The serial number is F1R2CS11837 so I guess it is a '52

 

According to that number, it is:

F1 = 1/2 ton Pick-up
R = 239 Flathead V8
2 = 1952
CS = Assembled in Chester Illinois
11837 = it was the 1837th 1952 truck built there.

So it should have a flat sided 6 1/2 foot "Pick-up" Box bed.

The front fenders have been replaced on the truck as they have the larger openings for an F2+. The upper valance (where the letters "F O R D" should be on a 52) was probably replaced at the same time with that off a 1951 truck (no letters).

You might ask the owner why the front sheet metal was replaced (it may have been wrecked)

Front fenders will rot in the seam between the upper and lower portions of the fender (you can see that seam), and at the rear where it bolts onto th erunning board. But the upper and pretty much the lower valances were not a rust problem and seldom required replacement unless wrecked. He might have bought the entire thing as an assembly off a 51 F2 and swapped it out as an assembly, just to fix the typical corrosion problem in the fenders - but they (fenders and upper valance) are not the ones built on the truck.

Looks pretty nice though and should make a fun project!

 

Thanks for that info- The upper valance must have been replaced before he bought it 15 years ago- he sent me a photo of it from back then and its the same as it is now- Can't wait to get it and hopefully it wont be too long until I get it fixed up the little bit more it needs-