Just a newbie looking for a source of production numbers for the 48 through 56 pick up groups. Does anyone know a good source? I have entered a search here and have been into several links via google. Nothing has done much good.


Thanks
Denny

 

1953 --pickup 116,437/panel 9,951
1954 --pickup 101,202/panel 8,078
1955 --pickup 124,842/panel 11,198
1956 --pickup 127,581/panel 14,023

This was taken from a Midfifty's catalog, not sure how correct they are and if this is only U.S. figures or if the Canadian figures are included in these numbers. Can't help any on the 48-52 figures.

 

1948--pickup 108,006
1949--pickup 104,803
1950--pickup 148,956/panel 22,421
1951--pickup 117,414
1952--pickup 81,537

This was taken from a Classic Haulers catalog, not sure how correct they are and if this is only U.S. figures or if the Canadian figures are included in these numbers.

 

I figured Classic Haulers would have the same info for those years but I don't have their catalog. Thanks for the continuation. Would be nice to know if those numbers did or did not include Canadian production numbers.

 

Thanks for the responses. It helps. I'm looking at a decent "49" and wanted to have some idea how many were built.


56panelford, that is one sweet truck. I love the whole concept. Years ago, a friend had a 55 panel. I think that's when I fell in love with them.

 

According to the Don Bunn book, "light truck" production:

1948 -- 181,043
1949 -- 165,340
1950 -- 254,144
1951 -- 191,296
1952 -- 124,819
1953 -- 204,806
1954 -- 201,240
1955 -- 218,231
1956 -- 184,154

Note how much higher these numbers are, and that they don't include Medium or Heavy trucks, which means F-6 and higher according to another source, but do include F-4's and F-5's that aren't pickups. No breakout on panels given. Could be they include Canadian? But that would also include export models.

 

That's interesting - does anyone know why the numbers dropped somewhat "significantly" for 1956?

 

Just a guess, but one of the competitors had a nice new engine about then....

The Don Bunn book says: "[Sales of ] trucks reached an all-time high of 423,545" in '56, so the medium and heavy trucks must have made up for any losses in light-duties.

 

I think Don's figures are a little high. Classic Haulers numbers are way low for '48-50!

Old Ford Truck Club lists 48 as serial #s up to 139,000 for V8s and 166,000 for sixes. My data verifies this.

 

MT, I think we're talking apples and oranges. Really hard to tell if the numbers are just for F-1's, or are for F-1 thru F-3 (pickups), and Bunn's numbers are F-1 thru F-5. I'd be surprised if anyone really knows in detail, since many of the records went up in smoke.

Are you saying that 6's were independently numbered from V8's? So there could be a #5000 with a V8 and a #5000 with a 6? I thought the consecutive number part of the serial number was independent of engine or series? i.e., it was the Nth chassis to run down the line?

 

Great post and replies! Why where 52 production numbers lower? The Korean conflict i suppose?

 

No, just that they continued to make that many additional 6s after the last 48 V8. I don't know the documentation for OFTC's figures, only that most of the data I've collected agrees with that. In checking my 48 files the last declared R code V8 was 148000 - after that they are all H codes thru 166000.

The serial numbers I have for 48-50 are F1-F6s according to the serial codes: C,D,Y, TL,T and TH.

 

Some very good information folks. Thank You.
Now, the decision. To buy or not to buy!!!

 

Buy of course!

 

Thanks AX. Just the kind of advise my wife warned me about!!