Hi.
I'm a new member. This is a great resource!
I'm restoring a 1956 F100, Custom Cab.
Does anyone know what the original color or finish was of both the front and rear bumpers of the 1956 F100 Custom Cab? I know that plain steel, stainless steel, and chrome are all offered by parts suppliers; maybe pre-painted in various colors, too, but I haven't seen them yet. With it being a Custom Cab and having a chrome grille, I would think that a chrome bumper would be likely on the front, but I want to know for sure for that one and the rear one.
Thanks.

 

As far as I know they didn´t offer the bumpers in chrome nor did they with the hubcaps as there was a shortage of chrome and copper after the WWII, thats why they had the luxury to have a chrome grill on the custom cab....

As far as I have understood the only color the bumpers came with where black. Dont know about the finish of the black, gloss och satin??

 

The hubcaps where painted argent with a clearcoat ontop to mimic chrome.

 

Jimmy is spot on as the bumpers were black on both standard and custom cabs

 

and the factory hubcaps were like these, silver, but the repop stainless are nice too but not correct.

 

Jimmy and Kevin are correct. This was the case for the years 53-56. One thing that the 56 F-100 were different was that their running boards were body color as you see in their trucks. 53-55 had black running boards.

By the way, welcome to FTE, the best Ford Truck Forum on the World Wide Web! It sounds like you are keeping your truck stock... You must now show us pictures of your truck and tell us where you are from.

 

Aaahhh

didn´t notice it was your first post!!!

Welcome to the addiction

 

Thanks--for this info, and that of your following post about hubcaps.

Black is enough information--the restoration is not going to be so accurate as to be concerned with the type of black paint.

Good info on the hubcaps, too. I haven't thought much about them, yet, but will soon.

 

Thanks for the corroboration.

 

Thanks for the corroboration, and the info about the running boards.

Yeah, pretty much stock. The purest of the purists wouldn't think so, but when I get through I hope to have it very close to how it was when it left the factory.

Oh yeah, I'll send you pics. Happy to. I'm loving all of yours!

I reside in north central Florida. Go Gators.

 

Thanks. They're a little bit lackluster. That may be something that I'll have to "fudge" on and opt for stainless or chrome instead.

 

Of course, if I'm going to paint it, I might as well find out what kind of paint it was and use it--it will take the same amount of effort.

 

One more question. The bumpers on the truck now are junk. So I need a front one and a rear one. I can buy new repro's or even NOS (I think), but would like to get one cheaper. I'm thinking used is the way to go, since I know now that I won't need stainless or chrome.

At the same time, I would like to save the shipping/freight charges. I'm about to make a long trip from north central Florida to eastern Ky. to Dallas and then back to north central Florida. Does anyone know of a salvage yard or used parts dealer along, or close to, my route who might have one, or preferably both, bumpers?

 

I can tell you that it's bright yellow. The color's supposedly matched to the original yellow.

BTW--I've also got a 1950 F-1 Seaweed (I think that it's called) Green. Flathead 8. It's in real good shape. Looks real good except for a couple of spots on the rear fenders. I want to restore it, too, but right now the '56 takes precedence. Inherited from my father, who inherited it from his grandfather. Garage-kept since about 1969, at least, but it did get driven on roads with salt & ice.

 

Here is a closeup of my painted hubcap from several years ago. I now have bias ply tires on it.