I am getting ready to start on my project truck, and would like to get some information prior to starting. I found that it used to be an ARMY issue vehicle and still has the part number stenciled on the dashboard. It is the first F-100 I have seen as an military vehicle. Does anyone know where I can find more information on the military side of the F-100's? It is a blank slate at this time, so I am looking at all restoration options.

 

Your 55 has a 54 grille

 

There are a couple of forums/clubs for military vehicles, probably more focused on bigger stuff.

Out of curiousity, can you tell if the undersides of the truck were heavily undercoated? I have some body parts with what appears to be OD paint, and they are just slathered with undercoating. It actually did a great job of protecting some of the metal, but it doubles the weight of a fender.

 

Nice truck, and welcome to the forum! What more can you tell us about it? Do you have any history for it? Where it was stationed, etc.? Is it Navy grey, or a repaint? Please post pics or the numbers you find on the dash and the vin, the glove box tag, along with any other identifying marks you can find. It will help us tell you more about it.

 

Thanks Wayne
I don't have the full history on it, only that it used to belong to my father in-law before I was in picture. I have heard that the truck was once wrecked and that might be why it has a 54 grille and presumably passenger fender. I will try and get more pictures of the inside markings next week.
Brian

 

Ross
Last time I was under the truck, I did not see too much under coating. It has an unusually thick rear bumper and that is about all I saw out of the ordinary.
Brian

 

Subscribing. I hope ya track down enough of her history to put all the Military
numbers back on as they where in her hay day and like that.

 

If you can find any military numbers and letters on the truck they could give you the military assignment data for the vehicle (HQ, Eng, 117 Infantry, etc) that might help in history tracking. Bumpers and tails were some main sources, but looks like those aren't present any more. Maybe your in-cab number would give some of its last assignment. Anything on the glove compartment ID plate?

 

I was just thinking about some other things that might be of benefit in trying to track down your truck history relating to the military. There is an association called the Military Vehicle Preservation Society out of MO and they have a website and contact info. They deal mostly with tactical type vehicles, but have articles, photos, etc on other military vehicles. They might be able to be of some help with finding any numbers, engraving codes, etc that could be of help in tracking down your truck history. Also, R. Mitchel Carlson has written articles in Vintage Truck magazine on military vehicles (Internationals) as well as Bob Adler who has written period pieces from WWII and history if you would wish to contact them. Good luck with the history search. It always makes old truck ownership more interesting.

 

Does it have OD or Strata Blue paint? Anything is possible but the Air Force has been know to be more likely to purchase civilian vehicles than the Army. It still would have a serial number on the dash but it would be on a nomenclature plate as would any USAF, Army, Navy or Marine Corp vehicle. See:

• 1951 USAF Ford F-1
  
• https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ml#post9998048
  
• Nomenclature plate

If it doesn't have a nomenclature plate or the holes where one was located it may not be a military vehicles. Most military vehicle restorers caution to look very carefully for original paint colors.

 

Look on the Rating Plate for the Domestic Special Order (DSO) number. If present...post what it is.

Also note the COLOR code. Trucks sold to the US Gov't were painted non standard colors, so the code could be P (prime), SS (special paint) or the space above 'COLOR' could be blank.

 

I got a chance to look and yes this truck is cover with undercoating. It is even inside the cab.

 

I searched for the truck rating plate, and could not find one. I found the military plate on the firewall, and the oil tag in the glove box.