As promised in my earlier thread, some pictures of my new '51. Inline six, 4-speed on the floor, no rust issues other than the front fenders. Minor dings, worn paint and some surface rust everywhere. However, I was looking for one that looked like this as I plan to keep the exterior exactly the way it is for the moment (I might change out the bed wood). At the moment I'm trying to find a reliable shipping company to get it from Spokane down here to San Francisco, so if anybody knows of anybody please let me know (pics were taken at the previous owner's place). The truck runs like a top a drives really well. I'm going to drive it around for a bit before deciding if I want to do anything to it modification wise. Right now the only thing I'd like to do for sure is add some wide whitewalls. I'm the fourth owner. I was looking for an old truck for some time before I found this one (as i wanted one that looked the way this does but ran just fine as I don't have the mechanical chops, nor the space, to really fix one up from scratch). I plan to have some fun with it and learn a lot (and I will be asking a lot of questions and doing a lot of research on this site).

 

Looks like it's in decent shape and you have the 5 Star Deluxe cab. What seems to be rather rare is you have the original cover on your Magic Air heater. Nice Score.

 

That is a sweetheart! Nice find! You say it's in Spokane? How did I miss that one. I'm about 140 miles south. Where did you find it advertised at? If you don't need the original YOM license plate, I sure could put it to good use for my Mercury PU.

 

Nice find, not everyone will understand you leaving it “as found” for now but I do. I’m going to do the same thing, externally anyway. Looks great!

 

I found it on the HAMB. One of the regulars over there was using this as his daily driver of sorts. He recently purcahsed a '46 that was more his style, and that he wanted to fix up, so when I saw that I immediately jumped all over this one. He did list it on the HAMB for a bit, but I had my unlce (who lives in Spokane) go out and drive it for me. He gave me the thumbs up, so I put a deposit on it and had the seller take it off the market until I could come up and see it. Basically, I was all over it, like I said, I have been looking for something like this for quite some time, so I jumped rather quickly when something that fit the bill came onboard.

I'm sure we can work something out on the plates. I can't use them here (I'm going to try and find some '51 CA plates for it).

As far as people not understanding about the exterior, I have definitely already gotten a bit of that... I think it's one of those love it/hate it things, where people have strong, mutually exclusive, reactions one way or the other, and there's no convinvcing the other side. No problem though... I think it'll help keep potential thieves away.

 

Where abouts in SF are you? I just picked up a 51 F1 too about a week ago. I am in Alameda and I just found out that 51PanelMan is in San Jose, too. Anyways great looking truck. Although I like my 239 better but I am jealous about that 4 on the floor.

 

Did someone call my name?

Nice looking truck. That truck is as original as they come! Even the paint on the grille is the original color. It's the same as on my 51 Panel. The interior is spotless. Usually the armrests are beat up, but yours are perfect. Like stated earlier, even the Magic Air metal emblem is on the heater. If the truck was mine, I'd keep it the way it is. In my opinion, it has the perfect patina. I think that brand new whitewalls would set off the truck. I'd probably try to "weather" the whitewalls to match the patina. You'll likely get more attention by leaving the patina than by redoing the truck. Plus, you won't be afraid to drive it in the city.

Did you happen to look underneath the right front fender to see if there a tube that runs along the bottom from the front of the fender to the cab? If so, then you have yourself a fresh air heater. Also a rarity. I also noticed the you have a floor shift. Is it a 3 spd with or without HD or a 4 spd?

Did anyone notice the original rear bumper? That might be the rarest part to find for our BB trucks, right Ross??

There's a similar truck, but a 52, I think, running around in San Francisco. I've seen it twice so far. One time it was at the old Good Year service center in the Tendrloin(??) and then again I saw it parked in front of a house either in Visitacion Valley, Mission or Excelsior districts. I have pictures of it somewhere, but can't find them.

Try posting on uship.com for transport or check your email. I sent you one.

By the way, if you're ever in or around the south bay (San Jose), let me know. You're always welcome to stop by and look at the 51 and 52 Panels, as well as my 37 Airflow and other "junk" that I collect.

Maybe we should get together for a little Bay Area gathering...????

 

Not being afraid to drive it around the City and park it on the street was the main reason I was looking for a truck with an exterior in this kind of condition. I live in SF off Monterey Blvd up near City College... if you ever get out that way you're likely to see it parked outside. My other main criteria was to get one that was running and stopping well (as, although eager to learn and tinker, my car fixing up chops are basement level at this point). hxgaser, I called on the truck you know have, but I'm not gonna be able to fix up the 239 on my own. I like the floor shift as well, but someday I may rue the double-clutching required (51PanelMan - it's the 4-speed). I may be in the market to find a '52 4-speed, as I have heard they have synchro, helical gears, and will bolt right up.

About the bumper, the previous owner mentioned that he's had several folks tell him the bumper on this one was pretty rare, but he didn't really know anything about it.

The funny thing is is that I have the seen the truck youn mentioned 51PanelMan. Same color, I usually see it when I'm biking down to Palo Alto (pedals, not motorized). It's usually parked on Alemany towards Daly City... it must have a later model tailgate on it as it has the block Ford letters instead of the script, but everything else looks pretty good (on the outside... again, if you like beat up old trucks as I seem to do anyhow).

Didn't check the tube for the fresh air heater (honestly didn't know to look for it). I'll e-mail you back about shipping, and some time I'd like to see both you and hxgaser's trucks.

Do you know of any good flathead mechanic's around the Bay (i.e. places where you would take your trucks)? Also, is there a local V8 club around? Thanks.

 

Oh yeah, the one thing that's definitely not original is the door panels, arm rests and seat cover. The previous owner put those in. The interior paint is original (some scale on the floor from a leaky window as it sat outside), about half the glass is original as well as a lot of the window and door seals.

 

I did notice the Rolled Bumper. Those are VERY hard to get. It took me 3 years to find one that someone would let go of then another $350 to get it chromed. The resto parts houses are selling 53-56 back bumpers (the flat ones) as 48-52s.

I'm exchanging notes with another member about the bumpers and he seems to have done a lot of research on them and has some very good facts. He sent me a picture of his truck (which is GORGEOUS) but it has the new flat style back bumper that I thought were used on 53-56s.

Dicky Bravo, this truck is definately a find. All the "Extra Cab" options that are in it are in PRISTINE condition, VERY difficult and EXPENSIVE to find - if you can at all. Especially the inside door panels and trim for them. Magic Air heater plates are impossible to find - I gave up after 4 years and used a 49 Ford Horn Button (actually looks pretty good!)

I'm not sure how much you paid for the truck, but the Extra Cab parts you have that I can see, I have purchased for somewhere in the neighborhood of $3,000! alone (windshield trim, heater, glove box lock, door panels and trim hood spears, deluxe seat, arm rests, drivers side exterior door lock, bright metal wings and rails chrome escuchions). The door panels may not have be the original covers but theye appear to be the correct ones for the truck - just recovered.

I definately would not modify it. I might be tempted to fix the fender cancer (which is typical for these) and maybe paint it (patina is fine if that's your thing).

Anyway, Congratulations!

 

I sold the only correct rear bumper that I had to Ross about a year or so to go. In all of my travels and parting out BB trucks, I only came across one rear bumper!

Julie, you need to start parting out trucks. You've got the room now. I've got almost two sets of Extra Cab options (including full doors) for the 51 and 52 Panels from parting out trucks. I once bought a 52 F3 with the Extra Cab options for $300. I took everything that I needed and then resold the truck for $300.

 

I know exactly where you are. I'm in that area a few time a week.

As for the mechanics, I know of one in San Jose and of one in Napa. Tom, the person in Napa, was actually the president of the National V8 club. I met him a few years ago when I bought an OHV 6 cyl engine and some other parts from him for my 52.

As for the V8 clubs, there are a few in the Bay Area. There should be the Golden Gate chapter, the Diablo Valley (East Bay) chapter and Mission Hills (??), the San Jose area chapter. There are also a few swap meets that are put on by the chapters. There's a swap meet at CSU-Hayward twice a year, as well as two swap meets a year in Campbell at the Old Ford (parts) Store. Both of these events are put on by the local V8 club chapters.

I have their info somewhere. I can let you know more when we talk either in person or email.

 

LOL! I need that and more to do like I need a hole in the head Ilya!

Shoot, even though I did it the hard and expensive way, I have everything I need. It's finding th etim enow to put it together. Now that the fron tend is done I have no excuses for not finishing my interior this winter!

PS the gentleman I'm talking to about bumpers mentioned that the trucks did not leave the factory with rear bumpers. And ya kno what? All the original advertising brochures and original pictures I have don't have any on there either - including the Salesmans Handbook pictures. Anyone know the story on that?

 

Everything inside is original, it's just been reupholstered. The two-tone upholstery even resembles the original colors.

 

Well, I thought I paid the right price for it given what I thought it had and I knew about it, but all the comments make me feel I got a good, but still fair deal (as it's not like the seller didn't know anything about these trucks).

And yes, reupholstered was the term I was looking for... still have to brush up on my car vocabulary. Thanks for the other info as well, as I am sure I will be needing a top notch mechanic at some point.