Puzzling Color Code on 1957 F100
 

Hey all,

I am new to the forum, and recently began working on my 1957 F100. It's a 2WD, short-styleside bed Custom Cab. I bought it a couple years ago from my grandpa who owned it since the early 70s (I think he was the 2nd owner), but had to put it on the back-burner for a while ... now its on the front burner on high. I started cleaning it up and fully inspecting it to see what I have to work with, and I figured I needed to get the info on the rating plate in the driver's door jam. So, here is the question ...

Above "Color" on the rating plate, it says "FE -space- <SPACE>RED" I figured out all the other data on the plate from the registery thread and Google searches. I found that "FE" means two tone Starmist Blue, and Colonial White. The truck is severely faded, but that code makes sense because Grandpa called the truck the Blue Goose. The lower portion is still kind of blue, and the inside of the cab, firewall, and underhood are all white. I am hoping someone has some insight because I have googled and googled, and I cant come up with anything in regards to the "RED" part.

Oh, and another question. Someone in the registery thread wondered about the rating plate being on the rear cab vertical pillar of the driver's door. I looked at about seven different 57-60s at my local Junkyard (even a few F600s), and 58-60s were all in the glove box and riveted. Mine is longer than those and is screwed on with 4 screws. It didn't concern me until I found a 57 with a rating plate EXACTLY like the later models, except it was in the same location as mine. It was also riveted, not screwed on. Did Ford change rating plate type and mounting style mid-year in 57? I fully believe the plate to be original as this truck has NOT been molested. It was literally parked in the early 80s in full running condition and is 99.8% complete (the ash tray is gone ... how weird??). The data found on the plate matches what the truck has, and the serial number matches the title and the pass. side frame rail stamping.

Thanks in advance for any help.:D Oh, and I can text a picture of the rating plate if it helps.

Jeremy

Jeremy,welcome to FTE.

AFAIK, the data plate has never been anywhere but on the inside of the dispatch box door on the 57-60 trucks.However, had this been a truck that was modified by a third-party company prior to being delivered to a customer, that would be a possibility.

Another possibility is that someone put together this truck, and ran it through your states DMV for approval to issue a new title.

The one guy who will be able to give you answers as to what was and wasn't done - by Ford, at least - is NumberDummy.He is on hiatus for awhile,and will hopefully read this thread when he returns.

The truck with the data plate on the pillar - is the plate otherwise identical to the plates found in the dispatch box location?Perhaps it was relocated due to a broken door.I see dispatch doors , both with and without the data plates , for sale on eBay frequently.

One more hair-brained thought is that it could have been a "Ford of Canada" truck,brought into the States and re-titled.

I found a third 57 with the rating plate like mine on the door pillar. The other 57 that I mentioned is IDENTICAL to the ones in the "dispatch box door" aka glove box down to the rivets. I also "donated" $1 to have my VIN plate decoded buy "LoveFords", and John said that not all factories did the same thing, especially early on in the new model year redesigned for 57. I sent him a picture of my rating plate. I believe mine also has a pretty early sequence number as it was the 1,904th pickup built in January. I talked to my grandpa again, and he confirmed that he was the 2nd owner ... technically. When grandpa bought the truck in the early 70s, he never titled it as he used it to drive around the farm and check on the hands. I guess he wasn't concerned about "the law" because he had like 20,000 acres back then so he was always on his land. He drove the truck till about 79, and then it was parked. When I bought it, he gave me the Montana title that was simply signed over and notorized from the original owner. When I titled it in Wyoming, I talked to the county clerks, and they simply let me sign as the buyer (even though I wasn't born yet). So legally, I am the 2nd owner, and have owned the truck for 41 years!! LOL!

Although all ideas are plausible, I don't think they apply to this truck. It does not appear to be a "Canada pickup" because it was from the Seattle Sales District, and sold in Montana. As I mentioned, everything is 99.8% complete, and just as it was when it was built. It has 92,395 on the odometer, all numbers match, and the rating plate accurately depicts the equipment on the truck. The only thing that is odd is the "RED" after the code "FE" John thought maybe it was interior, and the truck does have a faded redish orange bench seat. I cant for the life of me believe that they would put a red bench seat in a Starmist Blue and Colonial White pickup, right?? Maybe they did ... the saga continues, and I welcome other ideas or info. Thanks all!

Hey Kid, could you post a picture of your rating plate. This has my curiosity peaked. Some pictures of the truck would be nice to, you know we like pictures RIGHT? LOL
Thats cool history on this truck you bought prior to birth LOL

I have 1957 custom cab LWB that I have owned since 1985 and my data plate is on the drivers side door pillar as well. I also have a parts truck, 1957 not a CC and the data plate is not in the glove box either. My brothers truck is a 1957 CC LWB that my father traded for in the mid sixties and his data plate is also on the door pillar, not in the glove box. I think Ford started out putting them on the door pillar in '57 and then changed to glove box later.

Wished I lived a little closer; I'd like to look those over myself. Any in decent shape? :-whud

Sure thing Teddy, although I only have a few pics now. I was home on leave (Hoorah) in Wyoming and started cleaning it up and inspecting it. I hope to have it here in Oklahoma where I am stationed soon. I am really torn right now as to my plans for the pickup. I am sure there will be support and opposition. I wanted to keep appearance and paint as original, but update the pickup with later model goodies. I planned on a Crown Vic IFS, and the drivetrain from a 96 Lincoln Mark VIII (290 hp 4.6L, DOHC, 32V, V-8 with 4 speed OD tranny, and IRS system). I have access to the Mark VIII, but still need to locate the Crown Vic IRS. The interior was going to get late model pickup buckets with a jumper seat, but otherwise appear original. I also have a big back window cab with the floors rusted out that I was going to take the whole back panel off of from the roof seam down. I am now leaning towards a true, correct, restoration. Decisions, decisions ... Anyways, here are some pics.

http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/...100Outside.jpg
As you can see, the Colonial White paint has completely faded off of the hood and top of the bed rails. The firewall and underhood still have the Colonial White present.

http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/...F100Inside.jpg
The interior is also Colonial White and has a faded red-ish/orange-ish bench seat. This pickup also had door panels and kick panels. I obviously have not seen every 57, but I haven't seen one yet that had door panels - just all metal ones. Also, inside the dispatch box, it has a trac-loc plate for the axle.

http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/...atingPlate.jpg
Here is the Rating Plate. John from LoveFords said he has not seen one like this that spells out Trans and Axle, but then again, he is mostly familiar with the factories on the other coast where he is from. This truck was built in San Jose.

Steve: Yes, some of the trucks are decent. That is where I got a solid bed and the big back window cab from. He has one F600 cab that is 95% solid from what I can tell. The floors, step plates and risers are all good, cab corners are rusted, but not too bad. Thanks again all!!

Kid, Thats a nice looking 57. After you get a certain number of posts you can send PM's. If NumberDummy has not commented on this tread by then you could ask him to break down the info on your data plate, there may be some info from the production code that would answer your paint question.
I understand your dilemma on which way to go with your build. About thirty years ago I went down the dark side path and pulled my 292 three speed for a 351C C6. Now I'am putting a 4.6 AODE from 96 Mark VIII in it. But their have been many times I wished the truck was still stock. The good thing is that after 42 years this truck still make me smile. I got the doors, front fenders and valence painted today. Its getting closer each step.
Good luck with your truck, Keep posting!

Your unique data plate may be due to the fact your truck is a very early production model, with later production changing the location to the inside of the glove box door. The plate decodes to the following:

F: Conventional cab series
10: F-100 (light duty model)
J: 223 cu/in 6-cyl 1-bbl engine (126hp)
7: 1957
R: San Jose (Milpitas) plant
11904: Sequential build number

The truck was ordered with the Warner T-98A 4-speed Synchro-Silent transmission (included HD 11" clutch).

The 3.89-geared axle was standard with the six cylinder without the overdrive option transmission.

F: Starmist Blue
E: Colonial White

28: Scheduled production day (28th)
A: Scheduled production month (January)
742697: Plant production serial number/sequence


Other Ford models often included trim codes next to the paint code. None of my information lists trim code information for the 1957-1960 Ford trucks. If I had to guess, the "RED" indicated the interior upholstery color. Regardless of the truck model or exterior color, all received a red plaid nylon-rayon-saran seat with gray vinyl bolster and seat facings. If you ordered the Custom Cab option, the design was a striped woven design of the same color with thicker seat foam.

Teddy, I have a '62 truck 292 that needs rebuilding and a stnrd trans and I'm looking for a mod engine for mine................... :-whud

Steve

2losteve; Thanks for the offer, however I am too far down the dark path to change back now!

Darkside
 

Well, I'll be able to enjoy watching your build.

Your hair-brained thought doesn't wash kiddo, you wanna know why?

Canadian assembled Ford/Merc trucks have a different VIN, Rating Plate and the codes thereon than US trucks thru 1965. 1966/68: Same-o Same-o.

Sample 1965 Canadian VIN (prior years similar): 4991014L-123456A / Sample 1959 US VIN: F25C9R-12345 / Sample 1965 US VIN: F10DR639899.

Doncha have the 1957/63 Ford Truck Parts Catalog? Go to the front of the Text Section = General Info Section, it shows samples of the Rating Plates and sez:

The Rating Plate is installed on the left front cab pillar or glove box door depending on model.

Left front cab pillar aka A pillar aka windshield post. The Rating Plate is visable when the door is opened.

:-X15 (sigh) You've been reading too many of Col Flashman's posts. He's the only FTE member I'm aware of that calls the glove box the dispatch box. That's what it's called in the UK, maybe Canada, but not here in the US of A.

'Flashy' has a 1958 Mercury M100. Mercury trucks were not sold new in the US. I know Flashy personally, he's been in my house, seen my 5 Bassets, was born in Rubidoux (east of Redlands) CA not in the UK

btw: I've decoded over 800 VIN's for FTE members, for free, so there's no need to pay a buck to LoveFord.

I wonder if the whiz kid from Love/Ford has the parts catalog? I'd be willing to bet he has no Ford parts experience like most of these internet 'experts.'

The Rating Plates were the SAME at every US Assembly Plant, but one year may be different than another. US examples: 1961/62 same / 1963 one year only / 1964/65 same / 1966/72 same.

1948/56 is the same. But there were as least two versions used 1957/60.

He's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

I guess that settles it.Bill's here to correct our feeble attempts at theorizing.No sense in that,get it straight from the horses mouth!Thanks for setting me straight and I'll call it a glovebox from now on.

NumberDummy,

Did you have anything to add to the discussion of my rating plate as far as Trans being "4 Syn" and the axle actually listing the ratio vice them both having a code? Also, you said above that it should be on the windshield pillar? Mine is on the rear pillar, about a foot below the striker plate. In the glove box, there is a plate that says it has a traction lock rear end. Thanks for your time.

Jeremy