Hey. I've recently started using my '55 first series as my "daily" driver (not every day of course). It is bone stock with the 235, a 4 speed hydramatic, and it sucks gas like nobody's business. It kind of makes me wonder why more kids nowadays don't drive these sorts of trucks. Personally, I think these trucks are the perfect starting points for new drivers. First of all, you can't get very far without going broke from the gas, you can find a useable, restorable AD truck for the same price as a modern economy car, you can learn so much about basic maintenance as well as emergency manouvers, and most importantly for parents, these things don't go very fast, so you don't have to worry about hydroplaning! Now for us new drivers, these trucks can be easily outfitted to go faster, they look so much cooler than the little economy cars from the 1980's and '90's, and parts/resources for them are popping up everywhere (Ebay, old truck retail stores, NOS finds, other enthusiasts, junkyards, etc.). Case in point, the AD trucks, along with other trucks of that era, are perfect for learning the basics of driving while having fun in the process.
