucks still offer in spirit today.

The 1961–63 F-100 briefly used a unibody design that welded the cab and bed together as one structure, intended to reduce flex and improve appearance; it proved impractical when the bed and cab expanded at different rates under load, and Ford reverted to a conventional separate bed for 1964.

Notable Versions

Styleside (1957+)

The smooth-sided bed design that became Ford's signature look, offered alongside the fender-flared Flareside.

Custom Cab

Upgraded trim package with more chrome and interior comfort, the F-100's equivalent of a top-tier option level.

What to Look for When Buying

Key inspection points from experienced collectors.

Cab corners, rocker panels, and bed wood need close inspection

Original wood bed floors and the steel underneath both deteriorate; budget for wood replacement on most unrestored trucks.

Unibody (1961–63) trucks have unique repair considerations

The welded cab/bed structure of these three model years is less common and less well supported by the aftermarket than the conventional-frame years around it.

Engine and trim options varied significantly year to year

Research the correct specification for the exact model year before buying if originality and numbers-matching value matter to you.