With ghosted lettering from a moving and/or storage and/or transfer company still somewhat visible, this 1949 Ford F-6 would be an interesting way to advertise your business. I don’t know if it would be too practical to actually use as it was once used, but who knows. The seller has this big box hauler listed here on craigslist in San Tan Valley, Arizona. They’re asking $3,800.
We’ve looked at a few trucks similar to this Ford F-6 in the past, horse haulers and general hauling-duty trucks and they’re always interesting. Or, they are for me, I’ve been living in the past for decades now. I always wonder what it would be like to convert a truck like this into a camper but it usually comes up how rough a 2-ton truck rides and the mileage and no power steering or power brakes, etc. I really don’t know what a person would use this truck for in 2020.
The Ford F-Series debuted in late-1947 for the 1948 model year and they’re still being made today, of course. In fact, last year Ford sold over 900,000 F-series pickups. That’s almost one million pickups, ONE MILLION. I wonder how many of them had four doors and how many of those were used mainly for commuting rather than actually hauling anything in the back? Somewhere out there in internet-land there’s a sa’tistic for that.
As expected, the interior would look good if it had a decent seat cover, but that’s the least of your worries on a restoration like this one. Rust is usually the biggest worry, but this truck looks solid and the seller added a close-up of the driver’s side floor and it looks solid. The cargo area looks like it’s ready for your custom ideas and I’m fairly sure that I could fit a Subaru 360 in there and a half-dozen oddball motorcycles and would have enough room to sleep in the cabover area.
In decoding the VIN and before looking at the engine photos, I was pretty confident that this would be Ford’s “big” 254 six, but the seller lists it as a 239 flathead V8. From what I saw on Ford F-6 forums, the “8M” portion (2nd and 3rd character) of the VIN = the big-6, the 254, but I guess either they’re wrong or something else is going on. The 3rd character being an “M” should make it a 254-six and a 239 V8 should have an “R” in the 3rd spot. Anyone? In any case, there is clearly a flathead V8 in there now and there’s no word on if it runs or not, so we’re guessing not. Would any of you have a use for a big Ford F-6 like this one?
“….there’s no word on if it runs or not…”
Good one, Scotty! Fun to read a nudge, nudge, wink, wink comment like that.
This engine has not run in at least 3 decades, I’d guess. Maybe 4. I can guarantee that it is locked solid.
So what to do with the truck? Could be a cool big billboard for a trucking or moving business, but no need to consider a stock-style restoration. Make it motivate by going with a Powerstroke and transmission out of a recent F350. Heck, even snag the dually rear axle. Guarantee they’re tougher than what was in this when it was built. Modify/replace the suspension and brakes to suit, put in a comfortable interior and modern dash…
As long as motivation, braking, and creature comforts are addressed, the weathered outside might do well as is. The box has unlimited options, whether tailgate oriented, or camper-style. Or as a hauler for track toys, as long as they aren’t too big. I can’t tell how far off the ground that deck is.
The box would make a great tool shed, and it’s long enough to accept a modern rolloff or flatbed. In that case, I’d update the heck out of it, better yet, put the cab on a modern chassis and be done with it. I bet this was a welcome slow ride for the tired movers in no hurry to get to the destination.
This is the getaway truck from a bad early 50s film noir. Drive the Nash into the back and thwart the cops in their shoebox fords!
Yeah sorta like Mighty Joe Young.
Options are abundant; practicality is nearly non-existent.
God bless America
Engines of the era often got replaced and not always with the same as what came out. A commercial rig like this could rack up more miles than the original 6 could take, and/or the they decided the a V8 upgrade was in order.
It goes to show that VIN decoding is good for what came in there, but not always for what is in there now.
Like’ was mentioned – most likely not the original motor – looks like the famous “tea pot ” carb found mostly on Mercury motors. Thought thos might have a big Lincoln flat head as they were available in the big trucks.
That service body is well made – is it a Superior ? That emblem at the top corner ?
Reto camper with all new running gear ? I like it………
Looks like the body was made by Kentucky. They mostly made van bodies and semi trailers for moving companies.
What’s the red wing logo on the top front of the box? An early Great Dane emblem maybe?
That backdraft carburetor was used on 255 Mercury and 337 flatheads that were used in Ford trucks and 49 to 51 Lincolns. The radiators used with the 337s were highly coveted by dirt track racers of the era……….. hmmmmm I wonder
I was supposed to move to the Salt Lake area in June. But due to COVID, that’s on hold. This rig describes my situation, in a picture …
Pretty sure this is the 331. I replaced a burnt valve in one when I was in high school. Traded the work for a front clip for my 46 Ford coupe. That was a long time ago but I’ll stick with 331.
Very interesting, the engine situation. I’ve seen ONE 254 engine in my life and it was on an irrigation pump. I heard of it being available in trucks but I never saw one. All the F6s out west were powered by flathead V8s. This one looks like it came out of a (’49-’51) Mercury car (carburetor gives it away) so it would be a 255. The 255 was a factory engine option for the F6 from ’49 onward, and the vast majority of farm trucks had them…
Great comments as always, geomechs. 2 speed rear makes all the difference. I have always driven stick, and taught my self to drive the 2 speed rear. Loved splitting the five speed and shifting 10 times!!
Ahhh the good old days, stay safe
Cheers
GPC
Great write up!! Great find!! Not much more to add that hasn’t been said!! Hope the thick finds a new home!!!
Single speed axle–can u imagine trying to get from a to B with a load of household stuff? Plus trying to stop it, not sure if there is an air brake compressor???Sure Is neat–make an old race car transport with a modern running gear. Good luck and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
Hi GPC, well, you have to remember, long distance moving was almost unheard of in the 40’s and 50’s. Most moves were in the city, and 2 speeds weren’t needed. Besides, generally, household goods are light loads.
I remember when my folks moved back from the coast (1992) they rented a U-Haul truck that was a Chevy C60 that was powered (surprisingly) with a 366 and a five-speed manual. I went out to drive the truck back. That was quite a trip, about 800 miles at 50 mph. It must have been geared for stump-pulling because it was wound right out at 55. Where’s a 2-speed when you need it? But come to think about it, how many drivers could actually drive a 2-speed? Move ahead 28 years and wonder how many could actually drive a manual?
Rebody an F-350 diesel dually with this, and it would make a great enclosed car hauler. That was actually my plan with a 51 F-5 that I owned, before it got towed off my property in the middle of the night and stolen.
F350? I don’t think there’s quite enough chassis there. If I was to follow that route I’d try to source out a F550. You could actually load it to capacity and it would still ride fairly decent.
My first dump truck was a C-60 Chevy with a 327 out of a wrecked corvette with a two speed axle!! It was a dog and used tons of fuel!! The second one was a F-600 with a Detroit diesel no turbo with a two speed axle!! Much better on fuel plenty of torque but took forever to get up to speed!! It was ok back then cause we didn’t know any better but not competitive in today’s world!!!
Needs some work! Covert to a camper?
Meant to mention the faded “LYON” lettering, could be that was a top layer which baked off in the sun
There are more than one Lyon moving and storage; in a one-minute search I did not see any which might have matched.
Another concept popped in my head, using the truck to haul antiques or flea market goodies Drive your antique to sell antiques. Like that! (after the upgrades, of course.
Great comments, folks! I knew you guys would add in a ton of great details. The LYON letting is something that I wondered about, thanks for pointing that out, DDB.
As a Salt Lake City native, I’m puzzled by this. The address is given as 5612 Mission Blvd. There has never been a Mission Blvd. in Salt Lake to my knowledge.
Better bring a set of tires with you if you expect to roll this any great distance. That one rear tire (duals?) is in shreds. A similar Ford to this sat in the front pasture of a local horse farm most of last year, for sale, until the owner realized it might sell better if it started, ran, stopped and had the entire box redone as a micro-home. But…..still for sale!
Food truck?
To those that have never seen or heard of a M-series (254 cu in) engine, they run circles around a 239 flattie. And yeah, that’s a 331 Lincoln under the hood, you can tell by the heads.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac35iIxLhTw