1953 Ford F-100 with Chevy 350, TH350 and Volare front clip, bid at $10,000

Why we picked it

Why we picked it: the costly part of a first-year F-100 resto build is already done here. The seller lists a Chevrolet 350 with a four-barrel and HEI, a TH350 automatic, a Plymouth Volare front clip with front disc brakes and a booster, an aluminum radiator with an electric fan, lowering springs at the rear and a cedar bed floor.

The bid stood at $10,000 with 10 days left, against about $16k-$31k for comparable modified drivers. Bids usually climb in the final hours, so treat the current number as a starting point, not the final price. The auction ends October 26.

The value check

When we found it, the bid was $12,500. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $16,250–$30,800, so the middle of the market is about $23,525. That put this car 47% under.

Modified, driver-grade 1953-56 F-100s with V8 swaps sold for about $16k-$31k at auction over the last year; nicer restomods bring $40k-$60k and were left out.

Where the numbers come from:

• 1954 F-100, Hagerty, $16,250 (Aug 2026)
• 1956 F-100 modified, AutoHunter, $16,500 (Dec 2025)
• 1955 F-100 modified, Hagerty, $18,250 (Jun 2026)
• 1955 F-100 modified, Mecum, $27,500 (Jan 2026)
• 1955 F-100, Mecum, $30,800 (Sep 2026)

What to check

• No title: it is offered on a New York registration only, because New York does not title vehicles this old. Confirm your state will title it from that paperwork before you bid
• Volare-clip swaps vary a lot in quality; inspect the crossmember welds and steering geometry
• The seller notes exhaust manifolds that need replacing, a headliner separating and missing sun visors
• Check cab corners, floor pans, door bottoms and the rear of the front fenders for rust under the white paint
• Reserve status is not stated on the page

Making it drive like new

With the drivetrain and front suspension already updated, the next steps are a modern wiring harness, a fuel-injection conversion on the 350 (Sniper or similar), a four-link or leaf-spring upgrade with a Ford 8.8 or 9-inch rear end, and seatbelts plus a collapsible column for safety.

5 builders make a complete chassis for the 1953–56 F-100 pickup. Compare them side by side, along with what it takes to stiffen the factory frame.

How it ended

Bidding reached $16,000 but the car didn't sell (ended Oct 26, 2026). Unsold cars often get relisted, so it may turn up again.