When Ford introduced the F-Series line of trucks in 1948, they were founding an institution that has shown no signs of letting up. Of course, the King Ranch you can buy off the lot today has little in common with this F-5 flatbed from 1948, but the fact that one basic nameplate stemmed from this truck has a certain “home team” appeal that is pretty much irresistible. Barn Finds reader Mike F. sent us this well-worn but solid old truck from here on craigslist in Lakewood, Colorado. The seller is asking $5,000, but the fact that it’s been posted for over three weeks might help a potential owner in their negotiations.
If one needed any proof that the internet shows you what it thinks you want to see, I’ve been seeing a lot of “medium-duty” trucks from the 1940s through the 1980s on my Marketplace feed lately. There are a lot of them for sale, but this is one of the heavy hitters—just about everybody likes a Ford truck from the flathead era. Ford’s sales materials called it the “Rouge 239 Truck V-8” for 1948, and the seller includes a picture of the cylinder head; this truck has the new 8BA version of the flathead, which was the last iteration of that long-running engine. It produced 100 horsepower for 1948, and Ford gave the 239 some internal improvements to the cooling system, among other things, over previous generations.
It was enough to propel the F-5 to a top speed of 58 miles per hour with a full load and a 6.67:1 axle ratio, which meant a road speed of “46 m.p.h. loaded on level surface highways—over 51 m.p.h. light.” That’s not fast enough for today’s superhighways, but it would be a fun rural cruiser.
The interior of this example will certainly need some work, but the best thing about interior work on a working truck from the 1940s is the fact that it includes a seat cover and little more, maybe a little foam. The transmission is a four-speed manual with sliding gears, so you’ll get to practice your double-clutching should you decide to pick up this rugged rig.
The seller includes that word that some Barn Finders despise—patina—but that’s not a bad thing, and the implication is that the faded red paint is original. The good news is that the flathead runs; the bad news is that the truck has split rims. If you can find some workable replacements and do a little woodwork in the bed, however, you could have a fun truck in which to putter around the two-lanes. Then, your Marketplace feed will be nothing but medium-duty trucks…and there are worse things.
Nice fan shroud, – idling remark.
First 3 on the tree i ever drove was a 50 Ford flatbed like this. A friend of my dad bought it near my SC coast home and was too drunk to drive it back to Alabama.
I was 13 almost and was a gamer. Had to stand up most of the night fighting a dead spot in the steering about half a turn worth. Made it to his place by morning and was exhausted.
A few years later according to the coroner report he forgot to set the parking brake before locking his fence and that Ford rolled back pinning him till he suffocated.
I’ll probably be lambasted, threatened with 50 lashes from a busted fan belt and disowned by the “keep it original!” cadre but were this a truck coming to my garage I’d immediately change out the split rims, having seen the horrific results of their physics when they get sideways..
Other than that clean up the interior, buff the paint and make sure it’s safe then go tool about with a smile!
Good find Mike F and good automotive history lesson, Aaron, hitting the high points solid.
I’m with ya! Shouldn’t be too hard to find newer rims with that 5 bolt pattern as opposed to the 6 or 8 bolt rims on some trucks of this era. Cheap saddleblanket seat cover, check the brakes and go!
And on your cruise, you should be perfectly content to motor along at 30-40 mph. On rural two-lanes; the more rural, the better (you don’t want to get in the way of modern traffic.). On a pretty day, window down, with your arm on the window sill. If you see a farmer outside his barn, pull in. You would have a fun conversation.
I don’t think all 3 of us will fit in that cab!
It’s hard to say how many you can fit in that cab. Looking at me and my friends from today’s viewpoint, two of us could fit in the cab without any trouble except they somehow moved the steering wheel back toward the seat at least two inches. I remember back in my high school days when we fit 5 people, 2 guys and 3 girls in the cab of my ’47 Ford pickup. And I somehow managed to shift gears without getting slapped…
I cut my manual transmission “teeth” on a ’49 F-3. That Warner T-9 “Crashbox” was a challenge but mastering it was worth the effort. One thing about a flathead V8 and a T-9, you heard it coming a mile away. I often wondered why a T-9 whined more behind a V8 than it did behind a six. So many truck builders used that transmission but the Ford V8 was the one that really let the world know where it was.
Even with a moody engine like a flathead V8, a truck like this would be good to have on an acreage. Haul stuff and even take that vintage tractor to the annual thresher show. I don’t think there would be many days when you weren’t using it. I sure wouldn’t turn one down.
The 8BA engine may have originated in a 49-51 car, but no issue. That was a common switch. The 49 car had the same wide pulleys as for trucks and later V-8 pulleys for cars were narrower. I think the truck engine heads starting in 48 were 8RT. A 48 car had the earlier style heads with water inlet in center top and 59 AB I believe. A 52 and 53 V8 car had EAB. Mercurys were 8CM starting in 49.
Had a 49 Chevy with split rims, never had a problem. Just bring the wheels to a tire shop that does horse trailers and farm equipment. In Florida, there are plenty where I’m located.
Jerry, you are confusing split rims with snap ring tube type tire rims. This truck has the 5 degree Firestone rims which separate in the middle of the low spot and are the true “Widow Makers”.. The rims you are speaking of the outside bead is held in place with a snap ring which if worked on carefully are very safe.
Yes Brocky, it’s the bead ring that’s removed, or lock ring. Split rims are exactly what you explained, sorry!
A red truck with a spot light!! I am willing to bet that it was originally a fire truck chassis with possible low mileage?? Depending on what shape the present tires are in and what you plan to use it for the rims should be changed.. Remember bias tires do not weather as bad a radials. There are RV’s with the same bolt pattern. This truck will make some one a great entry level vehicle into the Antique / Historical truck hobby. Little rust and a wood body easy to work on. Aaron does not say if the flatbed has a hoist under it?? But either way it would be a very handy truck for a hobby farmer as well as being an eye catcher as the Picture of the green one GEO posted is.
I have a 52 F6 cabover with the 5 bolt rims. I found tubeless 19.5 wheels on a 70ish Winabego that fit good. Wish I had scored the axles, they had disc brakes.