Classic Beauty Meets Modern Power, A 1959 Ford F-100 by Earth MotorCars!

Earth MotorCars’ 1959 F-100 Shortbed 

There is something just so iconic about a 1950s Ford truck. If you’re like us, you take notice of each one you see on the road or parked in a field, regardless of their condition. Whether fully restored or resto-modded, these trucks are sure to put a smile on your face, and sent straight back to a different time. 

This gorgeous 1959 Ford F-100 shortbed pickup is no different. Currently owned by Earth MotorCars in Carrollton, Texas, this beauty has just about everything you could love in an old classic truck rebuilt for modern fun, including a new Coyote engine under the hood! Need we say more?

Built for Longevity

The F-Series pickup was introduced to the market in 1948 with the first generation of the now famous Ford platform. Spanning over three-quarters of a century, the F-Series has seen an incredible 14 generations so far, with no indication of the platform or the namesake being retired anytime soon.

While Ford certainly offered trucks for both commercial and private use before the original F1 half-ton pickup was born, it was this truck designed after World War II that truly catapulted Ford trucks to the “family truck” status they share now.

The second generation of F-Series trucks saw its start in 1953, offering an updated car feel to the interior with available armrests and sun visors, as well as a more modern look to the exterior. This generation also saw the F1, F2 and F3 monikers dropped for the now more familiar F100 and F250 names. In 1957, the F-Series rolled over into its third generation, bringing with it a boxier and roomier cab, the notable clam shell hood, integrated front fenders, and available four-wheel-drive. This generation lasted until 1961, when the wider unibody Ford F-Series pickup hit the market. For many enthusiasts, the third-generation was the last of  “the great F-Series trucks”, although we could make arguments for both sides.

If Looks Could Kill

Hailing from the third generation of F-Series trucks, this gorgeous ‘59 has all of the best classically-shaped lines going for it, perfected by talented hands. From that iconic clam shell hood, to the short bed out back, not a piece of this truck hasn’t been touched. And when it comes to body lines and gaps, it’s hard to beat a truck perfected to this caliber.

The bed on this truck is a piece of art in itself, featuring a custom white bed floor with polished rails. The tail section of the truck has been reconfigured slightly by deleting the rear bumper and having a custom exhaust tip molded to the exact shape of the cutout under the tailgate. The tailgate chains have been done away with for an even sleeker look.

Other details we like about this truck include the tubbed wheel wells that expertly fit gorgeous 20×8-inch front and 20×12-inch rear Detroit Steel D-Town Smoothie wheels wrapped in 225/35ZR20 front and 325/35ZR20 rear Lexani Performance LX-Twenty tires respectively . Air Lift and Firestone air bag systems accentuate the wheel and tire choice, slamming the truck down low with the help of a C-notched frame.

It’s all topped off with a classic two-toned paint scheme in blue and white, and correct polished badging and chrome details.

Inside, the truck is just as posh with body color-matched metal work accentuated by a white dash and shorty door panels, a classic white leather bench seat with diamond-stitched blue inlays, a matching custom center console (with cup holders!), and a Lokar electronic sport shifter. Details like the matching white leather arm rests with blue stitching, Dakota Digital gauges in a custom tooled dash inlay, and a classic white Yehicy 14-inch steering wheel add even more classic character with a custom twist. What you can’t see in the interior is a modern power steering pump, Wilwood master cylinder and hydroboost hidden up under the dash.

Good Looks + Modern Performance

While classically good looks will get you a long way as a pickup truck, a modern brute of an engine to go along with those classically good looks will get you even further, and that’s exactly what this F100 has!

Under the hood of the truck you’ll find a third-generation 5.0L Coyote engine – yes, the very engine available in both F-150s and Mustangs from 2018 through 2023, in case you were wondering. But that’s not all!

Added to this bad boy are a Wizard Cooling radiator and SPAL Automotive dual brushless fans for superior cooling, an Aeromotive A1000 fuel pump and Fuel  Safe fuel cell, and Kooks headers that dump into a custom 3-inch exhaust with a one-off dual exhaust tip exiting under the center of the truck’s tailgate for increased performance results.

Backing the Coyote is a 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission out of a 2020 Ford F-150, while out back you’ll find a Speedway Motors Ford 9-inch positraction rear end with 3.73 gears. Both the engine and transmission are mounted on custom mounting points built into the truck’s frame. In addition to the air bags that give  the truck the ability to drive and park at different levels, the truck features a Heidts front suspension system and a Helix 4-link rear suspension system with an added track bar for not only superior ride quality, but also far better handling than anything made before the 2000s. Shocks on the truck include Monro-Matics both front and rear, while the truck also boasts a Mustang II rack and pinion steering and a rear sway bar from Speedway Motors.

With that much oomph and the suspension to support it, modern brakes are of the utmost importance in builds like this, which this classic beauty has in the form of 14-inch rotors and 6-piston calipers from Wilwood in the front, and 13-inch rotors with 4-piston calipers at  the rear.

If you’re not calculating just how fun this truck would be to drive right about now, you need a chance to get behind the wheel of a Coyote-powered vehicle built to be pushed, stat!

We come across a lot of really cool trucks in this industry, from restored rarities to modern performance machines. But put a classic Ford F-Series truck in front of this writer, and she’ll choose a truck like this over just about any other any day of the week!

 TRUCK SPECS

Butch Szmodis

• Earth MotorCars
• 1959 Ford F100 Short Bed Pickup
• Carrollton, Texas

Engine & transmission

• C-notched rear frame
• Custom mounting points for the engine and transmission on the frame
• Heidts front suspension system
• Helix 4-link rear suspension and track bar
• Monro-Matic front and rear shocks
• Air Lift front air bags
• Firestone rear air bags
• Mustang II rack and pinion steering with electric power steering pump mounted under the dash
• Speedway rear sway bar

Wheels & Tires

• 20×8-inch front and 20×12-inch rear Detroit Steel D-Town Smoothie wheels
• 225/35ZR20 front and 325/35ZR20 rear Lexani Performance LX-Twenty tires

Engine & Drivetrain

• 2020 third-generation Ford Coyote 5.0L V8 engine
• Wizard Cooling radiator
• SPAL Automotive dual brushless fans
• Aeromotive A1000 fuel pump
• Fuel  Safe fuel cell
• Kooks headers
• Custom 3-inch exhaust with one-off dual exhaust tip
• 2020 Ford F-150 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission
• Speedway Motors Ford 9-inch positraction rear end with 3.73 rear end gears
• Wilwood 14-inch front brakes with 6-piston rotors
• Wilwood 13-inch rear brakes with 4-piston rotors
• Wilwood master cylinder and hydroboost mounted under the dash

Body & Paint

• Full customized body
• Short bed with custom white bed floor
• Tubbed wheel wells
• Custom blue and white paint

Interior & Stereo

• Custom blue and white leather diamond stitched upholstery
• Dakota Digital gauges
• Yehicy 14-inch classic white steering wheel
• Lokar electronic sport shifter

Photo Credit: Earth MotorCars