production dates - kenny, barry, et al
 

I didn't want to hi-jack the other thread so here goes.

How early did Ford go to a fall delivery schedule for the new model year?

I know the '48 F1's debuted in dealer showrooms Jan 16, '48. Was a normal calendar year used then or was that a fluke, mid-year event like the Mustangs of 64/5?

When did sales promotions push new models into the late summer/fall?

Thanks guys!

Hi Tim, :-wink
Not sure on pre-1957 trucks, but I did find this in Paul G. McLaughlin's book "Ford Trucks 1957-67"..............

"There was a world of difference between the Ford trucks that were produced during the extended 1956 model year, and those that debuted on February 1, 1957."

If I'm reading this correctly, the 1956 model year ran one month into 1957 most likely due to the major style change.

Sorry I can't help you beyond that. :(

I have some copies from the "Salesman's Handbook" for the F1.
An original page has the date of 3-25-48
There is an update of 2-21-49
Also 7-1-49 (on a pricing sheet)
There is an update of 2-1-50

The original issue with major updates near the beginning of the year would seem to indicate an introduction of the vehicles also at the beginning of the year.

Great Question... one I thought about for a while. My Grandpa bought my '54 December 24, 1954. Was this a close out deal? When did the '55's come out? Also, the history says the '54 engines were built at the Rouge Plant in Dearborn but "Halfway through the production year they were built at the Cleveland Plant." My engine date code is late May (if memory serves correct). I think I can see the Cleveland mark on the block, but was wondering when they made the switch?

Ford started thier model year in Sept. The 48 trucks were introduced late. Production was started on most model years in July-August. It's a gray area and varied from year to year. But the intro was usually in Sept. The Mustang ran into production problems and also was done to stump the competition. I had a 1975 Ford truck delivered to me on August 10th, 1974 and it was titled a 1975. When I worked for the dealers, we'd get cars and trucks 4-6 weeks before the intro date. They even extended production to fatten up the sales figures. It is all a game to be first.

Barry

50 F-1

Thanks for the input! Always figured it had to be sales that kept edging ahead 'cause production hates to be rushed.

I'd like to push the question a bit farther if I can - was the Sept model year used as far back as A's and T's? Or did it start when Ford got behind in the late 20's/early 30's?

Again, thanks!

It seems that the model year start/end dates may have also depended on location. My '51 F-2 (F2H1SP24002) has a production code 5L577 where the 5L means (I am told) 5 November of 1951. It's a '51 mostly: hood front, 7HA (flathead 6), etc. But some wheel & suspension parts are '52, not '51, and there's no indication that the front end was ever swapped out.

BTW, if anyone knows what the "577" in the production code means, I'd appreciate knowing. It may have to do with options. for example, the truck has factory original electric wipers.

Tony

Didnt both the 28A and the 32 come out well after Jan 1?

I think Tim is leading up to a comment I made about the 59A and 8BA both being in 48 trucks.
But then you get into the semantics of model year, build year and title year.
We have a 48 firetruck in town with a 59A for instance. Been here since it was delivered.

Yeah, Carl. Your note made me curious. I know Ford used up supplies of parts that were laying around before going to new, so there are many cross-over examples out there.

The flathead V8 came out March 31, 1932 or thereabouts if I remember right. Did the model year start then or did the '32 models begin in Sept as 4 cyl B's and include the 8s when they were ready? I'm totally ignorant of A/T production trivia (beyond the years they were produced).