1953 Ford F100 Trucks
1953 was an important year for Ford trucks. Ford pickups were 50 years old and Ford launched the first F-100 pickup. A 50 year anniversary horn button was installed in 1953 Ford trucks. The new F-100’s were a little larger inside the cab and more attention was paid to styling over the F1. 53 was also the last year of the Flathead V8 engine, making the 53 Ford truck an interesting transition between the first 50 years of Ford trucks and the last 30.
1953 Ford trucks came with a 6 volt wiring system, vacuum wiper system, straight front axle with drum brakes and no turn signals. Optional equipment consisted of a Deluxe package made up of 6 chrome “teeth” on the front grille and chrome gull wing surrounds on the side of the hood.
3 Engine options were available: O.H.V. 6 Cylinder-215 cid, L-Head 6 Cylinder-254 cid and the L-Head 8 Cylinder-239 cid (Flathead). Most 53 F100 trucks came with a 3 speed transmission shifted on the column. V8 trucks had a chrome V8 emblem on the center of the grille while 6 cylinder trucks had a chrome 3 pointed star.
Most parts interchange between 1953 – 1955 F100 trucks and some 1956. 53 – 55 ford trucks are basically the same except for trim and engine options. The grille on the 53 F100 is unique to that year. Front parking lights are the same on 53 and 54 F100 models, as well as the lower valance that runs below the grille. Gull wing chrome and the F100 hood emblems are the same on 53 and 54 F100 trucks.
| 53 F100 Production Numbers | ||
| Year | Pickups | Panel Trucks |
| 1953 | 116,437 | 9,951 |
| Year | Model Code |
| 1953 | 3 |
| Year | Truck | Serial Code |
| 1953 | F-100 Conventional | F10 |
| 1953 | F-250 Conventional | F25 |
| 1953 | F-350 Conventional | F35 |
| 1953 | P-350 Parcel Delivery | P36 |
| 1953 | F-500 Conventional | F51 |
| 1953 | B-500 School Bus | B51 |
| 1953 | C-500 Cab Forward | C51 |
| 1953 | P-500 Parcel Delivery | P51 |
| 1953 | F-600 Conventional | F61 |
| 1953 | B-600 School Bus | B61 |
| 1953 | C-600 Cab Forward | C61 |
| 1953 Engine Codes | |
| D | O.H.V. 6 Cylinder-215 cid |
| M | L-Head 6 Cylinder-254 cid |
| R | L-Head 8 Cylinder-239 cid (Flathead) |
| 53-55 Transmissions | |
| Code | Type |
| 3 | 3-Speed Regular |
| 3HD | 3-Speed Heavy Duty |
| AUTO | 3-Speed Automatic |
| 3OD | 3-Speed Overdrive |
| 4SYN | 4-Speed Synchronized |
| 5DIR | 5-Speed Direct |
| 5OD | 5-Speed Overdrive |
| Assembly Plant Code | Plant Location |
| A | Atlanta |
| B | Buffalo |
| C | Chester |
| G | Chicago |
| D | Dallas |
| F | Dearborn |
| E | Edgewater |
| H | Detroit Truck |
| K | Kansas City |
| L | Long Beach |
| U | Louisville |
| M | Memphis |
| N | Norfolk |
| R | Richmond |
| S | Somerville |
| P | Twin City |
| 1953 Paint Code | Paint Color Name |
| A | Raven Black |
| B | Sheridan Blue |
| C | Glacier Blue |
| D | Woodsmoke Gray |
| G | Seafoam Green |
| N | Vermilion |
| R | Meadow Green |
| P | Prime |
| SS | Special Order |
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