i have a 63 f100 that has a diffent grille than whats on the model year identifier charts. it also doesnt match any of the years 61-66 grilles. however the same grille can be found on this web sites 1963 picture gallery on a white one owed by joe lopebo@yaoo.com
can any tell me the corect story behind this?
thank in advance.

 

It looks like a 62 grill. I have heard of stories of some overlap in production between some years but can't remember if it applies to 62-63. That 63 has a later production box on it (they used the 57-60 box until late production 63 as far as I've seen) so if the box is original on that truck, somebody swapped grills.

 

does not lok like a 62 grile to me at all. thanks anyways

 

Kandcrod,

I think I can help, here. The grille on the '63 owned by Joe Lopeno at the "Picture Gallery" to which you refer looks like a '62 grille to me. I think the confusion between that grille and the textbook '62 grille arises from the fact that the intended appearance of the '61 to at least the '64 and maybe even the '65 and '66 grilles, depends on the effect created when "background" grille structural pieces are painted black in order to make them invisible and give a "floating" or at least an uncluttered appearance to the visible white or chrome visible pieces. The grille on the Joe Lopeno '63 appears to be a '62 grille that has been painted all white without blacking out the background pieces, thereby creating a different appearance. This seems to be a common phenomenon with these grilles that have been repainted.

The grille "overlap" to which mk refers could explain the occurence of a '63 grille on an otherwise '62 truck, but not a '62 on a '63, I don't think?

It seems that between '61 and at least '64, Ford started installing the newer model year grilles on the late year production of the previous year models. I don't think they carried-over previous year model grilles on to the newer year model. But maybe they did. Anybody know?

Anyway, I would guess that your grille is a painted '62 grille swap of the original grille on your '63.

 

This grille carryover is a confusing issue. If you look in the picture gallery from 61-63 you will see examples of the wrong year grille on all three model years. I've noticed that 62s get 61 and 63 grilles and the owners swear it's original. Maybe Ford just didn't make enough 62 grilles and filled the void with leftovers early in the years and next years model late in the year. It could also depend on what plant the truck came from. San Jose trucks seem to have the least inconsistancy. What I mean is of the trucks I've looked at the San Jose trucks always had the correct grille.

 

Cobraguy,

It is confusing. But I don't think that Ford would have put old year grilles on new year models. The grille change was the major visual identifier of the new year model.

I checked the Picture Gallery and there is one picture of a "'62" that appears to have a '61 grille. (the custom job from Arkansas, right?). I would guess that's a swapped grille. Otherwise, mostly what you see there and with other year models is newer year grilles on older year models which could be explained by Ford advancing the new grilles on the old year models.