If Jeffrey Day’s collection is tied together by a single theme other than Fords, it is the word “quality.” His eye is attuned not only to the restorations of the rarest and most expensive models but also of styles that usually go unseen except at local cruise-ins or, in heavily modified form, at hot rod shows. A perfect example of that philosophy is this 1956 Ford F-100 Panel Truck, which Mr. Day himself restored to “better-than-new” condition in every regard.

The truck has an excellent original cab that features new old stock running boards, doors, fenders, and hood. All of the panels fit together beautifully, and even the floors are original. The body was refinished in the year-correct color of Diamond Blue, which has a deep shine and no orange peel, and the interior features correct-style seats covered in black vinyl and a well-restored dashboard with crystal-clear instruments.

The engine bay is well detailed to original specifications, with the engine boasting “ram head” exhaust manifolds and exhaling through a steel “never-rust” dual exhaust for better performance. As expected from a work truck, accessories throughout are scarce and limited to the V-8 engine, a heater, a period-correct rubber floor mat, and painted steel wheels with chrome center caps, which are shod in Firestone blackwall bias-ply tires. The car’s mileage is recorded at 90,916, which, given the truck’s pristine condition, is almost certainly original miles.

This Panel Truck is, in all likelihood, one of, if not the best of its kind known anywhere in the world, making it an exceptional addition to any collection of heavy haulers.