i've got 2 f1s. but i'm not sure if they're 51 or 52. are the headlight buckets and grills exactly the same for both years? one of mine has holes for the headlights cut into those panels behind the lights; the other doesnt. perhaps someone cut them as the grill is gone and the lights are mounted in those panels.
i havent got paperwork for either truck. what are some other differences?

 

The easiest difference to spot it the front trim. The '51 has the FORD on the front of the hood. The '52 had separate FORD letter on the panel between the hood and grill. If your truck has been modified or parts swapped, this might not be of much help. The hood trim is also different between the two years.

 

Bob's covered the main differences that you can see right away. Others exist because of changes made mid year '51. In mid '51 they changed from painting the grills an Argent color to painting them Cream. In mid 51 they also eliminated the firewall data plate, and changed the design of the glove box VIN plate which was then carried on through '52. Also as I recall, with the Korean War limitations, some sources say they had painted head light and marker light trim (called "doors") instead of chrome/stainless on some but I don't know for sure which was which. Stu

 

Another one of the important changes for 1952 was the introduction of the in line 6 cylinder 215 OHV engine - The Cost Clipper - to replace the 226 Flat head used in the 51

In case you weren't able to pick the trim changes out of the picture above, the most obvious two changes were that the work FORD was again moved back to the upper valance on the 52 where in the 51 (the only year Bonus Built that did not have the word FORD on the upper valance) displayed FORD on the nose emblem. The 51 nose emblem was chrome with the word FORD, and the 52s was painted and had the V8 or I6 logo on it. On the 51 the V8 logo was on the upper valance.

The hood side spears were different as the 51 spear had the series (ie F1, F2, etc) on the spear itself and on the 52 it was displayed on a round cap on the front over the spear.

With the exception of Stu's painting and plate changes, everything else is exactly the same. Be aware though that there were Standard cabs and Five Star Deluxe Cabs. The Deluxe cab options for 51 and 52 were the same but did change the appearance of the trucks between standard and deluxe. There were many (dozens) Deluxe Cab and Dealer additional options for the trucks. I have a list if you are interested.

The truck youhave pictured above and in your gallery is a 1952 Five Star Deluxe Cab F1 with a 48-50 hood on it.

Also, if you look on the top of the front frame rail between the shock mount and the firewall on (I have seen this on both sides) either side of the engine, the truck serial number will be stamped into the frame. You'll have to dig and scrape. If you pass me those numbers, I will be happy to decode them for you.

J!

 

wow; thanks alot i'm digging for those numbers off the frame rail. mine is pitted up and rusted so i've been wire brushing like mad but no stampings yet...
one of my trucks has custom cab logos on the doors. thanks. i think mine are both 52s.

 

I see you've got a flat motor; that's great! It appears to be pretty solid. Couple of comments on it tho; one is, that sludge in the cam valley is from lead in the gas, it's very toxic! be careful getting rid of it and disposing of it. Second, what is that small diameter line running from the front of the engine, looks like an oil line?

 

HI Rock,

Those numbers are about 5/8 to 3/4 of an inch tall, the whole serial number will be about 8 to 10 inches long, not etched too deep, and they are simple block letters.

The frame is the most reliable source of the real serial number, but it is also located on the glove box rating plate (assuming the glove box door has not been changed out).

Also you might have a patent data plate on the firewall in the engine compartment, passenger side, high on the firewall.

Pleasent hunting!
J!

PS if you add a couple pictures of the other truck to your gallery, I can tell you also. Be sure to get the front/grille/hood with windshield and a side picture from the cab forward.

 

thanks guys; my good computer is down, so all i've got is the old computer in super slow motion, cant post pics right now.
wow those are huge numbers. my frame is so rusted they're probably gone by now, but i'm still wire brushing. i'm sure i'll find clear title and vin somewhere.
mine are both 52 s going by the letters on the valance.

 

Yeah, the VIN on my frames are more like 5/16". Here's a pic of the VIN on one of mine. Stu

 

Looking at the pictures you have in your gallery, all the lower sheetmetal is for a 52, However, the hood is off of a 48-50.

Do you happen to have any pictures for the 2nd truck?

 

Just a note about the trim levels, I think the ones with additional options were Five Star Extra cabs, not Deluxe. The Deluxe term started in 1953.
They're all Five Star cabs, some are Five Star Extra.

Jonas
51 F1R1

 

Yep you're right. I always slip that out because I had a 55 and it's just habit to call it Deluxe. And I think 56 started the "Custom Cab" thing - Yes?

J!

 

Well to confuse things up, I've got a 51 M100 and could not find a thing on what my VIN#s meant. So I emailed Ford Canada and they would not email me back. But they did however mail me a letter stating what my truck was. Mercury 100 114"whl base
Standard Unit
Pickup/express
Deluxe Cab
Built in Windsor Ontario
1951 year
and the last didgits were the consecutive unit number.
Now saying all this, I'm wondering if the Canadian built fords were different?
Hmmmmm.......
Keep me posted, inquiring minds wanna know

 

Hey "J"

I found this site. Maybe it will help!

1948 thru 1951 Canadian VIN Plate


"J!"

 

[quote=Julies Cool F1;6696929]Yep you're right. I always slip that out because I had a 55 and it's just habit to call it Deluxe. And I think 56 started the "Custom Cab" thing - Yes?

Hi J.C. thanks for the site, I've spent many a hours looking over this site before. I was mearly stating that the my 51 merc is a Deluxe cab. And sweetly enough it has the 5 star package witch is very rare for the ole merc.
Like I've said before, this site rocks, everyones input and humor makes my morning cup of coffee.
Keep up the good work all you FTE guru's..