Better styling compared to what? Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

I remember when the 1980 was introduced, some peeps didn't care for the stubby front end and grille/headlamps that all sorta resembled 1977 Couriers.

At that time, I owned a 1979 F150 Lariat Scab, and traded in every time I wanted something newer. But once I looked at the 1980, I decided to wait until Ford changed the styling, cuz I considered it butt ugly.

I eventually bought a new 1988 F150 Lariat Scab, traded it in on a 1992 F150 Lariat Scab. Bought a new 2004 F150 Lariat Screw, and the 2011 elephantine behemoth in my sig pic.

IMO, the 1992/96's are the best looking of all Ford trucks, excepting 1970/72 Ranger XLT's.

Prior to buying the '79, I bought a new 1971 Ranger XLT, before that, a new 1968 F250 Ranger, and before that, a 1965 F100 Standard Cab, the first Ford truck I bought new.

 

Planned Obsolescence. They don't want to support the old stuff, because they no longer make enough money in parts from them.They want you to buy new ones, then buy newer parts. It isn't only Ford, every company does it.

In regards to dealers not wanting to work on the older stuff, there is truth, mostly because the younger techs don't really know how to deal with some of it. Back when I worked dealerships, I actually loved it when the old iron rolled into my bay.

 

Mr. NumberDummy,

Thank you for your assistance in this and many other incidences. A rep was just awarded to you!

 

Chris,

I tried to rep you and received, "spread the wealth"!

 

It's the thought that counts, thank you!

BTW I also need to spread the love some more and can't rep ya back, so here's a bunny with a pancake on its head:

 

Aftermarket manufacturers need to license this capability from Ford, the requirements include the replacement part being of the same high quality in both function & appearance as the original, Ford doesn't want their name or image succumbing to cheap, low-quality Chinese-made knockoffs (unless they as a company do that themselves).

See Welcome to Ford Motor Company for more.

 

If their betting on planned obsolescence getting me to buy a new truck or sell an old one, their barking up the wrong tree.
I have one newer F250, I don't care for it, I'd rather have a brand new older truck.
I don't like the new cab, I don't like the new beds, I don't like the fact that the new trucks don't adhere to any size standard when it comes to bed size when it comes to caps and bed mats etc. Up until 1996, everything was standard, then they changed.

As far as Ford allowing aftermarket use of their name, there's many items out there, most likely from China using the Ford logo, I don't see why it would be an issue to reproduce a no longer produced tailgate.
It appears that the tailgate and bushings went obsolete in 1999, but yet the 1987 parts are still on the books, yet many of them haven't been used since 1991. If time has anything to do with when they obsolete parts, then the 1996 parts should start going obsolete soon.
Around here I see many more 80-86 trucks than 87-96 models lately, the most common older Ford now seems to be 1997 or newer. However, I seem to see or at least notice far more 73-79 models lately then ever before. For a long time they were absent from the roads here. The same for the 80-86 models which seem to be growing in numbers again on the roads. Lately, it's the 92-96 models that seem to be dwindling. Other than old junkers, I don't see too many still on the road. It would be interesting to see actual registration numbers for various states for each model year.
Personally I never liked the 87-91 front end either, it just never looked right to me, yet the 1992-96 models looked sharp. After that, I lost interest in Ford pickups. The newer motors, newer body styles just don't do anything for me.

 

Talk to Ford's lawyers about that, I'm sure they'd appreciate pointers to any illegally-branded products out there, whether Chinese-made or not.

Ford Motor Company
1 American Rd.
Dearborn, MI 48126-2798
MI Tel. 313-322-3000
Toll Free 800-555-5259
Fax 313-845-6073

 

I haven't seen any aftermarket tailgates that have the ford logo and I've looked... From what I hear they're cheaply made and don't stand up to the test of time.

 

The gate that's on my latest 86 F150 is aftermarket, it's wider by 1/4" over the OEM gate, which is probably why they left out the right side bushing. The hole inside the hinge cup is also too large to hold the bushing's center pin.
The gate has poor fit and finish, the welds all show and the area around the lower corners is rough. The inner sheet metal sticks out beyond the outer skin. All of this is why I bought the new gate and bushing.
For the time being, at least until I get some warmer weather here, I reworked the hinge area a bit so I could get the bushing in place. I bought two new bushings so I still have a new one for the new gate.
But at least for now the gate will work as it should, and it does match the truck. I won't attempt to paint the new gate in this weather, I just don't have a heated area suitable to paint in right now without putting something else outside in the weather.

The aftermarket gate wouldn't bother me nearly as much if it looked right, the areas where its lacking could be repaired with some body work and TLC but it just don't look right without the F-O-R-D logo on the back.

How were the original letters painted? Were they decals or sprayed with a stencil?
Those on my original F150 appear to be painted?

 

There's a recent thread on this in the 73-79 forum, including information on replacement vinyl lettering.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...e-stencil.html

 

That's what my wife said too, that's why she is letting me get a real one.
As far as paint or vinyl, my original had painted letters. It was black with white letters.

 

It could be either painted, (more common) or vinyl letters. On my 1981 F-150 Explorer they are vinyl to match the color of the factory stripes as example.

Most all of the 70's and early 80's were painted with a few exceptions like mine.

 

I was just thinking that maybe they silk screened the original letters?

A sponge and thick enamel may do the trick though but fine lines on the edges would be an issue.

 

LMC offers a tailgate for around $400 with a FORD logo. Is this not a POS Chinese made tailgate but one that is actually Ford authorized?