I'm trying to work through replacing the bed in my F-1. The metal is to far gone to save as well as the wood beneath it. I am trying to keep the aged look and so using new wood or metal is not an option. I thought that if I could salvage the wood from a couple of other restoration projects I might be able to piece together a bed that looks appropriate for this ole truck.
I remember seeing pickups with exposed wood beds but cannot remember the years so that I can begin my search......


My Question is what years did the big three use exposed wood in their beds?

 

I was surprised to see that Chevy truck still had them in the 67-72 years in both step and fleetsides.

 

I may try using rough sawn pine for the bed in my "patina" build, it doesnt take long to naturally turn golden brown and black.

 

This is salvaged wood off an old barn.

 

And I laminated old fir barnwood to some thicker and more solid new douglas fir. The factory stakebeds use 1 1/4 inch material. Like you, I wanted some patina to match the rest of the truck. I make my living with reclaimed wood,so got to pick what I wanted.

 

I wish I lived closed to you GB. Our reclaimed wood comes from the east coast and is very expensive. That is the look I'm after.....good job GB.

 

What thickness is the pickup bed wood? It seems there should be some old wood in almost every part of the country. Look on craigslist under 'materials'. Search reclaimed, salvaged and barn wood. I would suggest finding someone with a metal detector and someone with a thickness planer. In that order....