For some unknown reason we hold the title Ranger way up there. It causes problems, just ask the guy with the red & white '64 "Ranger" I'd bet he's just sick of all the **** that thing has stirred up. This truck was probably delivered, I'd bet, with Camper Special badges. The Camper Special we had was ordered as a Deluxe Camper Package No. 3, then a knowlegable sales men offered the bucket seat package that could be ordered, I believe, in any F series pickup. Thus it is a genuine Deluxe Package 3 Camper special with optional bucket seats, and, a damned nice one at that I'd like to add.

 

Bold statement.

 

This "Ranger" is a FAKE and the owner, at the 2008 F100 Western Nationals Truck Show, admitted to myself, FTE members camperspecial65 (Don) & Bill W that he had it made up.

FTE member garbz2 (Dave) was also there and while I can't prove it, it's possible that he's the one that did it, as he and the owner (Doug) are pals and Dave is a fabricator 'par excellance.'

BODY code stamped on the Warranty Plate is E81: E = Red Crush Vinyl & Red Check Stripe Woven Plastic (BENCH seat) / 81 = 81B Custom Cab.

When a truck is a Domestic Special Order, it has a SIX numbered DSO Code. The first two refer to the District Sales Office that the truck was ordered from, last four is the DSO invoice order number.

This trucks DSO code is two numbers: 71 = Los Angeles CA Ford District Sales Office, where the original selling dealer ordered the truck from.

 

[quote=NumberDummy;13526075] This "Ranger" is a FAKE and the owner, at the 2008 F100 Western Nationals Truck Show, admitted to myself, FTE members camperspecial65 (Don) & Bill W that he had it made up.

FTE member garbz2 (Dave) was also there and while I can't prove it, it's possible that he's the one that did it, as he and the owner (Doug) are pals and Dave is a fabricator 'par excellance.'

BODY code stamped on the Warranty Plate is E81: E = Red Crush Vinyl & Red Check Stripe Woven Plastic (BENCH seat) / 81 = 81B Custom Cab.

When a truck is a Domestic Special Order, it has a SIX numbered DSO Code. The first two refer to the District Sales Office that the truck was ordered from, last four is the DSO invoice order number.

I rest my case on stirring up **** ! Having said that I still say if your going to do a restoration do it as it is a Camper Special. Other wise be prepared to defend it ever time you take it out of the garage.

 

Man, I can't believe some are still hot over this whole thing. This has been hashed out and again argued over many times and Bill (ND) has posted the facts many times.

Myself, I think it's a very beautiful truck. Sure, at least, a lot of work went into it and it shows. Myself, again, I'm NO expert in what is or isn't, this type or that type of truck. I still give him credit for a lot of work, AND as Bill stated, the guy DID admit it was made up to look like a Ranger. If he is still claiming it to be a real Ranger, I haven't a clue - don't know the guy. If I'm correct, I don't even think there is a way to prove its a factory camper special - IS THERE...? Again, I don't know, I'm not an expert like some of you guys.
One thing I do know, WELL, at least from what I have seen, there is a support nut and plate welded to the bottom of the body, where the inboard mounting bolts for each one of the bucket seats, go through the floor of the body. Am I correct on this...? Doesn't all Rangers with bucket seats have this support under the body...?
Maybe someone could post a pic of the nut. Course that would mean crawling under the truck. Maybe a couple of would help
At least this would help to identify a Ranger. OR NOT

 

I have not looked close at the underside and how the seats mount through the floor but I'll take a look later today and try to get some pictures.

 

No codes within the VIN or stamped on the Warranty Plate denote a Camper Special, regardless of what year it is.

ONLY way to know for sure: At final assembly, a pigtailed wiring harness w/plug (C5TZ-13A576-B) was placed inside the glove box.

This was to be used for the campers clearance lamps, plugged into the Camper Special only taillamp wiring harness that had an extra feed wire for this purpose.

No extra feed wire, no Camper Special.

Rangers have specific BODY codes stamped on the Warranty Plate that denote bucket seats, type/color of upholstery. 1965 uses different codes than 1966.

Pre-sewn seat upholstery EZ to find, reproduced for decades as it's the same as 1965 or 1966 Mustang (except with Running Horse embossed on lazy back).

Foam rubber also reproduced, original upholstery material available by the yard from smsautofabrics.com located in Canby OR

Seat frames same: 1965/70 Mustang, 1967/70 Cougar (except 1969/70's with high backs). Seat tracks same: 1965/70 Mustang & 1967/70 Cougar.

 

Bill, as I'm not sure about a standard or CC, could the OP ask for buckets seats to be installed after the truck was delivered - and therefore no body code would show up on the Warranty plate...?
Also, I'm assuming that a NON-Ranger truck, could have been ordered With - buckets seats - Yes?
BUT I still think that if buckets were installed from the factory, be it a Ranger or Not, would still have the support pieces welded to the underside of the body for the inboard bolts to attach to. AND not just a washer and nut. It consists of a small metal plate with a square nut welded to is - I think. Can't remember, haven't been under a truck in a while.

 

Ask tripleframe these questions, his dad was a fleet manager, saved all the Fleet Salesman's data books.

"Squire" Don (camperspecial65) has the 1965 books. Don lives in the Sea-Tac area, has visited SMS Auto Fabrics, so ask him about their operation.

Bucket seats require 4 different brackets, right/left inner/outer. These bolt to the floor pan, then to the seat tracks to raise and level the seats. FTE member Bill W has repro'd the brackets.

I do know that bucket seats for 1967/72 F100/350's could be ordered for all models, not just Rangers. Bought a 1968 F250 Ranger & 1971 F100 Ranger XLT brand new.

'Course back then I was a lot younger, slimmer, my back wasn't on the fritz (unaffected with spinal stenosis and arthritis), so I didn't bother ordering buckets.

The problem with bucket seats is, your gal pal/wife/dog cannot sit next to you. Bucket seats are also hard as a rock, can cause that military affliction: Major Buttsore...even with the most well padded backsides.

 

Perhaps Don or Tripleframe could post pictures on this thread. If they have any or want to take some. OR, send them the me or perhaps someone else, that can post them on this thread. Be good info for those that just MUST know. I don't have a camera and nor the time to figure out how to post pictures here. Plus my back's been pretty bad so crawling under a truck is not an option.
I picked up a set of seat brackets from Bill W., after someone broke into my truck and nabbbbed the seats, console and gas tank cover. Assssssholes. They actually crawled under the truck to unbolt the seats. Sad to think it was a fellow F-100 owner. What else would they fit! It was a one piece plastic gas tank cover. Not sure but I think it may have been a FORD over the counter item. Have no idea if it was offered as a factory option or not. Bill (ND) may know. It was on the truck when I got it from the OP.
Thanks guys, I'm sure someone will come up with a pick. We shall see...

Hope every of you guys living in these bad storm and fire areas are safe...

 

Fritz, i repop the other ranger interior pieces including the washer you speak of...

 

I totally believe your truck came with the seat package. Around '97 we bought a F250 Camper Special with the buckets & console. Everbody in Tulsa knew about it but me. When I stumbled onto it it took me a week but I bought it. It too was a Deluxe Camper Special Pkg #3. What I was trying to say, I wouldn't put Ranger badges on it. Defending something seldom seen get's old. The left coast truck was mentioned as an example of that, it's authenticity will be questioned forever.

 

No, I'd stick with the Camper Special badges. Or maybe Special Forces...

 

Changes or upgrades to a vehicle were not uncommon at a dealership after the sale. If a customer found the ideal truck sitting on a dealership lot, but missing the clincher, a deal was often struck for the upgrade. A chrome front bumper, a radio, grille guard or in this case, bucket seats. The dealership would find a way to order the parts necessary. So, it would not be a factory "Ranger" ('65-'66) with code on data plate, or factory DSO bucket seat truck ('64) , it would be "dealership conversion to bucket seats" without any official documentation. It was possible to DSO bucket seats on a standard cab truck, especially chassis cab truck that was going to be converted to camper, where the back of the cab was cut out and rear window removed for easy entry into camper. Not only were there car type bucket seats, there was also heavy duty black vinyl bench seats that were optional on standard and CC trucks. In addition to Ford seats,there were aftermarket suppliers ( like Bostrom) to Ford who had their own line of bucket seats and suspension seats available to all manufactures. Or who's to say someone bought a used '66 standard cab in summer of '69 and wanted to put buckets in it like his buddies '66 factory Ranger. He could have walked into the Ford Parts Dept. then and order up these parts and installed it himself when these parts were readily available. So it boils down to, is the truck a factory job or a post factory job?

 

OOORAH !!! OR ARMOR