Words & Photos: Gary Rosier
Jon Welch of New Smyrna Beach, Fl now owns this beautiful ’56 F100. Jon is Florida born and raised, but his ’56 was found in Arkansas (completely free of rust!). Bought at the Daytona Turkey Rod run over four years ago, it was purchased as a “work in progress” vehicle. Already powered by the Ford 460, the truck needed a complete tear-down and repaint.
First generation F series Ford trucks were introduced in 1948 to replace the car-like earlier trucks. They were sold in 8 different weight ratings. Second generation trucks (1953-1956) had increased overall dimensions, improved engines (317 Y blocks were the biggest) and an updated chassis. Also, the half-ton F1 now became the F100, partially influenced by the F100 Super Sabre Jet. The 56 was a one-year-only body style, with vertical windshield posts, and a wrap around windshield as one of the most noticeable changes.
Jon didn’t have much of money to throw at the truck, so he used good old fashioned “elbow grease,” time off from his job at the Florida East Coast Railway (where he worked for 37 years – he‘s now retired), and the help of family and friends to get things rolling.
Jon dug into getting the bed ready by adding mini-tubs and select pine lumber from The Home Depot, stained with MinWax Gunstock color. The tailgate was disassembled and had 60 louvers punched in it, as well as a custom rear pan made with another 56 punched in it for that a custom touch. He didn’t like the original 56 tail-lights, so he added tail lights from a 48-52 Ford F100. Polished aluminum diamond plate not only dressed it up but offered some protection, and it looks great!
Tackling the body next, he decided to set off the front end with some custom flames. He enlisted his cousin Jeff Allen, owner of Jeff Allen’s Garage in nearby Eustis, FL, to help him paint it a Ford Oxford White. The flames were done by painting the base color first, which seemed unusual to Jon but turned out beautifully. 4 coats of clear were applied and once the engine was repainted, it all started going back together.
The engine is a 460 Big Block with Dove heads and Holley 600 carb. Exhaust gases are handled by the Sanderson headers into dual Flowmaster mufflers and exhaust. The C6 transmission is aptly shifted by the Lokar shifter and vitals are monitored by the Auto Meter gauges and tach. The truck gets its stopping power from drum barkes for now, on the ’71 Ford 9inch rear he also installed. Front tires are P23560R15’s and rears are Mickey Thompson 12×30, all mounted on American Racing 15 inch chrome Torque Thrusters.
The interior is all cloth, by Mid 50 Auto supply, and it steers with a Grant wheel from NPD. While Jon’s truck gets all kinds of attention, he says, having the Dukes of Hazard gals’ signatures on the dash (Katherine Bach) or American Grafitti ‘s Cindy Williams, gives them something else to talk about (they were appearing at the Daytona Turkey Run). As if this truck needs anything else to talk about! If the loud rumble going down the highway doesn’t get your attention, those flames certainly will. This truck was born to live again, and live it does!
