At the seam with the roof above the window.

 

My 1949 F-1 does not have ribs and looks way different inside as compared to my 1952 F-1 which does have the 3 ribs. Now the cab on my 1949 may not be original, might not even be a 1949, since when I bought this truck it came with a title and serial # from a F-8 claiming it to be a 1949 F-1. The guy I bought it from said that he and his dad pulled it out of a field in Northern Georgia.


1952 F-1 outside




1952 F-1 inside




1949 F-1 inside. The outside appears smooth, no ribs.

 

Feb '49 F-4 SP-Ribs

 

Nah just a square around the ribs.

 

My 49 has ribs.
If I remember correctly it was manufactured in May of 49 at the Dallas plant. I'll try to dig through my notes to verify that.


Bobby

 

Mine has ribs, it's a 52 on the title, but the trim was all 51. Built in Richmond California. The guy I bought it from drove it from LA to West Virginia towing a PS 1800 Volvo. The truck has the original engine and tranny.

 

Only shot I have of it.

 

This 1948 F-1 is for sale on Erie, PA CL. It has 3 ribs on back of cab.

 

I'm not seeing a pattern; there are ribs on every year from 48 - 52; there are ones without ribs on every year from 48 - 52; some are big trucks, some are F-1's in each category. We really don't have nearly all the plants represented, but there are already outliers. Maybe the smooth cabs are "Monday morning builds"???

 

This one doesn't have ribs because someone cut the back panel off and replaced it with flat sheet metal. It's entirely possible it originally had ribs.

 

I'm not buying it. After 60 years, memories fade and trucks are modified. The 52 F7 guy on Ford Barn said he had a parts truck that he recalled didn't have ribs. That's a far cry from evidence of a stock no-rib late cab. In this thread, I see nothing to prove smooth back cabs came from Ford after 49.

 

But why are there so many '48's and '49's WITH ribs? And actually, Cecil/WV says he has the 52 F-7 with smooth back (it's not a parts truck, that was someone else).

 

"This one doesn't have ribs because someone cut the back panel off and replaced it with flat sheet metal. It's entirely possible it originally had ribs."

Wayne, that is my truck and I think you are correct. I just discovered that panel when I removed the gas tank recently. That panel does not look factory to me.

 

We've got ribs on our early '50 - but they don't go up & down like the others but sideways.. Odd.. I never thought about it before .

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Ben, those are the ribs in the front panel of the bed. The ribs in question are the ones one back of the cab itself. Bye the way, the wood on your bed is fantastic !