This is amazing to me! I had no idea... in fact, I wasn't even going to ask... because I figured someone filled in the hole. I just casually ran across this thread.
It's kind of ironic too, cause in my 2007 Tundra, there's not outer lock on the PASSENGER side.. just the drivers. In the age of electronic locks I guess.

Very cool...

 

My 52 F7 custom cab has the door lock on the drivers side (and passenger). I used to have a 56 Panel that was custom cab, it had the driver's lock as well.

 

Ok, I know you guys are talking about the '53-'56 trucks, but this is also a cool piece of history for the bonus builts too. My truck (Five Star Cab) only has a pass. side lock, but Lakota's truck is apparently the Deluxe Five Star Extra package, that package included a lock on both doors. And the following;

"A new deluxe Five Star Extra package added foam rubber padding on the bench seat, headlining backed by a 11/2-inch glass wool pad, additional sound deadener on the doors, chrome "wings" added to the hoodside spear, bright metal windshield and vent window trim, argent grille finish (in early models only), two-tone seat upholstery, twin sun visors and armrests, a cigar lighter, locks on each door and the glove box, a dome light, and dual horns. When the Five Star Extra appointments were applied to the F-1 panel truck, Ford sold it as the Deluxe Panel."

I find it interesting that the single door lock kept you "safe", but if you had the money for the upgrade, you were allowed to be "unsafe."

 

Cool Beans! Thanks lvin4jc33, I knew there was some difference but couldn't remember what they were. I know I have the dual horns under the hood, the cigar lighter, the twin sun visors, the chrome trim, door locks and dome light. Its pretty much all there but somewhere down the line someone took the radio out. When I get around to working on it I'll have to find a radio.

 

I have wondered this for 34 years since I bought my '55. But it has pissed me off for the last 4 years since my neighbor bought a '54 Custom cab. LOL

It's a small town everybody knows it's mine ,I don't lock the doors. I don't have a key anyway.

 

I installed the doors from a 51 on my 49 so I could have the driver's side locking door. The 49's doors are sitting in the back of my garage. I didn't know the history of it all though. (above) Thanks for the updates everyone.