1956 Ford Pickup Truck Review: A Rarity for Collectors

The 1956 Ford Pickup is known as one of the most unique trucks coming from Ford, making it a gem among collectors. It belongs to the second generation of the Ford F-series trucks, and although this ran from 1953 to 1956, the 1956 model is the most popular.

The 1956 model came with a unique body style that made it stand out from other trucks during that period, and this made it highly popular among collectors. Find out more about the 1956 pickup and how it stands out from other trucks in that generation!

What Is the 1956 Ford Pickup?

The 1956 Ford Pickup is a full-size pickup truck with a 2-door pickup body style. It is officially called the 1956 Ford F100 and is the model year that ended the second generation of the Ford F-Series. This is a series of trucks produced between 1953 and 1956.

It was marketed as the Triple Economy series, and the highlight of the 1956 Ford F100 is the body style, which was instantly recognizable and came with a wraparound style and a heavily revised grille. The entire second generation saw a revision in the model nomenclature, like the model numbers. You will still see these three-digit model numbers in F-Series trucks today.

There were also some new features on the Ford pickup, including an adjustable seat that could accommodate three people, the Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission, and power brakes. Seat belts were also introduced as an option for the 1956 model. The 1956 Ford truck was produced by Ford in different locations in the USA and Brazil.

These places included Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, Michigan, California, Virginia, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Georgia, Missouri, and Kentucky. Among all the second-gen Ford trucks, 1956 is the most desirable and can be easily identified with the wraparound windshield with vertical pillars. It was also the first Ford with a 12-volt electrical system.

• Why It’s Popular Among Collectors

The 1956 Ford Truck is known as the most powerful pickup in the history of Ford. The base price of the truck was quite high in 1956, and it is even costlier in terms of classic cars. The optional V8 engine made it a really powerful pickup truck.

There are different advantages of the 1956 Ford F100 truck as a part of your collection. For one, there is strong collector interest in the 1956 truck, as many car enthusiasts understand the value of the truck. It is also a highly reliable truck, and as long as it’s well-maintained, you can enjoy this beauty on the road.

The pickup comes with full-length running boards, and it’s easy to get replacement parts at an affordable price when maintaining this truck. On the downside, the pricing of this collectible is high due to its popularity. It does not offer a stylish look like any other 1956 pickup from that time as it is more classic and subtle.

Features of the 1956 Ford Pickup

The 1956 Ford F-100 comes with different features that make it stand out from other cars, especially those in the second generation. The second-gen Ford F-Series was redesigned, and Ford upgraded the vehicle by increasing the payload capacity and updating the suspension to improve the steering wheel.

The cab of the pickup was expanded too, with a larger rear window and windshield. Also, the wheelbase was shortened, and the front axle was moved to the back, lowering the hood line and enhancing the turning radius. It also came with a 20-inch deep cargo truck bed for more storage space.

• Engine Power

The 1956 Ford Truck offered the same engine options as the previous models, which were the V6 and V8. The V8 engine provided a significantly higher displacement than the previous model years and with a standard clutch. There was also hydraulic steering offered as an optional feature in 1956, making it stand out from others.

The engine options include the 223 cubic-inch Mileage Maker I6, 272 cubic-inch Truck 2V Y-block V8, 279 cubic-inch Lincoln Y-block V8, 317 cubic-inch Lincoln Y-block V8 and 368 cubic-inch Lincoln Y-block V8. These offer power of 137, 172, 152, 170 and 300 horsepower.

There were also different options when it came to the transmission. The 1956 Ford F100 offered the Ford Sychro Silent steering column mounted 3-speed manual transmission, also called three-on-the-tree. The options include standard transmission, medium-duty and transmission with overdrive.

The car came with a 3-speed Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission and 4-speed manual transmission, called four-on-the-floor, as options for drivers. The 12-volt electrical system was a new feature on the Ford, and it also came with different standard features.

• Body Style

The 1956 truck from Ford comes with a unique body style that can be immediately recognized. It sets itself apart from other trucks in the generation because of two major design elements on the exterior. The most noticeable difference that allows car enthusiasts to identify the car at a glance is the windshield.

The windshield has a wraparound or full-wrap style with a glass curving around the edge of the cab. The design gives you a smooth and bubbled appearance, so this is the only model with this unique design. There were also A-pillars that were almost vertical, unlike previous cars with a slanted backward pillar.

The second design element that sets the 1956 truck apart is the grille, which was heavily revised. Ford removed the V-shape of the top bar, which was quite distinctive, and went for a subtler and smoother grille. The lower bars were also smaller than the top bars, making it look less intimidating and dramatic than the previous models.

The body style of the Ford truck came with a classic, streamlined and understated design. One of the rarest 1956 trucks is the one designed with a special full-wrap rear window. Only 6,200 units were made with this design, called the Big Window trucks. It would be really hard to get these trucks today, but it is the most sought-after classic truck.

• Interior and Exterior

In terms of the interior, Ford added the Lifeguard safety technology inside the cabin. This technology was present across the entire vehicle lineup. With this feature, the doors were tightly latched to stop them from opening during a car crash.

The steering wheel also has a deep-dish concave design that reduces the impact of a collision. There were some optional features like seat belts and soft-padded materials used in the seating. This showed that Ford was focusing on passenger safety in this new model.

As for the exterior, there were different paint colors available for 1956 F-100. Drivers could pair the exterior color with a Colonial White roof and upper back panel. The colors included Vermilion, which was Red, Meadowmist Green, Raven Black, Diamond Blue, Platinum Gray, Nocturne Blue, Goldenglow Yellow, and Meadow Green.

The F-100 came with a tough, ruggedly handsome and solid vehicle, with a set-back front axle that made it heavy and intimidating. The dashboard was neat, with a hooded instrument panel.

• Dimensions and Other Specifications

The 1956 F-100 came with horsepower between 137 and 300 horsepower, while the torque from 202 to 260 pound-feet of torque, depending on the engine that you choose. The dimensions of the car are 189.1 inches in length, 71.3 inches in width and 75.3 inches in height. It also has a wheelbase of 110 inches.

The custom pickup comes with a bed length of 6.5 feet and 78 inches, while the maximum weight is 5,000 pounds. You can get the standard 15” wheels, but the optional wheels are 16”. It also has a fuel tank capacity of 17 gallons.

Other Pickup Trucks in the 1953-1956 Generation

Before the 1956 Ford, there were the 1953, 1954 and 1955 models. These models had some similarities but also a few differences, as Ford updated each model year as time went on. They consisted of 2-door pickups and 4-door panel trucks, and the engine options were different too.

• 1953 Model

The 1953 Ford truck featured a two-bar grille, and it was released on the 50th anniversary of the Ford Motor Company. It also came with a commemorative emblem on the steering wheel.

The entire chassis and body were redesigned, and the engine was also new, with an inline 6 offering 101 horsepower and an optional Flathead V8 with 100 horses.

• 1954 Model

By 1954, Ford came with a revised grille, which was a single-slanted design in between the headlamps. The engine options were also different, with a 223 cubic-inch inline 6 engine as standard, offering 115 horsepower and a Flathead V8 engine. The 239 cubic-inch Y-Block V8 engine was optional, increasing the power output.

• 1955 Model

In 1955, the Ford Pickup came with a double-bar grille, differentiated with a center notch and new hood emblems. There were tubeless tires as an option, and buyers enjoyed the Custom Cab with different interior options.

• Changes in the 1956 Model

The 1956 F-100 ended the second generation of the Ford F-Series and had a redesigned cab and exterior design. The cab was significantly changed, but there were only minor changes to the grille.

There were other features like electric windshield wipers, a 12-volt electric system and tubeless tires. There was also the Lifeguard steering wheel, and seatbelts were optional.

Frequently Asked Questions

– What Is the Difference Between the 1955 and 1956 Ford Trucks?

The difference between the 1955 and 1956 Ford Trucks is the turn or parking lamps, as the latter has an elliptical shape while the former is round. The exterior of the 1956 Ford was also redesigned with the A-pillar, windshield, window, tubeless tires, electric windshield wipers and 12-volt electric system.

– When Was The F-100 Discontinued?

The F-100 was discontinued in 1983 in all American markets and was completely replaced by the F-150. When the F-150 took over the markets, buyers were no longer interested in the lower hauling and towing capabilities of the F-100, leading to its discontinuation.

The F100 also cost $1,580 in 1956 and the price continued to rise, which was quite expensive among customers at that time. There were luxury accessories and trims that buyers could get for more money. The F-100 name was introduced in 1953 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ford, and it was changed from F1 to F100.

Conclusion

The 1956 Ford Pickup is a gem for any collector who is looking for a great addition to their series of classic cars.

Here’s a summary of what we covered:

• The 1956 Ford F-100 or Pickup Truck ended the second generation of the F-series and is known for its unique design.
• The truck had multiple engine options, including I6, V6 and V8, manual and automatic transmission, and other options.
• It came with a wraparound style around the windshield and a subtler and smoother grille.
• Ford came with different security features like deep-dish concave design and tightly latched doors with multiple exterior colors.
• The 1956 truck is popular among collectors due to its unique design and easy access to replacement parts.

If you’re curious about this vintage car, you can get access to it through online stores and second-hand markets. The pickup is known as one of the best options from Ford and remains popular among collectors.