Does anyone know what the lightning bolt and gear signify?

https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/3ad49b07601d99b7.jpg

Thanks,
Barry

 

Hi,

I think that emblem means 6 cylinder.
If it was V8, it is 8 cylinder.

Hope this helps
Mike

 

Thanks Mike. I kind of was looking for the deeper meaning of it, if there is one.

Barry

 

Barry
there is no deeper meaning, it means a 6 cyl was under the hood.
mattb

 

You'll find a similar lightning bolt on some Mercury FE valve covers, too. Maybe there is a secret...
Eric D

 

The gear and bolt was only exclusive to 6 cyl. engines in 65/66- until then all trucks had the gear and lightening bolt regardless of the engine. It also apeared in various forms on some cars.
I, too would like to know if it means anything. I checked a couple of books but I haven't found any mention of it. It may not signify anything- but who knows.

Nate

1964 F-100 Custom Cab 292 V-8 3 spd
1964 F-100 292 V-8 3 spd
1990 F-150 5.8L
Check out http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/fordpickups61to66fseries

 

Hi everyone, was reading some Ford truck books last night and came across two interesting references. In the “Ford Pickup Truck Enthusiast Color Series”, it says that in 1953 the Ford Motor Company adopted a new crest for it’s entire truck line, a lightning bolt superimposed over a gear. The bolt-and-gear emblem was standard on all trucks.

Also, in the “Ford Pickup Color History” it says that the restyled truck line for 1953 received an all-new crest that was similar to the emblem used on the car line, but used a distinctive gear and thunderbolt to represent the working side of the Ford family.

Both books also noted that an additional V8 insignia identified the eight-cylinder trucks. In the later years, the V8 insignia replaced the bolt-and-gear on trucks with a V8.

Interesting, so it does mean something! Guess I should have looked back a few more years. So maybe the lightning bolt symbolizes power and the gear symbolizes work, power put to work. I wonder if this is where the roots of the 427 Thunderbolt and the Ford Lightning came from.

Barry

 

The lightning bolt and gear were on all the 61-66 trucks with the I6 and on our 65 Mercury F-350 custom cab it is on the seat.

63 unibody

 

i have a 65 with a 352 with the lightning bolt and gear emblem. the previous owner told me the 352 was the original engine as he bought it from the original owner. i will have to check the numbers on it when i get back to va. (just got back from the poconos on my honeymoon and saw my truck when i went to mom and dads) i thought the 65 and 66 always had the v8 emblem with the v8 engines as well but it seems that may not be true.

 

Donald if you want to believe that, nobody can change your mind. An original owner could have had a tree limb fall on his truck and they replaced the hood, and 10 years later he sold it and it didn't cross his mind to tell the buyer.

Most likely the engine or the hood emblem has been changed, it's highly unlikely that you have this super rare truck, with a V8 engine and an I6 emblem.

Sorry :-(

John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page

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66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

i dont go on blind faith but i do like to give people the benefit of the doubt. i wont call a man a liar because he's misinformed. i havent checked the numbers on the truck and i havent checked to see if the emblem is original but right now from all appearance as the truck sits in my parents yard it has a 352 and the lightning bolt and gear emblem. i have seen my beloved car company make many mistakes with emblems and engines because those cars were built by men and women that make mistakes. stranger things have happened.

 

I have seen many '66 V-8 trucks w/the gear and lightning bolt hood emblem on them. No trees had fallen on them and they had the original engines in them.

Mike/Ohio

 

I had a Chevy S-10 once with GMC emblems on the sides. Bottom line? The guys working in assembly plants MAKE MISTAKES when several different models are on the assembly line! Good lord, people. Can we please get back to more important matters like what under-arm deodorant smells best?

 

BTW...My 64 F-250 has the gear/lightning bolt emblem and came ORIGINALLY with a Johnson outboard boat motor hanging out the grille.