No affiliation, haven't seen it, but looks like a good deal. They're the same from '53 - 72, right?

1963 ford f100 step side bed

 

Wow, that looks pretty nice.

Yep 53-72 were the same with some very minor modifications - like bolt hole locations in a few places.

Also, for those of you who are meticulously ****, Ford did not incorporate bed side fender indented spare tire carriers in their F-100s until 1956.

 

Well, then call me meticulously ****, but you are wrong. 1954 was the first year Ford had the side mounted spare...

Yes, the fenders were mounted about 2 inches higher on the '57 and up beds then they were on the 53-56 beds. Unfortunately, I did not know that 11 years ago until I got my truck home from the body shop and something didn't look right!!

That is a great bed for $300!!!

 

Yeah, My 1954 has the original bed with the spare tire holder, I am sure Julie meant 1954.

 

Ya know, I thought the fenders looked high... good to know. If I'd found a bed like this for $300 back when I was doing mine, I'd have jumped on it.

 

If you say so guys.

But Abe I didn't say 56 was the first year Ford had the side monted spare. I said 56 was the first year it was on F-100s. I have a source that said beyond any shadow of a doubt that 56 was the first year the F-100s had that. It was optional on larger trucks before that. But as I've stated many times, a statement is only as reliable as the source.

I was suprised to read that as well because there are lots of Pre56 trucks with the indents.

And as far a 54s truck having the stock bed on it with a factory tire indent and mount. I guess I have to ask - how do you know it's the original bed; and the original fender; and that fender has not been replaced with a 56 fender with an indent or modified to support the tire carrier.

Here's my 51 - got an indented fender and tire carrier on it. Lots of them did - because owners modified them to carry it - just like I did this one:

 

thanx for the post on the bed. i bought it. my brother in rio rancho picked it up this morning. he said it's pretty dang slick. i guess we'll find out. the guy said he has had calls from all over the country on it. wired the $ to my brother @ 7 this morning. walmart charged $28 to wire 300. OUCH!!! i was out of town this wknd so it was my only option.

 

Julie, I know my bed is original because it has the original dealership sticker on it. But now that you say that, I dont know for sure that my truck is actually an F-100, could be an F-200. What were the differences?
Sorry, dont mean to

 

Glad it worked out for you! It sure looked good in the pics.

 

Julie,

What did you use for the spare tire cover? I have a '37 Buick I'm working on and the original side mount covers, which I don't have and go for big $$$, look somewhat close to the one you have.

 

UHhhh, that's a good question Bob.

From the inside out it has a Ford 15 inch wheel with an aftermarket Logo hub cap. The wheel is painted blue, and there is a stainless beauty rim on the wheel.

Then there is a Toilet seat shaped donut and the chrome wheel cover. I bought them all as pieces. It's supposed to look like the Continental kits on the back of the 49-51 Fords.





The actual cover and donut I bought together off e-bay. I bought a separate back piece that has bent metal tabs to fold over the top of the tire and hold it on.



A bought a seperate kit as well (I lost the e-bay bid but got the carrier on a "second chance") That has a fibreglass solid white plate and a polished stainless steel rim. I'll see if I can find the link to it. Here's the link to that one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/STAIN...item3efc5a62f4

And a company that makes them:


Continental Enterprises - Complete, detailed and authentic continental kits for most American-built vehicles from 1949 through present.

KAISER FRAZER CONTINENTAL SPARE TIRE COVER KIT : eBay Motors (item 140399428157 end time Apr-21-10 07:23:38 PDT)

It cost me about $200 to have the ring chromed.


I still have the polished stainless rim that's never been installed. If you can find the donut, you can have my spare stainless ring - all it's doing is hanging in the garage collecting dust. It's flawless.

 

I was too lazy to import the next two photo's so I started another post to direct browse them in.

Here's what my kit looked like on the 49-51 Fords. The outer cover was usually painted as this one is - same color as the wheel/car. I just like spending thousands of dollars on chroming!

 

Julie,

Thanks for the info. I need two identical units for the Buick. I am planning to make my own out of fiberglass. I was just hoping there was a company making something that might look close enough to use. I don't need chrome, the Buick stock units were completely painted.

Interesting thing is the eBay auction for the Kaiser cover is about 40 miles from me. I would think of bidding if there were two of the same. I check out the first place you have a link to see what they have, thanks again.

 

Julie and others: I guess because I am a history teacher and I like old things (antiques and trucks, and I am getting old!!) I like to make sure people gets the facts straight. Julie, I know I came off a little harsh in my earlier post after I read it again, but it was not intended that way. I wanted to poke fun at myself for being, in your words, "meticulously ****". And I guess I am a bit of an expert on '54 trucks.

I have found data to support my statement in 2 places. One is the 1954 Illustrated Facts and Features Manual. On a page that is headed F-100 Equipment is a list of Standard equipment, Optional Equipment and Accessories. Under Optional Equipment is listed this "Carrier, Spare Wheel, Side Mounted."

In a Price Information Dealer Handbook I found this: On page 3 for F-100 Series is listed theis:Carrier-Spare Wheel, Side Mounted-Pickup only. Under Suggested Price it says $6.00 and under Schedule " D. & D. it says .40. At the bottom of the page it says Suggested prices in effect 1-6-54.

In my 1953 Illustrated Facts and Features MAnual it does not list the side mounted Spare as an option for that year. So I think it is safe to surmise that the first year for a side mounted spare on a F-100 is 1954.

This is meant to put no one down, just to help us all get the facts...

Thanks!

 

Hi Abe,

I didn't take it that way at all.

The book I have by Don Bunn says the side mounts were available on 54 trucks that were F-250 and above and in 1956 were available on F-100s.

That's very interesting data from the manuals and despite the fact that it contradicts the source I have, BUT, I would consider your manuals a much more reliable source of information!!!

So, I stand appropriately corrected and appreciate the factual update! Good to know and to be able to refine the info we are putting out here!

Thanks for the input!

Now I have another question for you - not to be nit picky but.......my original statement about that was based not on the tire carrier, but the indented fender on teh bed for sale. I have seen some side tire carriers that were low mounted in front of the fender and not indented into it. Is it possible we have mixed apples and oranges here and that the 54/55 carriers were of this type and not the fender indented type? Is there a picture?

But if 54s truck has one with the fender indent and it's an F-100, I would say the evidence is pretty strong that the fender indent type started in 54 as well!