hey guys, just wondering what is the difference between a regular and custom cab?

Especially on the 56 f 100
is it anything besides the big window?

 

I don't believe the big window has anything to do with it as there was many custom cabs without the big window. I think mostly trim level made it a custom cab ,exterior door lock on passenger door, arm rests, sun visors, badging on the doors, possibly trim rings on the wheels and what ever others will include

 

Hey, your kind of new here . Welcome my friend and hope you enjoy your time here.

 

is there any difference in the metal work or is it all trim and badging?

 

thanks. im in the process of planning my next build.

 

all sheet metal should be the same. i mixed mine

 

No difference that I'm aware of, and most of the badging is the same other than the custom cab emblem on the door I think. The pickups had a spare tire that mounted on the side of the box and there was also some that had the spare mounted under the box but I'm not sure if this had anything to do with the custom cab, others more knowledgable than I will be along here soon I'm sure. When you get the chance start a gallery so we can see what you are working on.

 

I'll help with a little info:
Custom cabs had, Chrome grills, emblems on the doors, drivers side door lock on the outside, drivers side arm rest (53-55 had on both doors) Dual sun visors, foam padded seat, trim around front windshield, Inside dome light,cardboard door panels with stainless escussions around inside door handles

Usually, CC trucks were the ones with two tone paint but not all. Not all CC trucks had bigwindows, and not all big window trucks were CC. but most were. MOST bigwindows had green tinted glass, but not all.

Headliners were different for a CC but no one is reproducing the Original style for the CC trucks.

Thats just what I could think of with out looking into my info,

Kevin Bigwin

 

Hi all,

I still have my F-100 book on my desk so I looked up what it had to say about the 56 Custom Cab Features. Here's what it said:

One of the primary features of the custom cab was that the seat had full foam padding instead of springs and cloth padding. The custom cab also had red or copper tone bolster and facings (whatever those are) to harmonize with exterior finish.

In addition to the rubber seat foam filling and color keyed upholstery, door trim and hardware headliner, there was sound deadener on the floor and rear cab panels, armrest on the left door, a dome light in the cab with automatic door switches, twin sun visors, cigar lighter, fiberglass insulation on the forward cab wall. And of course the Custom Cab Chrome door emblem under the window. In 1953 there were "Cab Customizing Options" such as dual door locks, dispatch box door lock (true - it says that) twin electric horns and bright metal exterior trim and hardware. (it doesn't mention if these continued on to 56 but I would assume they did.

The custom cab could be ordered in a two tone paint combination of any body color plus a white roof and upper back panel.

The Magic Aire fresh air heater system was still listed as a seperate option, as were the full wrap around window, and chrome window trim. It goes on to say that these were all options available on any F-model truck.

It looks very much like the custom cab followed the "Extra Driver Comfort" theme of the "Extra Cab" of the 51/52 models.

As a note, some of the "Dealer Available Options" on the 56 model were: Seat covers; splash guards and brackets; "See-clear" windshield washer; reflector flair kit; truck road lamps; hand break signal;fire extinguisher; extension arm mirror; mirror arm brace kit; front tow hooks; speed governors; flashing stop light; locking gas cap; and engine compartment light.

It makes no mention of standard engine, transmission or rear end gearing installations with the Custom Cab.

I hope that helps,

Best,
Julie

 

53-55 also have stainless steel vent window frames and stainless steel trim on drip rail

nick

 

sofo---welcome and do you have a 56 cusom cab? THEY ARE GREAT TRUCKS. I have at a whole fleet of 56 ford trucks. I also have a 53 and it is what they call a ''slant cab''.
The chrome grille is the biggest outside thing about a custom cab. By todays standards the c.c. is no big deal....haha
Hope you the best ....Bill

 

Just a note for info: 1953 and '54 did not have "Custom Cabs". In '53 and '54 they built a standard cab and a "Deluxe cab" with basically the same features mentioned above. The name Custom Cab appeared in 1955.

Nick, good point about the stainless vent window frames and drip rail. Standard cabs had black vent frames and divider bars and no bright drip rail.

 

Also a great point! I didn't sort out above but kind of bounced around all the names by calling the 53 stuff "Cab Customizing options"

51/52 were "Five Star Extra Cabs;"
53/54 were "Deluxe Cabs;"
And 55/56 had "Custom Cab"

Thanks for pointing that out ABE!!!!!

J!

 

Did the 53 and 54 deluxe cabs have the trim on the dash and doors on the inside or was it only on the CC 55's?

 

I don't know right off the top of my head. It seems like there were all kinds of options but which ones actually came as the Deluxe Cab "package" doesn't seem to be very well documented. It might be in the year appropriate Truck [salesmans] Handbook.

Anyway, here is what my F-100 book says:

"As sign of the times, a Woman was not normally seen in a truck in 1953 unless she was acoompanying her husband to town." [hmmmmm] " However women responded with great enthusiasm to the 'Deluxe' version of Fords new 'Driverised' Cab. A slight extra cost gave the following customized added benefits:

Foam rubber seat padding;
Thermaacoustic headlining backed by sound absorbing glass wool insulation;
Sound deadener on the floor and back panels;
Two tone seat upholstery and interior trim;
Two sun visors;
Two arm rests;
Dome light with automatic door switches;
Lock on the dispatch box and both doors;
Twin electric horns; and,
Appealing chrome or brightmetal hardware and exterior trim."

So It doesn't mention dash trim in the text. And looking at the pictures of a BEAUTIFUL 54, I see all the stuff talked about herean din the posts above, but nothing chrome on the dash - doesn't mean they didn't do it though. One final comment I came across was in a different section where they talk about the curved windshiled and 3 person seat. They mentioned that in addition to the windshield and the seat..."The Deluxe Cab offered...these features, plus 16 extras at a small additional charge." So 16 things. too bad he didn't list them.

Probably the only place you will find a list of those 16 is in the "Salesmans Handbook" OR in the Truck Sales Brochures....anyone got any of those?

Sorry I couldn't be more specific.

Julie