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When truckdog62563 (Stu) chimes in, you'll get more info, as he's the M-H expert here on FTE
Please, Bill, don't consider me a M-H expert. That person is Chuck Mantiglia.
But that said, this truck, and a few others like it, are not M-Hs. I first saw a picture of this truck I believe last December in an email exchange. It is like a hand full of other 1955 F-100s that were converted to 4wd by an unknown company in the Pacific Northwest. It has military surplus axles and transfer case. It is the only example of the group I recall seeing pictures of that has a winch. All like it are 1955s, F-100s, and claimed to be forestry service or of similar origin. None have badging or other identifying markings. Stu
But that said, this truck, and a few others like it, are not M-Hs. I first saw a picture of this truck I believe last December in an email exchange. It is like a hand full of other 1955 F-100s that were converted to 4wd by an unknown company in the Pacific Northwest.
It has military surplus axles and transfer case. It is the only example of the group I recall seeing pictures of that has a winch. All like it are 1955s, F-100s, and claimed to be forestry service or of similar origin. None have badging or other identifying markings. Stu
Besides you, who else on FTE would know this jazz? If this doesn't answer the OP's questions, I don't know what will.
On this one, and the others like it, maybe nobody. I've kept a photo record of them. The bolt pattern is military 5 x 6 7/8" circle, not civilian 5 x 8". Stu
Stu thanks for chiming in. I guess the truck really does have bigger axles than your typical half ton. Haha It certainly looks worth having. It certainly caught my eye. Now if only Chuck is able to gather parts for this as he does for the Marmon-Herrington trucks.
No, not to diss Chuck but your better parts supplier for the 4wd parts is Vintage Power Wagon in Fairfield, IA, if you buy the truck. I mentioned seeing the picture of this truck a few months ago. The owner of another of these '55 F-100s contacted VPW and learned the exact military model and year of his truck's donor. They had all his parts. I also have a Power Wagon (project) and have visited and bought parts from them.
Chuck is the best source for any Ford parts needed. Stu
Just to add to the discussion--My truck is for sure a military vehicle, and the DSO part of the identification tag appears to be blank like the OP's:
Really the only thing identifying my truck as military, other than the painted door markings, is this little decal:
This decal says something about unauthorized use, but really isn't readable. If anyone knows anything about decals like mine, I'd like to hear from you. I would like to reproduce this decal as a part of my restoration. One of our members gave me some modern verbiage for "unauthorized use" of gov. vehicles, but I would like the period correct wording if possible. Thanks.
Sure, war surplus vehicles were advertised in the small print classifieds of Mechanix Illustrated and any of a 100 other publications during the 1950s. No better source for reliable components. I'd think value would be in the middle of your numbers, maybe nearer the upper range. The truck looks complete and the winch adds value. Stu
