What happens when you paint an old pickup truck with a color that was inspired by an exotic island destination? As it turns out, the outcome of such an unlikely pairing makes for an attractive Restomod.
The Pick of the Day is a 1949 Ford F1 pickup listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Litchfield Park, Arizona. (Click the link to view the listing)
One of the first things to catch your eye about the truck is its light copper paint finish. Officially, the color is called “Zanzibar Bronze,” and it was pulled from a Range Rover palette. The Zanzibar name itself comes from a Tanzanian island off the coast of East Africa. It’s an exotic shade for an old domestic pickup truck, but the outcome works brilliantly! The exterior is set off by color-matched running boards, chrome bumpers, a dual exhaust system, wooden bed planks and five-spoke wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich tires.
As appealing as the exterior is, the under-hood region is another area where this truck sets itself apart. The reportedly original 239ci flathead V8 has been upgraded with Edelbrock aluminum-finned heads, a Holley four-barrel carburetor, Speedway Motors ceramic-coated headers, an aluminum high-capacity radiator and a 12-volt alternator system. Power is sent to a Ford nine-inch rear end through a rebuilt T5 five-speed manual transmission.
The entire frame of the truck has been powder-coated, and chassis equipment includes a Mustang II front suspension, front disc brakes, power steering, a new under-bed 16-gallon fuel tank, newer shocks and stainless-steel brake lines.
Continuing the Restomod theme, the interior has been updated with modern conveniences. “Entire cabin covered with Dynamat heat and noise protection,” the listing says. In addition, the cab offers new leather bucket seats, power windows and door locks, a Pioneer AM/FM radio, Dolphin gauges and a billet tilt steering wheel. The dash, of course, is color-matched to the exterior and the carpeting comes in a complementary hue.
The seller has included a video with some drive-by footage, and the truck exudes parade-level presence from any angle; it would be right at home at any Main Street cruise-in. As for Zanzibar, the closest many of us might ever get to exploring a Tanzanian archipelago of islands is owning a truck painted Zanzibar Bronze. Hey, if you really want to feel like you’re on a beachfront vacation, you can drive it while sporting a swimsuit.
The asking price is $65,000 or best offer.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com