Hey guys,

Where is the tail lamp harness? I was reading this thread and it said that the tail lamp harness is about the only way to tell if you've a Camper Special. I do know I have a map pocket in both doors, if that indicates anything.


If you're curious why: I'm heading to pick up a set of doors on Sunday, and am debating whether or not to keep the Western Mirrors my truck has on it.

 

1965/66 F100/250 Camper Special's (C/S) came with a pigtailed wire harness/plug that was used for the Camper Clearance lamps.

It plugged into the extra feed wire of the C/S only tail lamp harness that routes along the left frame rail.

When not in use, the pigtailed harness/plug was usually placed inside the glove box, but is your truck a Camper Special?

C/S package included 300 I-6 or 352, oil and amp gauges, extended tail pipe, heavy duty radiator and larger amp battery, Camper Special front fender emblems and etc.

But, the thing is...all of the above except the C/S emblems could be ordered on any truck, plus there are no codes within the VIN or stamped on the Warranty Plate that define a C/S.

So the only way to prove it IS a C/S is by the tail lamp harness w/the extra feed wire.

btw: The 1965 F100 Standard Cab (it was not a C/S) that I bought new 3/1965 came with the tool compartment on the right quarter panel. I added the R/L zippered door pockets after the fact.

So, just because these trucks may have the door pockets proves nothing, because they were available at the parts counter.

 

A package was a quick and easy way of getting a group of recommended options for a particular purpose at a discount than ordering each item individually. There were several features, which Number Dummy lists, that were found on Camper Specials that are very obvious, but I guarantee you no one will ever crawl under your truck, and get all dirty, to inspect a wiring plug, which may or may not still be there. Tail lamp wiring harnesses are commonily hacked by different owners for different reasons when no longer hauling a camper, they are now hauling a boat trailer, car trailer etc and have different plugs. The inspection generally stops when most people see the "camper special emblem" on fender. About the mirrors, keep them! There were thousands of camper specials made, but what happens over time? Authenicity is lost. The way camper specials looked like in the 60's and 70's is not the way most of them look like now. The mirrors and wheels are usually the first things to disappear.

 

Wait, what's this about camper special badges? I'd seen the custom cab ones, and I don't have that (and have no ability to tell if they were removed or not), but I can't find any pictures of a camper special. I probably will keep the mirrors, but mostly because they're damn helpful versus the 1" diameter circle ones.

 

All 1965 & 1966 F100/250's have chrome R/L front fender emblems.

There were 4 types depending on which model they were: Camper Special - FOUR WHEEL DRIVE - Ranger - TWIN-I-BEAM

1965 emblems have either FORD 100 or 250 above. 1966 emblems have FORD above, 100 or 250 encompassed within the emblem below. The names were on plastic inserts within the emblem.
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1965/66 F100/1100 Custom Cabs have stainless steel windshield reveal mouldings, anodized aluminum grille, Custom Cab nameplates on the doors.

Some F100/250's have optional anodized aluminum side mouldings.

But, the Custom Cab nameplates could be deleted from these F100/250's if the purchasers requested Custom Cab door handle guards...if they special ordered the trucks.

When these door handle guards were factory installed, FoMoCo did not install the side mouldings. But the door handles guards were available at the parts counter and have since been repro'd.

So, it's possible that F100/250's could have the Custom Cab door handle guards, the side mouldings and the Custom Cab nameplates on the doors.
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1965/66 F100/250 2WD's came w/a standard equipment plastic chrome instrument cluster (see pic below) that have a sweep speedometer (17255) flanked by fuel (9280) & temp (10883) gauges.

The amp (10850) & oil (9273) gauges were optional (notice their location) excepting Camper Special's as they were part of the package.

1965/66 F100/250 4WD's & F350/1100 Custom Cabs have a chrome steel instrument cluster w/a round speedometer. Optional oil and amp gauges were flanked by the speedometer.

But, if special ordered from the factory, the sweep speedo cluster could be deleted, replaced by the round chrome instrument cluster.

But, if your truck has a painted steel round instrument cluster, it is not a Custom Cab.