Hey all, please forgive the total newbie questions, but here you go:

(1) It looks like the 1/2-ton Ford pickup was identical for model years 1943 through 1947. Is this correct? And if not, what were the model-year differences?

(2) It seems that, during those same years, Ford made a 1/2 ton truck and a 1 ton truck. Were those the only two sizes?



If there is some sort of resource out there where I could have found the answer to these questions instead of taking up your time, what is it? I looked but couldn't find anything.

Thanks,

-John in OH

 

Hi John, welcome to FTE.

I'm not aware of there being much in the way of resources on these old trucks other than all the fantastic info I've found here on FTE. The guys here are very helpful.
Here are a couple threads regarding the cabs and size that I found in this forum.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...they-make.html

and

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...-question.html

So, do you have an old ford or are you looking to buy one? Inquiring minds.

 

Thanks for the quick response, Carlene. I looked at those two links, but I'm not sure they answer my questions. I do appreciate the extra resources though!

I don't currently own an old Ford, but I'm looking to buy one. I'm planning to sell my 2007 Ford Ranger, and buy a fully-restored old Ford with the proceeds, and have it be my daily driver. Something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1947-...65%3A-1|39%3A1

I just want to make sure I'm getting the right year truck though, you know what I mean? The 1943 - 1947 trucks look identical to me, but if there's a certain model-year I should avoid (i.e. "well, due to the war effort, Ford wasn't able to get such-and-such a metal for the such-and-such year model, so they had to make due with what they could get, but it was never as good, so be sure to avoid that one"), I get the sense that the people on this site are the ones who would know.

So any light anyone can shed on model-year differences and ton-sizes, I'd sure appreciate. Thanks again!

Also, looking on eBay, it seems the most common engine/tranny combo was a V8 with a 3-speed stick on the floor. Was anything else available during the '43 - '47 model years?

 

The production years actually ran from 1942-1947. But there were none produced for the public in 1943 and 44 and production resumed in 1945 in limited amount and continued in full in 1946 and 1947.

Very few trucks were produced in 1942 and they can be identified by the hood. On the side close to the cowl there will be the blue ford emblem, unless of course the hood has been switched. These trucks also had a 95 HP Flathead V8 and transmission depended on truck weight (1/2 Ton and 3/4 Ton I believe had a 3 speed and 1 ton and higher had a 4 speed)

In the limited production of 1945 the trucks came with "Ford" stamped on the side of the hood instead of an emblem. They also came with the 95HP Flathead V8.

In 1946 The engine changed to a 100 HP Flathead V8 also this year is when most of this model truck were produced.

1947 showed little or no changes.

Now the truck sizes go like this. 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton trucks could be purchased in a normal truck size (No duels and smaller wheels) and could come with either a pickup bed, flatbed, stake bed, or panel and some had longer wheelbase but I'm not clear on this.

Now 1 1/2 ton and higher all came with the bigger wheels and duels and sometimes a 2sp rear end. There were also different wheelbase options but I'm not completly sure on what they were. Also since these "heavies" had the larger wheels they had larger front fender cutouts than the trucks with regular sized wheels.


Now body parts like cabs, hoods, grills, doors, and running boards will interchange through all the trucks, the fenders can but thats only if you want the wrong size cutout for the wheel if you switch a heavy with a regular.


Hope this helps. If you have any more questions you can PM me.

 

That pretty well clears it up, thanks very much!

 

Oh, one other thing, what colors did the 1946-1947 models come in? I've been told that it was Henry Ford who said "you can have it any color you want, so long as it's black", but I don't know whether he'd changed his mind by the mid-'40s.

 

And was the 3-speed transmission synchro or non-synchro? What about the 4-speed?

 

The trucks came in a variety of colors. Mine was dark green originaly. But I don't know all the different colors. I think there was a choice of maybe 5 or 6 but don't hold me to it.

I believe both transmissions were synchronized.

 

i'm no expert, but have owned a 51 F-3. It was green, not black dark, but a solid dark green. Red, white, black, blue and I think light blue were available. Sometime in the forties there were trucks that were painted a seafoam or bluish green. Like I said, I'm no expert on the colors, or the specifics.

 

http://www.tcpglobal.com/aclchip.asp...truck-pg01.jpg

This is a link for a paint chip page for Ford commercial 1947 to 1951. there is no listing for 42 to 45 trucks due to WW II. Everything during those years was grey or olive drab green.

 

WOW! Thanks, I thought seafoam. It's sea island green.

My 51 was the darker meadow green however.

 

Hi there, I am picking up a '47 for 1 ton shortly and was wondering if anyone has a total length measurement? Thanks!

 

I have one of the only 1943 Ford 1.5Ton Trucks that I know about. I am the third owner. My truck started life out at a Fire Department in the mountains of North Carolina. It is my understanding that a few "civilian" looking models were allowed to be sold to emergency services in 1943 and mine was one of those. VIN # 99T5252273 It has a flat bed and a 134" wheel base. Original FH V8 and I am guessing original everything else. Runs like a beast. Two speed rear axle. Original owner was the Fire Department, then a guy purchased it from the FD in 1978. I purchased it from him in 2016.

Rare 1943 Ford 1.5 Ton Truck

 

nice looking truck ! you resurrected an old tread.