Photo: dglennt/eBay
During the motorhome and camper craze of the 1960s, US automakers began offering conversion solutions for pickups trucks and vans. But if you're into 1950s utility vehicles, you'd be hard-pressed to find a camper unless you stumble onto an aftermarket mod. This 1957 Ford F-100 is one of the few third-gen F-Series panel vans that got the RV treatment.
No, it's not a factory model, but the build is somewhat related to FoMoCo because it was put together by an engineer working for the said company. The van was converted to camper duty sometime in the 1970s, and the story goes that the pop-top was sourced from a Volkswagen Westfalia. But extra headroom is not the only thing this panel van has to offer.
While it's nowhere near as roomy as a fully-fledged motorhome, this tiny camper has all the amenities one needs to spend a few days in the wilderness. It has copper countertops, a mini fridge, a two-burner cooker, and a sink with a sixteen-gallon fresh water supply. There's even air conditioning, thanks to a window-mounted unit.
Although it may look cramped, the panel van provides plenty of storage room. There's space for long items under the couch and two storage boxes with doors on the outside rear of the unit (which the original owner built). Oh, and the bench folds into a two-person bed.
The van is also pretty modern when it comes to lighting, which is provided by 12- and 110-volt fittings. There's also a 12-volt water pump and a blue LED light strip. The old carpeting was replaced with more durable vinyl wood flooring. The retrofitted Westfalia top doesn't include a sleeping area like on a Volkswagen Bus, but it works as it should, and it has new rubber seals.
The driver's compart got its fair share of tasteful upgrades, too. It now sports leather bucket seats from a mid-1960s Ford Thunderbird and a few extra gauges in the dash. The truck was also fitted with cruise control and air conditioning in the 1970s, and both systems still work well.
As far as the exterior goes, the F-100 looks more like a survivor rather than a fully restored classic. The copper paint is far from perfect, but the truck is rust-free, and the body panels are straight. The white bumpers and wheels look fresh compared to the rest of the van.
The F-100 draws juice from a 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) V8 engine with a two-barrel carburetor. Needless to say, the mill is not original to the truck because the third-gen F-Series was available with entirely different units. The lineup included a 223-cubic-inch (3.7-liter) inline-six and 272- and 292-cubic-inch (4.5- and 4.8-liter) V8s of the Y-block variety.
The engine, which mates to a C4 automatic transmission, reportedly runs strong and has no leaks. The powerplant isn't the only upgrade in the drivetrain department. The van also has new power steering, front disc brakes, and a rebuilt radiator with dual electric fans. It was also equipped with new dual batteries to start the V8 and run the camper section.
All told, this build is proof that you don't need a large truck to go camping. Sure, it's a bit cramped, and spending more than a few days in it might become uncomfortable, but it seems like the perfect rig for a weekend getaway. It's also quite the unique camper since 1950s Ford conversions are rare. I love the design of early third-gen F-Series trucks.
If it's something you'd camp in, the panel van is currently up for auction in Wayland, Michigan. Bidding is at $18,800 with three days to go, and the reserve is still in place.
While it's nowhere near as roomy as a fully-fledged motorhome, this tiny camper has all the amenities one needs to spend a few days in the wilderness. It has copper countertops, a mini fridge, a two-burner cooker, and a sink with a sixteen-gallon fresh water supply. There's even air conditioning, thanks to a window-mounted unit.
Although it may look cramped, the panel van provides plenty of storage room. There's space for long items under the couch and two storage boxes with doors on the outside rear of the unit (which the original owner built). Oh, and the bench folds into a two-person bed.
The van is also pretty modern when it comes to lighting, which is provided by 12- and 110-volt fittings. There's also a 12-volt water pump and a blue LED light strip. The old carpeting was replaced with more durable vinyl wood flooring. The retrofitted Westfalia top doesn't include a sleeping area like on a Volkswagen Bus, but it works as it should, and it has new rubber seals.
The driver's compart got its fair share of tasteful upgrades, too. It now sports leather bucket seats from a mid-1960s Ford Thunderbird and a few extra gauges in the dash. The truck was also fitted with cruise control and air conditioning in the 1970s, and both systems still work well.
As far as the exterior goes, the F-100 looks more like a survivor rather than a fully restored classic. The copper paint is far from perfect, but the truck is rust-free, and the body panels are straight. The white bumpers and wheels look fresh compared to the rest of the van.
The F-100 draws juice from a 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) V8 engine with a two-barrel carburetor. Needless to say, the mill is not original to the truck because the third-gen F-Series was available with entirely different units. The lineup included a 223-cubic-inch (3.7-liter) inline-six and 272- and 292-cubic-inch (4.5- and 4.8-liter) V8s of the Y-block variety.
The engine, which mates to a C4 automatic transmission, reportedly runs strong and has no leaks. The powerplant isn't the only upgrade in the drivetrain department. The van also has new power steering, front disc brakes, and a rebuilt radiator with dual electric fans. It was also equipped with new dual batteries to start the V8 and run the camper section.
All told, this build is proof that you don't need a large truck to go camping. Sure, it's a bit cramped, and spending more than a few days in it might become uncomfortable, but it seems like the perfect rig for a weekend getaway. It's also quite the unique camper since 1950s Ford conversions are rare. I love the design of early third-gen F-Series trucks.
If it's something you'd camp in, the panel van is currently up for auction in Wayland, Michigan. Bidding is at $18,800 with three days to go, and the reserve is still in place.
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