Okay, so I have two original Styleside tailgates, both in decent shape except both have a major dent in the bottom rolled portion of the tailgate (the bottom part that lines up with the hinges). I have two options... I can cut and paste the good portion left from one tailgate into the damaged portion of the other one, requiring a fair amount of time in cutting, welding grinding, etc. or I can just purchase a new reproduction tailgate from one of the major parts retailers. Has anyone tried these reproduction tailgates and can attest to their quality / sturdiness / accuracy to original? Opinions on what you would do if you were in my shoes is always welcome. I tried searching here but the reviews on the reproduction tailgate were sparse and not very detailed.

 

Are you aware that the 1957/60 F100/350 Styleside tailgate was also used on some 1961/66's?

B7C-9940700-A .. Styleside Tailgate / Reproduced (in Asia).

1957/60 F100/350 / 1961/65 F100/250 4WD / 1961/66 F350 / 1962/63 F100/250 2WD (not Uni's) / 1966 F250 4WD

 

The Dennis Carpenter tailgates look pretty good. I was thinking of going that route for mine. Has anyone bought one from DC?

 

Yes, Dennis Carpenter was what I was looking at. The part number they have matches the one listed above by Bill. On the description page for it is has a "FORD Official Licensed Product" logo. If that's true that it's endorsed by Ford, I would think it's a good product. Was just wondering if anyone had any hands on experience with these to give some first hand testimony.

Bill, yes, I was aware that from 1961-66 Ford used a "wrongbed" based on the 1957-60 series on a number of it's trucks for a variety of reasons, whether it was because they were heavy duty, or because of the whole "unibody" fiasco. Quite the odd looking combo.

 

 

In the 1980's, Ford lawyers told people that sold NOS and/or repro parts that used the Ford/Ford Motor Co/FoMoCo/Lincoln/Mercury etc names and/or part numbers in their catalogs, that they had to pay a yearly license fee.

Many of the obsolete parts vendors removed Ford from their business names as did some of the repro parts sellers, because the yearly fee was very expensive.

For examples, Ford Parts Obsolete of OKC changed their name to Classic Auto Parts. McDonald Ford Obsolete Parts became McDonald Obsolete Parts.

The lawyers warned people that did not pay the fat yearly fee, that their parts could be confiscated.

A longtime seller of Model A repro parts told FoMoCo to go to hell! At the Carlisle PA swap meet, no sooner had he set up his display, then the lawyers and the polizei showed up and confiscated EVERYTHING!

Carpenter pays the yearly fee, why he can use Ford related names and Ford part numbers in his catalogs.

 

 

If you'd consider a Henry Ford original tail gate, take a look at Desert Valley Auto Parts inventory. I was just on their site and 57-66 pickups are pretty plentiful. Some have original tail gates on the pictures. Might be worth a peek.

 

Check with Yelp and read the feedback for DVAP. It may influence your decision to do business with them.

 

I bought my tailgate from DC. I have been very pleased with it.

 

Fixed it for you, Edsel's son Henry Ford II known as "The Deuce" became president of FoMoCo in 1945. Henry retired and died in 1947, took his last ride in a Packard hearse.

 

Very informative post, thank you!

 

Looks good, thanks for the feedback on it.

 

Verbatim68,
I bought one of the repro tailgates for my 1960 restoration back in 2013. It was stamped in Argentina. It looked awesome. It was manufactured in the same course style as the originals.
When assembling to the truck, I found it to be about 1/2" to 3/4" narrower than the original. I simply straightened the left and right flanges and tack welded a strip of 1/4X1/4 steel angle back on to stiffen it as well as provide the flange. The tailgate hooks also had to be either moved closer to the tailgate sides or modified to fit the chain latch. I chose to modify the hooks which also meant re-drilling the safety chain through-hole.
I've never run into anyone else with the same issue. As-purchased, it would have barely fit the box with the tailgate flange scraping by the pinch weld of the box that the tailgate seals against. Not sure if mine was just an aberration.
Nick in WI

 

Walston....don't take this the wrong way but that's a good looking rearend!