Lawrence Street Sighting: Ford Econoline pickup

Growing up in Kansas, nearly every household had a pickup new or old; most of them were the usual big-three full-size truck that weren't really see as cool vehicles by the owners. More often than not, trucks actually worked and were used as ranch-hands instead of status symbols that today's pickup has become. To see a classic truck that has body damage but is still chugging along is no rare feat in the Wheat State; I can remember seeing many 1940s and 1950s trucks still working hard, even when I was in grade-school--and that tradition of keeping the truck till it dies certainly applies today.

In the 1960s, Ford had a reign on the pickup market with the F-100, but the brand also launched what would be the first real compact "pickup"; long before the Ford Ranger and its Mazda twin were born, the term compact Ford truck applied to the Econoline pickup you see here. Essentially a Ford van with an open cargo area, the pickups were relatively rare, and even in Kansas, not many have survived.  These went away for 1967, and the compact pickup would not return to Ford showrooms until the 1983 model year.

As a survivor, this little truck looks pretty good; it isn't immaculate, and it doesn't pretend to be. It wears its battle scars well, and aside from the missing tailgate, and hints of a respray, this is how a classic truck should look. I love pampered trucks, don't get me wrong, but seeing a truck that's lived up to its workhorse intention is just awesome.

The patina is strong with this one, but amazingly enough, the chrome has held on; the emblems look fantastic and despite being pitted, they aren't rusted through; the hubcaps might be the wrong year for this bodystyle, but they still look great--and to top it off, the color is pretty classy too. I'd love to see what one of these all shined up would look like. I do love this one how it is, though, and there's no need to change it.

Kansas is home of the classic workhorse, and I love finding the special ones hidden throughout Lawrence.  This is a well-spotted (by my dad) and well-shot (by me) little truck, and I hope to see more of these soon.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Ford F-250 Custom Cab

For decades, the Ford F-Series has been the workhorse of choice not only for Americans, but for working people all over the world. To date, the F-Series nameplate has been sold in America, Israel, France, the UAE, Mexico, and many South American countries. While each of those countries has models tailored for them, the basic principle stays the same-- a quality truck for people who need to get the job done, no matter the cost.
Starting in 1947, the Ford truck line became known as the Ford F-Series, and the legacy has continued to grow ever since. While trucks really aren't known for their beauty, over time generations of Ford's most profitable workhorse have become classic trucks, and have gained an extremely faithful following. Some folks are passionate about the first-generation F-Series (F-1, F-2 etc, while others prefer the oddly-styled 1987-1991 versions. Me, I fall in the middle; I love the 1953-1956 models, and the 1957 trucks. I also quite like the 1961 to 1966 pickups as well.















I actually quite like this truck; I love vehicles with the right amount of patina-- not too much, and not a horrible rustbucket either. Trucks like this let passersby know of the working-class life the vehicle led, and they're not shy about getting dirty. Swathed in baked blue paint that's probably not original, this F-250 clearly means business; it's a work truck with more than a dash of attitude. And could anyone expect less? With either a 292 Y-Block or a 352-cube V8, this truck is no "Mileage Maker". It obviously wasn't supposed to be a gas-miser when new, and some forty-five years after its introduction, it certainly gets worse mileage than it did new. But that doesn't matter.
Classic trucks are not supposed to be signs of tree-hugging, gas-sipping modern world vehicles; they have an attitude of their own. Patina, loud mufflers, and bad lifters all signify this. It will be driven into the ground, day after day, and it doesn't break a sweat; its an old workhorse, and it does it with style. The same cannot be said of a new F-150. New and "stylish", yes, but in forty years? I doubt people will care.