Like a pair of blue jeans or some broken-in boots, nothing beats the utility of a classic truck. Take the kids out for ice cream while hauling your wife’s new thrift project, or throw in the fishing poles and an ice chest for a quick decompress without worrying about chipping the paint on your street rod. That’s the beauty in driving one of these rigs. Up for sale here on Craigslist is a 1963 Ford F100 that fits this mold perfectly. This truck, described as a running and driving model, has a price tag of only $3,200, with loads of charm and patina. Located near Portland, OR, this rig is ready for more decades of service. Thank you to Curvette for sending this tip in!
The fourth generation of Ford’s F-series is one of the most interesting (or hilarious, if you’re not a fan of the Blue Oval) offerings from Dearborn. The Ford designers and engineers had the idea to introduce a unibody truck in 1961 for their full-size trucks, and while the design was striking, the utility fell short. Put a heavy load in the bed of one of these trucks, and suddenly the doors don’t open. Whoops! Their solution for this was to close off the cab and use the beds from the 3rd-gen Fords, thus rendering the “wrongbed” models. Ford did everything they could to cover up the mismatch until they could produce matching beds, and the trucks still sold despite the ugly duckling look.
This wrongbed appears to be a great example of this infamous model. Having a V8 and a 4-speed manual transmission helps make this truck even more desirable. However, it appears that this truck will need some work to become more reliable. The listing mentions a leaking rear main and the carburetor needing a rebuild, but states that it does run and drive. The listing also mentions “typical rust spots” but doesn’t show these spots. However, the patina is so cool on this truck that it would be a shame to correct it.
So what’s your take on Ford’s wrongbeds? Do they repel you, or do you think they are worthy artifacts of a factory mistake? I remember the old mall days, walking into an Old Navy, and seeing their patina’d Chevy trucks. I thought they really struck a marketing chord, sitting in the middle of their stores. They told the story that you were purchasing clothing that was rugged and would add to your story, just like the patina on the old American work rigs that filled their stores. Driving an old truck with this kind of patina lends the same feeling. These vehicles have their scars and show them, which makes them unique, just like all of us. And that’s where the real value in our old cars lies.
“Wrongbeds”. So Ford made a Studebaker Champ move! Learned something new today-thank you, Dusty.
If this is as good as it looks in the photos it’ll be a steal to anyone in search of one.
I’m with Nevadahalfrack on this one. I never heard the term “Wrongbed” before either. Thats funny. I always learn something new on here pretty much every day. Great write up Dusty, and a great find too Curvette. I agree with you too, this is one you can just hop in and not worry about scratching the bed.
1st) I’m a Ford Guy (there is no known cure)
2) These trucks are an embarrassment.
My family has owned 4 Ford pickups with the integral bed. Never had any trouble with any of them as far as doors latching etc.
The fact that Ford literally took years to produce a suitable bed for their pickups is ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as all the people who lined up to buy the mismatched contraptions. Wrongbed indeed.
The one piece pickups were maybe O.K. in California and other states, but in Montana where they hauled 50 bales of hay on the back of a pickup down gravel roads, they cracked right up the side of the cab.
I worked for Ford dealership in 1977 and we were moving to a new location. We took most of the old body shop and new parts that never sold to the scrap pile. We had a brand new quarter panel for the 1961, 62? Ford unibody pickups in the basement. I never paid attention to those pickups (I was actually a Chevy fan) and when I asked what the heck it was for the parts man said for the unibody pickups. I said you mean a Ranchero?? He said no you dummy, the one piece pickups! They cracked off the cabs real bad and they kept new panels back in the day to fix them. That NOS panel went in the scrap along with tons of other parts.
Good job on the wrong bed story. I love my ford trucks. I’ve got a Ranger Stepside, Dads old F150, and a 97 F350 CREW and my motorhome is on an E450 chassis but those Wrongbeds are the most hideously ugly truck I’ve ever seen. When I was a kid I wondered why there were so many early 60’s ford trucks with junkyard beds on them.
Not many pics, I’m assuming that’s a 4spd truck trany w/compound low? I’d give $3200, but I’m overrun with trucks already.
Thank You!! I have never heard the term “wrongbed” before. I have also heard that these unibody trucks, when loaded and you went thru a lowspot at an angle the body twist would crack windshields.. The write up does not say what engine?? But by the hood emblem I would say it is the 223 inline 6?? This truck will make someone a great weekend workhorse as well as a conversation starter at a show or C&C.. You will have to repeat the “wrongbed” history lesson many times!!!