History '46 & '47 Ford trucks, They never will be the Belle of the Ball

But there is something I like about them, the term ugly duckling is sometimes over used but these old pickups have never been considered to be Fords best looking effort, I know 2 guys that have bought this style truck and replaced the front sheet metal with that of a 40/41 Ford pickup.

Personally, I like the odd ball look of these trucks,especially when they have been left alone or slightly modified, there is just something about their utilitarian unassuming appearance.

Fell free to post your photo's of the '46- '47 Ford trucks. HRP

 

I dig them.

 

Like any car/truck, they can be made to look right with the correct mods. It just takes a little more effort and forethought, but these and the Chevys/GMCs of the same yrs. can be sweet little haulers.

 

duplicate thread

 

you are right. Even when I was a kid, I could tell that they are ugly

 

Thought my barrel nosed ‘39 was the ugly duckling, but is downright classy next to a jailbar. Then again, I like them all, ugly ducklings or not.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

...here's one I sold awhile back, ...

 

Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

It's been awhile since I've seen one there cool!

 

i have a '46. it was a flatbed and i took the cab and front end and put it on a big box truck frame and put a 460 in it. i had to narrow the frame where the cab sat. one of these days i am going to get back on it and get it running. i think i am about to pull the box off and put it on a motor home chassis i got and make the '46 a flatbed again. a big one, 20 feet long. it will make going and buying metal tubing easier.

 

I had a rough one I parted out. Did Dodge sell more trucks 46-47, they looks a lot nicer IMO. Bob

 

After you pointed that out I contacted a moderator and ask could the two be combined and he said he didn't know how to accomplish that unfortunately they both have a lot of responses and all he could do was delete one of the threads, I opted to let them run separately.

I Administrate a small site, '54 Ford club of America and I have a option to do that but as big as the Hamb is it may just be impossible with all the traffic.. HRP

 

..be neat to have a 46-7 Ford/Dodge/Chevy truck thread...those are the trucks in Limbo...or were...I like em all...

 

Don't forget Ford's Canadian sister the Mercury truck.

 

In the early 60's Hot Rod had an article on a black one from San Diego.

 

They are actually 1942-1947. I've had a bunch of them. Neat trucks

 

That's quite the grille!

 

Thanks Chris. HRP

 

Here’s some of the ones I’ve owned over the years

 

I also like the jailbar or water fall grille. Same truck from 42 to 47. Those first post-WW2 trucks were... interesting. Dodge and Chevy were basically carry over from before the war. Chevy beat the others to market with a new design in mid 47.

 

It seems Ford on these trucks went the way of Dodge and the rest with that sheet metal front jail bar face. Canadian Mercury pickups looked a little better.
Have to admit, it took me awhile but when a friend of mine brought one home and I got to drive it.......I now like and appreciate them for what they are.

 

Chris, I remember that one and thought I had saved a photo but I couldn't find it, your truck helped me appreciate the simplicity of the truck. HRP

 

Now that's a head turner. HRP

 

Those trucks seem to have gotten 'beat up' worse than other models! Worked harder, and taken for granted. 'Just an old Ford truck'...
@2935ford has shown an unusual example. Very sharp when restored.
Almost 'pretty', in a New York tough street kid with a Big Apple Newsboy cap kind of way...

 

Yes, it was well taken care of. Put some funds into tires, hub caps, trans work, carb rebuild then sold it. It was for sale again recently. Asking a big number.

 

Taken this weekend at the venue for our daughters wedding. It was a working farm truck 25 years ago but has been put out to “pasture “

Cliff Ramsdell

 

True there, there a lot of them running around this area as work trucks on farms for a lot of years. Still several pretty decent 1 ton and bigger ones floating around that you see hauling a load of something every once in a while.
A buddy had a half ton years ago that was lowered in the front by putting the axle on top of the springs that was a lot of fun. We had a running contest on who's front bumper was lower in those days. My bumper used to be several inches lower than it is in the avatar.

 

Hard to believe Ford went from the beautiful 40-41 to these ugly ducklings! I have never liked the fender/headlight treatment on these, the fenders look like last minute add ons. They made up for it with the introduction of the 48 models, a much more pleasing design in my eye. Then they goofed it up a few years later with the bulldog tooth grille, but that's another story.....

 

Here’s a couple of shots of one I restored for a customer about ten years ago.

When I started the job I kinda felt like I wished it was a 40 and not an ugly duckling BUT by the time I finished it I was sad to see it go. Now when I see one I always have to take a second look and I actually like the way they look.