Ford F100 1966 V8 Hot Rod Pick-up Truck (8ft bed) from Southern California.

Guaranteed to make people smile! Up for sale, reluctantly, is this lovely 1966 Ford F 100 Twin I-Beam

Styleside Pickup with Ford Cleveland 351 (5.6 litre) V 8 engine, 3-speed automatic gearbox and long 8 ft bed. The truck needs a new owner who can finish the refurbishment.

The truck was imported from Long Beach, Southern California (dry climate) in 2014 and still carries

tinted windows, stickers and other details from its Long Beach life.

“Twin I-Beam” is the title Ford gave to their first attempt at independent front suspension whereby, instead of a single front axle beam, you have two, one for each front wheel. It works well.

The truck was mildly hot-rodded and refurbished about 15 years ago the work included the new engine, dropping the front suspension by 2”, widened wheel arches in the bed to accommodate the massive 295/50 R 15 wheels and tyres, a new tiltable Le Carra steering column and wheel, new instruments and trim in the cab, JVC radio/CD with 8 speakers, a very loud exhaust system etc. However the brakes and steering were left as original drum brakes all round with no assistance, and unassisted steering with the smaller Le Carra steering wheel this made for interesting driving!

So during my ownership those issues have been addressed: the front brakes were converted to discs

with brake booster (= servo) and new master cylinder working a dual circuit, and power steering has been fitted, so that the truck now drives more like a late-20 th C vehicle with the peace of mind that comes with that. The King Pins have also been renewed. All this work was carried out professionally at Burnham Autos, the South-East's premier Hot Rod garage.

Brand new tyres have been fitted since these photos were taken.

I have also spent a lot of money on shiny parts!

So here is the spec.:

Under the bonnet: Ford Cleveland V 8 with 4-barrel Holley carb, Ford Sport

air filter cover and rocker covers, MSD distributor, coil and ignition module, new alternator, refurbished power steering system and screenwasher. The engine uses little or no oil, and the cooling system likewise rarely needs topping up. It has been very reliable. Fuel consumption is in the region of 12-13 mpg.

Exhaust: large-bore Flowmaster, very loud! It sets off car alarms as you pass.

At the front: new grille, headlight doors, and bumper. Just behind the grille is the very loud 2-tone heavy duty air horn.

In the cab: The instrument set was fitted at the time of the refurbishment two of the instruments fail to light up. The tachometer and oil pressure gauge need attention, and the fuel gauge is a bit vague! Switches have aluminium knobs, and the shifter is an 8-ball. There are lots of details from its Long Beach ownership eg small badges. The bench seat has a cover from Urban Outfitters of San Francisco.

At the rear: a new rear bumper made from angle-iron clad in chequer-plate, very useful for getting into the bed!

-with towing bracket and 7-pin towing socket.

The large toolbox came with the truck. To make some kind of sense of the massive wheelarches I have made the slatted mahogany benches which are full length, and the toolbox now sits on them. The bed sides are capped with aluminium angle which carries the stainless grab-handles and six “torpedo cleats”. The bed is fitted with four heavy-duty tie-down eyes in the floor, and eight smaller tie-down eyes along the sides. The bed sides are double-skinned so you don't show dents made to the inside on the outside.

Wheels: steel with stainless hubcaps and “Beauty Rings” (known to some of us as Rimbellishers).

Tyres are brand new.

Bodywork: There are several bodywork blemishes such as cracks and bubbles in the paintwork and a split to the RH front fender lower edge, see pictures. The new owner will wish to fix them.

Mileage is showing as 41000, which I take to be the mileage since the truck was refurbished in Long Beach.

Accessories: the Dyno Glide Beach Cruiser and surfboard come with the truck if you want them.

Spares: there are a number of spare parts including a petrol tank, that come with the truck.

Reason for selling: I need the money to finance other projects.

Summary: A stylish and practical vehicle which makes people smile and is a pleasure to drive, but needs attention to bodywork and instruments.

The surfboard and beach cruiser bike come free with the truck if you want them.

Viewing: I am close to M 25 J 3 at Swanley.

Call me on 01322 864936 or m 6 to arrange – Phil Collins

Want to buy this car?