i'm sure you MH and Ranger guys are on this, but just in case.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-F-1-Ran...m=121901696700

 

Yup, been watching it. I know who owns it, but don't know anything about it. Even Mark Mossell, who has a list of the known Rangers, doesn't have its vin or other data. It's in CT near Chuck so assume he knows all about it. Stu

 

Stu what would you do in regards to the side windows for a seal? I assume you couldn't buy a premade seal? And then the wheels? Surely those are not original. What would be original and / or safe?

 

Based on Mark Mossell's records there are 20 known surviving Rangers, 19 if we subtract the sad one from TX that sold on eBay a couple years ago and, as described to me by the buyer, is now parted out. Of those, three 1950-52s are fully restored. Chuck's red 1950, the blue 1951 that failed to meet reserve last week, and Rod Kruithoff's red 1952. I'm leaving out Mark's 1955 since it probably has different side windows. The buyer of this 1950 will have to "go to school", as will I if I ever tackle mine, on the side windows and seals of the restored trucks. This is where Chuck is a critical ally.

Much has already been done to this truck. The wood window surrounds have been copied, the rear doors replaced, and other body work started. The rear seats are missing, but they can be copied and reproduced. I know that Mark has himself reproduced some of the special fasteners, and has the headliner patterns. It would be interesting to learn why the restoration has stalled.

The wheels are in one sense an easy fix, and in another sense a near impossible fix. That spoked wheel on the left front can go away. Matching the other three is the question. I have three editions of the LD7-4 manual that lists wheel options. The earliest edition, January 1950, lists only two options. A 15" x 5.50" one piece drop center design, and a 16" x 6.00" that would be a two part wheel. These wheels would be hard to find. The April 1951 and May 1952 editions of the manual list five optional wheels in 15" and 16" sizes. One is the stock 16" x 4.50" half ton wheel. They aren't plentiful anymore, but compared to other M-H parts they are an easy fix. Stu

 

Wasn't there a yellow Ranger out there somewhere as well? I recall some discussion because the owner or his family was selling it a couple of years ago. I think it was a Ranger.

 

If it's the one I'm thinking of, it's a panel the seller incorrectly lumped in with Rangers. And iirc it was a 48/49. According to Chuck, about 200 half tons per year were converted. Besides the pickups, some, like the yellow one, were panels sold to utilities, railroads, etc. The first Ranger was sold in 1950. That '50 was sold to a rural physician who needed it to make house calls (remember them?). Today Mark Mossell owns that truck, and owns the '55 that is thought to be the last actually built. Seems no '56s were photographed when new. Only artist drawings. Around 50 total of all years were converted into Rangers, with most of those being 1950s. Stu

Yellow panel.



Mark's '50.



Mark's '55 as he found it. Today mostly completed.

 

That yellow panel I found listed for sale in Central PA. The guy that owns or owned it has a car museum that I have wanted to go see and haven't gotten around to. Perhaps he didn't want to spend the time to restore it.

If I ever go to that museum I will check on it.

 

Here's another shot of it, or one like it.



Like the hippy '51 Ranger from NV we talked about last week, probably most of these trucks were fleet vehicles. The M-H conversion alone doubled the purchase cost of the truck, taking them out of the "every man's" price range. I have a reference showing the purchase price of the truck, and separate cost of the M-H conversion. I wish I could find a reference showing the added cost of the Siebert body and interior modifications of the Rangers over and above the cost of the M-H conversion. Stu

 

Oh snap. I hate it when there is a really rare and slick ride in my flipping back yard!

 

What was the yellow something that was fully restored and beautiful. The guy had several other very nice trucks. I think you visited him Stu? Or was it someone else? Dang, I'm losing it.
They were trying to sell it somewhere between $100K and $200K.

Edit: Maybe I was thinking about Rod Kruithoff's yellow F-2? Dang it!!!! now it's bugging me.....
Also, I actually said fully restored and beautiful.....that limits it to several hundred trucks.....

 

The yellow truck was Rod Kruithoff's F-2. It sold on eBay for iirc just shy of $40,000. His red '52 Ranger was said to be for sale with asking price in the six figures. I've heard nothing more recently about it. Stu

 

OK, I guess I merged these two trucks in my mind. I did enough daydreaming that I owned both. I guess it all just ran together.
I told my dog this morning as I was heading out that I need to take a week off and have him sit on my lap all day.....maybe I should follow through on that.

 

Well, I was going to pull the trigger on the 'bay Ranger, but since the seller is NOT including the tow bar, I'm out.

Seriously, though, why is there a lack of transfer case shifter in it? I know the transfer case is a single speed, but wasn't there a stick for in/out or positive/compensating? Or didn't the single speed have the compensating??

 

Subscribing

 

Good eye, Owen! It's not there. Anybody intending to bid should get pics of the underside focusing on the transfer case, and should make sure the shift linkage is there. The transmission cover looks to have been replaced, so the hole for the lever maybe hasn't been cut into it and the lever not remounted. I hope that's all it is. He says the truck now has a three speed tranny which would be non-original too.

Edit - the manual shows both the Automatic Compensator Type Case (OT5-1100), and the Declutcher Type Case (OT5-1101). Rather than retype it, here's the manual description for converting one to the other. Stu