Chris’s 1969 Ford: Keeping the Cordova Paint

Shared by @swensons_early_fords. The timeline and plans reflect the owner’s original account.

Ask Chris which truck he wants to talk about, and the first answer is which one. He has owned more old Fords than he can count. His favorite is the Cordova 1969, an original-paint Montana farm truck that began with a flatbed.

Chris' 1969 Ford Highboy — Original Cordova Bumpside

Chris bought his first vehicle, a 1956 F-100, at 13. At 41, when he shared this account, he explained that pickups had been affordable and fun to work on compared with hot rods. His first Highboy had been a 1972, bought roughly 15 years earlier for $2,500. He thought hard about spending that much. His dad and brother bought Highboys around the same time for under $1,000 each, as he recalled it. He had kept a Highboy ever since.

The work and the years behind it

The Cordova truck came home on October 20 of the year before his account. Chris cleaned it up, re-arched the front springs and added wheels, tires and caps. A buddy then spotted a Cordova F-100 for sale in Wyoming with no rust or damage, no toolbox and no auxiliary tanks. Chris bought it for the bed, which matched the old paint so closely that it did not look like a replacement.

People regularly ask whether he will sell the ’69. He figures selling it would only send him looking for another. He sells trucks mainly to make room for the next one, while many stay and nearly all need some work. During the conversation, he even picked up another Ford in Montana.

His favorite era is 1957–1960, with the 1967–1972 Bumpsides close behind. Their popularity and the friends he has met are part of the appeal. His trucks and projects can be found at @swensons_early_fords.

Read the owner’s original account and build details

The memories behind the truck

Sure…which truck?

My favorite is probably my Cordova 69. Love that thing!

Oh! Side note! I just zipped over to Montana this afternoon and got another one 🤦🏻‍♂️. . . check it out!

I’ve always been into old ford pickups. I’m 41 now, back when I was 13 I bought my first car- a 1956 F100. I’ve just always had pickups. I love hotrods, but pickups were super cheap back then and fun to work on. Hotrods cost money, so I had trucks as more bang for your buck. I bought my first highboy probably 15 years ago? It was a 72 sort custom. Neat old truck. I paid 2500 for it, and had to really think on it if I wanted to spend that kind of cash. But it was a nice truck so I eventually caved. My dad and brother bought highboys about the same time. I think they each paid under 1,000 for theirs. I’ve always had one since. My Cordova 69 is my favorite, as I love the color and condition it’s in. I love original paint trucks, and it is all original and a decent truck. It started life much like the one I sent you above. Just an old Montana flatbed farm truck. I cleaned it up, arched the front springs and added tires/wheels/caps.

Lucked out earlier this year when a buddy spotted a Cordova F100 in WY for sale. Good color, no rust or damage, no tool box or auxiliary tanks. I took a chance and bought the truck. Installed the bed and it’s a perfect match. I get bugged constantly if I’d let that truck go. But man, they are getting so hard to find like that, if I sold it, all I’d do it look for another one

Ownership when this account was shared:

Oct 20th of last year

Yes, all original! And even tho the box wasn’t born on that truck, you wouldn’t know it

I have no idea. Way too many, Lol

I really only sell to get the next one, if that makes sense. I have too many trucks as it is right now, but I love em, so a lot of them stick around. But nearly all need some sort of work.

Honestly, my favorite era is probably 1957-60, as I’ve had them nearly my whole life. But 67-72 is a very close second. The bumpsides also have this awesome energy which makes it fun. Those trucks are very popular, like crazy popular. That also makes it fun. I’ve met a lot of good friends in the old ford truck world.