Rides from the Readers: 1949 Ford F6 COE
Hagerty readers and Hagerty Drivers Club members share their cherished collector and enthusiast vehicles with us via our contact email, tips@hagerty.com. We’re showcasing some of our favorite stories among these submissions. To have your car featured, send complete photography and your story of ownership to the above email address.
Today’s featured vehicle is a 1949 Ford F6 COE. This two-ton, cab-over-engine truck hails from the very first generation of Ford’s F-series trucks and was known in its day as a “bubble-nose” truck.
Seifert found this particular example abandoned in the back of a pasture, where it had languished for nearly 50 years. He hauled the forlorn beast back to his garage and decided to resurrect it as a car hauler.
Where the truck’s original straight-six engine and four-speed transmission once sat, Seifert crammed in a Cummins 12-valve turbodiesel mill and five-speed gearbox from a 1992 Dodge one-ton dualie. He liked the truck’s patina and, after he welded in the necessary new sheetmetal, he finished the new panels to match the originals’ faded finish. Out back went a generous, sturdy flatbed.
For the truck’s interior, though, Seifert decided to jazz things up a bit. In addition to GPS and air conditioning, the F6 now boasts a candy-green dash and matching upholstery.
The truck has everything Seifert needs to go on a road trip and, if necessary, make repairs: a winch, an air compressor, and a 110V inverter, not to mention a 140-gallon fuel capacity.
“The truck is very comfortable and drives great,” Seifert reports. “I’m pretty proud of this one.” Check out more photos of Seifert’s build below, and stay tuned for details on that ’59 F-100 perched on the F6’s bed.
