Just got a 1965 F-100 and wish to restore it to mostly stock. I bought an original AM radio for it but noticed that there are no cutouts on the top of the dash to allow for the speaker sound to come through. Truck looks mainly stock so was wondering if some of these trucks either mounted the speaker at a different location or had the no radio/speaker option from the factory? Thanks.

 

WELCOME TO FTE, BOBOH1 !

You are correct, the radio & speaker were not standard with every 1965 F100 truck. They were optional equipment. Those that were ordered with a radio had the only speaker grill through the top & middle of the metal dash. If you look through some of the albums here of good folks with '65s you may locate a pic of their dash with the speaker cutout visible.

Good Luck and keep us posted on your progress!

BarnieTrk

 

Here is one out of my 63 same dash 61-66. Not the greatest pic but should give you a good view of where its supposed to go.

 

Vic,
Not all Slicks had their speakers mounted with a grill screwed on the top of the dash. Many '65s that were optioned with a radio & speaker had rectangular-shaped, punched out openings through the metal dash. Those that had a padded dash did have the grill fastened on top. However, the location (between the de-froster vents) is the same.

BarnieTrk

 

Thanks for the info and picture. Mine only has the two defroster vents. So if the radio was not originally ordered with the truck, did it come with a radio delete plate or did the previous owner have to cut a hole in the dash for the after market radio? Seems like Ford would have given the ability to put a radio in if the customer changed his mind at a later date.

 

For many trucks, if it was not ordered with the optional AM radio, then it did not have the holes in the top of the dash for the speaker or in the front of the dash to the left of the ash tray for the radio. Many trucks had their radio holes and speaker holes cut in after they were delivered to the dealer - after the buyer received the truck and then decided he wanted a radio added.

I say many because I've read where some current '65 F100/F250 owners claim their truck was equipped with speaker grill openings in the top of the dash, but never had any radio mounting holes cut in the dash between the gauge cluster and the ash tray..... go figure.

I have never seen a delete plate for a '61-'66 Slick, but I have seen them in earlier and later F100s.

BarnieTrk

 

My '66 was built with a dash pad but had no opening for the speaker. There is a rectangular grille punched in the steel dash though.
Eric