Hey everyone, another newb here! glad to be here ive been reading posts for awhile gathering info, tons of great info here its really gonna help me with my truck. I have a 63 flareside i got my my dad. I noticed a tag inside the drivers door frame that says something to th effect of "Property of U.S. Marines" and has a number under that. Anybody have something like this on there truck? Does it do anything to the value or is it just a conversation piece? thanks alot...........

 

The truck was once in the Marines. They were little plain jane 6 banger st. drives, nothing special but a spare tire on the left rear fender. I know the AF had them too, not sure about the other branches.

Nothing but history, no added value. IMHO


John

 

First and foremost, welcome to FTE!!

Imagine simular to fleet sale where FoMoCo contracts to produce a quanity of truck or vehicles, for a company, not sure it was significant that they contracted with the military. Purchased a 65 F100 at a county auction, originally sold to Pacific Gas & Electric as part of a fleet sale. I was please to find PGE apparently ordered a fleet of trucks that would hold up to heavy use. It would be interesting if there is a specific color code on the VIN plate.

Again, welcome to FTE, post pic's when you get opportunity and don't hesitate to ask questions.

 

I think that's probably a little harsh. Surely it makes the truck more interesting and perhaps there is some perceived value there.

 

If it was in the Marines it is indeed something VERY special!! Oorah!! 23 year Marine speaking here.

 

Welcome AND SEMPER FI to your truck 63Tennessee!!!! Oooorah BikerDude, Semper FI also!! It would add value to those like myself and BikerDude!

 

I too welcome you aboard. To bad I can't give ya a Whoah!! only served in the US ARMY myself for 20 plus years........Thanks for serving our great nation fellow FTEr's
Looking forward to hearing more about your new Slick. I think the best value for these old trucks is in the ownership and driving experience.

Mitch

 

thanks everyone for the replys. well it does give the truck a history at the very least. which is interesting. i will get the VN and let someone decode it for me if they want to. i know its a basic truck it doesnt even have the rear fender notch for the spare lol. i guess i expected it to be green? lol just thinking that a military vehicle in the 60's would be. but then again they have staff cars and delivery vehicles im sure that wasnt green. my truck is blue well used to be its sorta spotted with old primer body repairs all over now lol. but blue seems to be the original color as the interior and seat whats left of it is blue..currently has what appears to be a 260 with a straight drive floor shift of some kind. not sure if its a 3spd or 4spd but the shifter doesnt look like one of those " move a column shift to the floor shifters" to me. ive got a pic if i can figure out how to get it on here i will no luck so far need to look at faq's.........thanks guys
p.s. i also like to thank everyone for there service in the military!!!!!!

 

Welcome to FTE

The VIN will not tell you anything inre to a US Gov't purchased vehicle.

In fact, nothing on the Warranty Plate will tell you much of anything either.

Except that there may (prolly) be no COLOR code (the space could be blank), and the DSO code will have the digits 83 listed if US Gov't purchased.

There are several of us in this forum that can decode your VIN and all the codes off the Warranty Plate.

It's either located on the inside of the glove box door, or on the left door face below the latch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
btw: I don't recall seeing any USMC vehicles painted olive drab back in the early 1960's.

Most of what I remember was that the USMC vehicles were painted the same color as the USN vehicles....

....a light grayish blue.

 

thanks numbers i was refering to the VIN color code

 

The COLOR Code is not in the VIN of any Ford car or truck, back then or today.

The COLOR Code is on the second line of the Warranty Plate.

Here's a sample of your 1963 F100's 11 digit VIN: F10JU381000

F10 = F100 2WD

J = 223 I-6

U = Louisville KY Assembly Plant

381000 = Assembled February 1963.

 

I'm kinda surprised about the spare tire carrier, because the military would be a stickler about things like that.

When I posted no added value, prove me wrong, sell the truck and just before you shake on it, tell the buyer about the tag and you will require $100.00 more because of it. I am sure he will be so happy that he will offer you $200.00 as a kind jester. ALL IMHO



John

 

The spare mounted into the left rear fender on Flaresides was an extra cost option, and you know how the US Gov't operates.

Vehicles purchased by them usually have zero options.

Did you know that the spare tire was optional on all F250's and F350's thru at least 1972?

The F250/350's came with the spare wheel as standard equipment, the tire was optional.

 

Well that wheel is sure helpful....geez. What were they thinking?

 

thanks number, im gonna have to slow my reading down and pay attention lol. ill see what my plate says........also jowilker im sure your right about the added value...though im sure a Marine who also happens to be a classic truck guy would prefer my truck to another if all other things were equal...i dont think even that would get me anymore money though lol.........thanks