I am looking at a 57 Ford Panel Truck with the Napco 4x4 Conversion from the factory. Is anyone else familiar with these? All comments and opinions are welcime.

 

Napco was a dealer installation, not factory. Worth having, for sure, especially if you have badges, etc, documenting the conversion. But it could also have been done by a prior owner using donor pieces. If that's what it is you might have it looked at by somebody knowledgeable to make sure it wasn't just cobbled together. Stu

 

He said it does have the NAPCO I.D. tag. It is supposedly a 2 owner truck. This gentleman has had it for twenty years. Needs restored, very little rust, West Coast truck, and it has the original 272 Y Block.

 

Clearly real, and worth having. Hope it finds a new home. Stu

 

Sounds really cool. Definately consider buying it. Side note: Are all 57-60 ford panels 1/2 tons? Can't recall a mention of a 3/4 or one ton panel. Just wondering, while we're on the subject.

 

Well I was wondering that too. I found another listing on Craigslist in Idaho. He said he had a 1953 Factory*3/4 Ton dealer converted 4x4, but the link says sold before I could view any pics. What years were panel trucks available and were they only likely to have the Marmon-Herrington or Napco conversions during the 50's?

 

During the 48-60 era all panel trucks were half tons. A Napco conversion could be done to any half or 3/4 ton, but I've never seen a Napco one ton. That said, I have seen Napco F-500s/600s.

The factory conversion was the Marmon-Herrington. A panel could be as likely a conversion as a pickup. Seems I've seen more of them, though, in the 48-52 range of years than in the 53-56 or 57-60 eras. The last year for the one ton panel truck was 1947. They could be converted to AWD by Marmon-Herrington too (M-H model designation OT-5). I have all the pieces to recreate one of these if I ever run out of project trucks. But doubt that'll happen. Stu

 

That is very interesting. The two I have run across isthis 57 with the NAPCO Conversion, and a 1959 with factory 4x4. I have a 59 myself with factory 4 wheel drive, but it is a F250 with a Flareside bed. I love that old truck. Was1960 the last year for the Panel trucks then since the Econoline debuted in 1961? Has anyone ever seen a first generation Econoline with a 4x4 conversion?

Thanks guys,
Shaun

 

Correct, 60 was the last panel truck. The Econolines and parcel delivery models continued on. Don't think any Econoline 4x4s were made. Stu

 

The oldest Econoline 4x4 I have seen is 69. Three on the tree..... very unique look. (E350) He claimed it was a Pathfinder 4x4 conversion.

 

Agree, the later generations of Econolines were aftermarket converted by Pathfinder, Quadravan, and Quigley to name three. Might have been other smaller companies too. Stu