Which F-series grille do you prefer?

[FirstGenF2]

Do you prefer the "Monkey-faced" 48-50 or the "Manure Grille"/"Picket Grille" 51-52 or the second gen grille 53-56? Also, why did Ford change the styling mid-gen?

[KUDZUVIPER]

Always thought the 51/52 grille looked like a "Knuckle Sandwich" punch in the gut, love that look.

[5851a]

I like the monkey face but prefer the cab to be 51/52.

[DD931]

I have a '48 F-1 and much prefer that version - stainless bars and ivory color background. Sort of an art deco look. The 51/52 is just plain ugly in my opinion!!

[Bill]

Mark me down for the 51/52 series look. Like the bigger back window as well... Bill

[RCS41PU]

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Like 51-52 grille better, but like instruments of 48-50 better.
Richard

[RalphG]

I like them all but if I had to make a choice it would be the 48-49 style front end like my M68 Merc.

[tomkowal]

51-52 is my vote

[TagMan]

I love the '53, which will be my next purchase.

[mercman from oz]

Here are pictures of the different grilles from 1948 to 1953. As you will see, the 51 and 52 are the same, except the positioning of the FORD name changed locations. I haven't added the 54 to 56 grilles, as these models are not included in the Early Ford section of Ford Barn that covers 1932 to 1953. The first grille shown was used for three years, 1948, 1949 and 1950, however, I do not know how to tell the three years apart? In Australia, our local 48 models used the carry over Flathead V8 with the front mounted Distributor, so that feature indicates that it is a 48 model. However, in the USA, all three models got the new 8BA Flathead, albeit one year before the passenger cars. What external features set the 48 to 50 models apart. How can we determine which is which?

[DD931]

The differences among 48, 49 and 50 are subtle, but noticeable. The grill background on a 48 is ivory color. On 49 and 50 it's "Argent" (silver). (Without regard for body color). And, I think 48 is the only year with stainless steel bars. The blue version above would be a 48 if the background color was ivory, not body color, which they never were from the factory.

[lio45]

I like them all, but prefer the '51-'52.

[mercman from oz]

Thanks DD931 for your explanation, I now know what to look out for. While the Number Plate is a giveaway, indication the year, I can see that this 49 Ford F1 does not have the added chrome trim on the grille.

[mercman from oz]

This F1 has the chrome bars, but the background colour is Argent. Is this correct for a 48 F1? The truck seems very original.

[mercman from oz]

Here is a picture of an Australian 1949 Ford Freighter. Ford Australia didn't call them F1, but sold them as Freighter. It was 1955 that Ford Australia adopted the USA term of F100. Notice the position of the parking lights? This is the location that Ford of Canada put them on their Mercury Pickups, which were based on the Ford Pickups. The Lens are the same as the 46 Ford, but the surround was revised for the pickups.In Australia, all three years, 48. 49 and 50 got the chrome trim on the grille. Personally, I think this wider location is much safer, as at night, they give a better indication of the width of the body.

[mercman from oz]

Just to be different, Ford of Canada called their Pickups by a different name. This Canadian import is a 1948 Ford F-47. Ford of Canada used the first two digits of the GVW in the model name. The GVW of the half-ton pickup was 4700 pounds. Thus, the F-47

[FortyNiner]

Originally Posted by DD931

I have a '48 F-1 and much prefer that version - stainless bars and ivory color background. Sort of an art deco look.

While in agreement with the preference for the 48-50 grilles, I do wish to offer that the 48 grille color in the US was actually Tucson Tan. Sun bleached paint often color shifts, so ivory shades could certainly emerge over time. That and each of us 'sees' color sightly differently.

[mercman from oz]

FortyNiner, Thanks for posting this picture from the original 1948 Sales Brochure. You can see that it is Ivory in colour.

[mercman from oz]

Here is a picture of a big heavy duty 1948-1950 Ford in Australia. Notice that the Grille Bars are wider on these models than the regular smaller pickups and trucks. These are the only years that the large trucks got a different Grille than the smaller models. This fact was correct until 1967 when the large Ford trucks got their own distinct Grille. While the 51 and 52 models are similar to these 48-50 models, the same Grille was used on all models, big and small. Don't know what happened to the Parking Lights??

[Jersey Devil]

My vote is for the 51-52 grill

Tom