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1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Slick Sixties Ford Truck

65 or 66

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Old Jul 9, 2010 | 01:06 PM
  #1  
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65 or 66

Did Ford make a first and second series 65 F 100? I have what the title says is a 65, but it has a 66 painted grill and the little plug in the top center of the firewall is metal w/two screws holding it in. I was told that 65s were metal and 66s were rubber. Don't have the info off the data plate with me right now. I drive a truck and am out on the road. Thanks for any help. TT
 
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Old Jul 9, 2010 | 03:17 PM
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The last 6 digits of the VIN is the sequential production number, but in these trucks its also the key to when the truck was assembled...The changeover from one model year production to another was done at the end of August...and depending on the state it was sold in, it could have been originally titled as a 65 if it was sold in the 1965 calendar year though its a 1966 model.

1965 s/n: 580,001 to 732,000
1966 s/n: 732,001 to 913,999



- cs65
 
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Old Jul 9, 2010 | 04:01 PM
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Like cs65 says, only if the sequential production number was 732001 to 913,999, is it a 1966.

And anyway, Ford Motor Co was the determinator of the model year of a vehicle, not ANY state!! So, if the title says 1965, it is because FoMoCo built it as a 1965.

Can you imagine buying a brand new 1966 truck and getting a title that says it is last years' model? Did not, would not happen. Getting a new car or truck was a BIG EVENT back then. I remember every dad in our neighborhood gathered around the open hood whenever someone bought a new vehicle. AND everybody went to the automobile building during the State Fair to see all the new models!

Someone simply switched out parts most likely, due to damage, or possibly because they liked the later model grille. BTW, my '66 was built in August 1965 and it HAS the metal plate with the two screws.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2010 | 04:28 PM
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Originally Posted by OldHarley
Ford Motor Co was the determinator of the model year of a vehicle, not ANY state!!
Balderdash! FoMoCo had nothing to do with state laws that governed on how vehicles were registered.

Can you imagine buying a brand new 1966 truck and getting a title that says it is last years' model? Did not, would not happen.
It could and did happen, especially with 1965 Mustang's that were introduced 4/23/1964.

Someone simply switched out parts most likely, due to damage, or possibly because they liked the later model grille.
Some states back then registered vehicles by the year they were first sold, not by the vehicles actual model year.

This had nothing to do with FoMoCo, because...FoMoCo had nothing to do with it.

In September 1965, FoMoCo OBSOLETED the 1965 grilles, replaced them with 1966 grilles.

1965 grilles have been difficult to find ever since. If a 1965 has a 1966 grille, there are two possible reasons why:

1) The 1965 grille was damaged, an original replacement could not be found.

2) Someone installed the 1966 grille on the 1965 on purpose. It's a whole lot easier on the wallet to swap grilles then it is to buy a new 1966 truck, since the grille is the only major exterior difference.

I did exactly this, when the '66's came out, I removed the 1965 Standard Cab painted grille, installed a 1966 Custom Cab anodized aluminum grille...for the sole purpose of making my truck appear to be a 1966.

Oh, and btw, in September 1966, Ford OBSOLETED the 1964/66 F100/250 2WD Styleside tailgate, replaced it with the 1967 Styleside (1967/72) tailgate.

1964/66 tailgates have been difficult to find ever since.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2010 | 04:33 PM
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Custom Can...LOL...isnt it hillarious what hitting a key one to the side can do to a message or sentence!!!!

As soon as I hit post...I saw Bill had already caught his minor typo......


- cs65
 

Last edited by camperspecial65; Jul 9, 2010 at 04:35 PM. Reason: added info
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Old Jul 9, 2010 | 04:51 PM
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Originally Posted by camperspecial65
Custom Can...LOL...isnt it hillarious what hitting a key one to the side can do to a message or sentence!!!!

As soon as I hit post...I saw Bill had already caught his minor typo.
Yeah I typed Custom Can...then edited the post.

When one has ham hands, a laptop computer that sits flat on a table, and types with two fingers, one from each hand, hittin' the wrong key comes EZ.

This is why I read every post I type seconds after submitting it...to catch errors like this.

What I find amazin' is...some people haven't a clue how to edit posts, type one new post after another to add info.

One flagrant example is a member of this forum who (according to Gangstakr who met him at the F100 Western Nats) is soooo skinny, he can hide behind a sapling without being seen!

That'll never happen here. There are Sequoia's-redwood trees I could stand in front of that you'd have to look up about 6 1/2' ... to see the tree.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2010 | 09:11 PM
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[QUOTE=torpedo tom;9090223] the little plug in the top center of the firewall is metal w/two screws holding it in. I was told that 65s were metal and 66s were rubber.

What about the comment on the access plates making a difference in year model; that's a new one on me. Never seen a slick with plastic access plates like Bumps & Dentsides.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2010 | 10:15 PM
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65 or 66

Thanks for the info. Now, what are bumps and dent sides? I know we're referring to the beds, but which is which?
 
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Old Jul 9, 2010 | 10:18 PM
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The cowl access plugs...the 66 trucks onward all used the rubber pop in plug..65 and earlier used the rectangular metal plate with 2 screws...The early 66 trucks may have the metal plates...along with the 2 nuts in the floor pan for the 65 bolt on the floor gas pedal and if the truck has window washers, it may have the push button above the ignition switch...this is simply to use up the leftover 65 cabs...Ive seen it on several occasions...66 window washers..if regular production 66 type, you pulled on the wiper switch know to activate them.


- cs65
 
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Old Jul 10, 2010 | 12:03 AM
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I own a 67 F250 that has always been registered as a 66. I even have the original vehicle registration paperwork from 1966!! It puzzled me at first, but NB is right. The states mandate the registration, not FORD.
 
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Old Jul 10, 2010 | 12:09 AM
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Hey Bill, forgot to edit this?

One flagrant example is a member of this forum who (according to Gangstakr who met him at the F100 Western Nats) is soooo skinny, he can hid behind a sapling without being seen!

One slipped by you.

 
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Old Jul 10, 2010 | 12:55 AM
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Originally Posted by gangstakr
Hey Bill, forgot to edit this?

One flagrant example is a member of this forum who (according to Gangstakr who met him at the F100 Western Nats) is soooo skinny, he can hide behind a sapling without being seen!

One slipped by you.

It did? That's funny...I coulda swore I edited it. Maybe I'm seeing things.
 
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Old Jul 10, 2010 | 12:56 AM
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Old Jul 10, 2010 | 02:17 AM
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Originally Posted by NumberDummy
One flagrant example is a member of this forum who (according to Gangstakr who met him at the F100 Western Nats) is soooo skinny, he can hide behind a sapling without being seen!


Hey! I most certainly do know how to edit my posts! it just takes longer than seeing it and posting a quick reply!

And I really am that skinny! my pant waist size is a 29-30 depending on the brand and I'm only 5'7.5"!
 
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Old Jul 10, 2010 | 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by torpedo tom
Thanks for the info. Now, what are bumps and dent sides? I know we're referring to the beds, but which is which?
Bump= 67 to 72
Dent= 73 to 79

Simple slang for the series. 61 to 66s are slicks.

Garbz
 
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