When you think of Sanford and Son, the first thing that comes to mind—after Fred Sanford’s hilarious rants—is that beat-up red 1951 Ford F1 truck parked outside the junkyard. But did you know the truck wasn’t just a set prop? Redd Foxx, who played Fred Sanford, was so attached to it that he had the vehicle shipped to his home in Las Vegas after the show ended in 1977.
The truck became more than a visual icon; it symbolized the heart of the show—working-class grit, humor, and resilience. Interestingly, decades later, the original truck was discovered rusting in an Indiana salvage yard. A classic car collector bought it for only $3,500. Today, it’s considered a prized piece of television history.
The truck had no stunt double. Every time you saw Fred and Lamont driving it around Los Angeles (actually filmed on NBC’s backlot), that was the real deal. The vehicle even had its own parking spot behind the studio, and Redd Foxx often joked that it was a better actor than most guest stars.
Fans have petitioned to place the truck in the Smithsonian Museum as a symbol of 1970s American television. Whether that happens or not, there’s no denying that this humble junk truck played a big role in turning Sanford and Son into an unforgettable classic.
