This Truck belongs to John Kovach. This photo was taken at a show that John had to compete against a 1997 Chevy and a 1994 Chevy plus a 1991 Chevy, John took 1ST place in his class.
1956 Ford 1/2 - Ton F-100 Pickup
Jim Crago from West Alexandria, Ohio.
F-100 6-1/2 Ft. Pickup: The new Ford trucks for 1956 debuted Sept. 23, 1955. Sales literature boasted of new styling. A full-wrap windshield brought changes to the upper cab, doors and roof. There was a Ford crest on the front of the hood, with a Fordomatic script just below it on trucks with optional automatic transmission. The new grille was of a single-unit design with large, circular headlamp surrounds on either end. It had the appearance of two horizontal members, the upper one thicker and veed down at its center. The veed section was left plain on six-cylinder trucks and trimmed with a V-8 badge on B-8 powered models. The grille had cream finish, but a chrome-plated grille (the first seen on Ford trucks since 1938) was part of the year’s Custom Cab package. This option also included bright windshield moldings; black-and-white chain-stripe upholstery (with red or coppertone color-keyed facings); a dash panel insulator; and door-mounted Custom Cab nameplates. No longer included (or needed) were bright grille moldings. In addition, bright drip rail moldings ; instrument panel moldings; a right-hand armrest; an automatic dome light; a second horn; and plated vent window trim were eliminated from the Custom Cab equipment content. Hoodside trim plates used on 1956 models had the F-series code inside a smaller circle, while the Ford name was on the “handle” of the can-opener-shaped molding below the circle. Another new feature was an optional large window for the rear of the cab. This so-called “big window” had bright moldings and the option group included bright windshield moldings, too. It’s believed to be fairly rare today. Other new-for-1956 items were a 12-volt electrical system; optional heavy-duty three-speed manual transmission, and a new 273 cid Power King V-8. The standard Driverized cab had free-breathing woven plastic upholstery; seat shock snubbers; independent seat and seatback adjustment; High-Dial instrumentation with a shielded, indirectly-lighted instrument cluster; push-button door handles; Lifeguard door latches; double-wall safety doors; Lifeguard deep-dish steering wheel; king-size door openings; complete weather-sealing; direct line accelerator linkage; level-action cab suspension; air wing vents; full-scoop cowl ventilator; left-hand sun visor; rearview mirror; ashtray; dispatch box; and a right-hand door key lock. A new standard feature on all Ford light-duty trucks was tubeless tires. And a new 10-1/2 in. clutch was standard on F-100s with V-8 engines. Ten standard paint selections were offered. In addition, any of the standard colors used on F-series trucks could be combined with Colonial white for a two-tone effect.
F-100 8 Ft. Express
F-100 8 Ft. Express This new model used the F-250’s frame. It had a roomy 65.4 cu. ft. cargo area. Like all Ford light-duty trucks, it had a grille with a heavy, forward slanting upper bar and thinner lower bar. The upper bar dipped in the center and provided space for engine identification. Hooded headlights, with parking lights directly underneath, were integrated into the ends of the grille.
F-100 6-1/2 Ft
F-100 6-1/2 Ft. Platform/Stake: The F-100 Platform/Stake had over 40 sq. ft. of platform area and straight-grained wood stake. It could haul payloads up to 1,615 lbs. According to sales literature, it had the highest capacity frame and axles in the 1/2 ton field.
F-100 8 Ft. Panel
F-100 8 Ft. Panel: This was one of the most attractive panel trucks on the road in 1956. Like other F-100s, it had a new wraparound windshield, facelifted grille, deep-dished steering wheel and Lifeguard door latches. The right-hand rearview mirror was now mounted on the upper corner of the door.
F-100 8 Ft. Custom Panel
F-100 8 Ft. Custom Panel: Inside or out, it was easy to identify the Custom Panel. Distinctive exterior features included a chrome-plated grille and gas filler cap and a Custom Cab nameplate under the door windows. The interior was fully-lined and had glass wool roof insulation and foam rubber seat padding.
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