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What were the beds, or style of trucks with certain beds, called for the years from 1948 thru 1960? Recently there was a post on the 1973 - 1979 F series forum where someone called the Styleside a Fleetside and lots of info came thru that thread about Fleetside and Stepside being Chevy's thing and Styleside and Flairside being Ford's thing. I'm wondering what Ford was calling their beds back in 1948 thru 1956 and also what Ford called the new wide bed in 1957 thru 1960? Was it just the same as the later years, you know, style side and flairside, or did Ford have other names for them back in the day? I plan to post a similar question on the 1961 thru 1966 forum as well.
Ford called their beds (at least from '53-56 and probably beyond) Flare side for the flare the bed makes at the top. It slants out as opposed to being a 90 degree angle like Chevy pickups. Many times we call these trucks stepsides since you can step on the running board next to the bed.
When Ford came out with the new kind of bed in 1957 where the fenders were incorporated into the bed, they called them Stylesides.
Hi guys. That seems to be the concensous, flareside and fleetside from way back. Also, I'm glad for the "Express Box" info, I did not know that one and now I do! Thanks a bunch, Mike.
The Lit issued by FoMoCo, as far as I can tell by looking @ the ones I own, have a "TM" in rather small print next to the "FLARESIDE" & "STYLESIDE" designations for the '57-'60 trucks.
And as far as I can tell by looking @ a friends Bowtie Lit, they did the same thing for their "FLEETSIDE" & "STEPSIDE" designations for their trucks.
Another piece of truck bed trivia, at least in the 1952 dealer brochures, the tailgates are refered to as "Grain Tight" tailgates.. this is for all F-1 to F-3 with a box.