The Ford Barn

28-31 · 07-18-2014, 07:38 PM

Hello All:

I frequent the Model A forum, but I'm in need of some help from the late '30s/'40s crowd.

I recently acquired an OT farm truck (1947 Dodge 1.5-Ton) from my wife's family that has a Ford Script flatbed on it.

I've attached a few photos of the bed. It's a stake-side that measures approximately 145.5-inches long by 87.5-inches wide.

The ford script appears on the back (as seen in one of the photos).

Are these beds a factory Ford part? ...or aftermarket?

Any way to determine the precise year of manufacture and application for my bed?

Any idea on value?

Is there a dedicated forum for Ford trucks of this era?

Thanks in advance!

-Jeff
Northeast Ohio

Ross F-1 · 07-18-2014, 07:57 PM

The '48 - '56 forum on Ford Truck Enthusiasts (www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum41 ) has a lot of big-truck guys who drool over script beds. I'm not the expert but it appears to be a genny script bed. Here's a pic of a friend's '49 F-4 with one.

Barry-ct · 07-18-2014, 08:07 PM

Yes, that's a factory made bed.

alanwoodieman · 07-19-2014, 07:48 AM

yep Ford bed and yes Ford did build beds all the way until the late sixties, year? really hard to tell exactly because they were very little to no differences as to years. My 51 scrip bed looks just like yours--they were made in various lengths 6-8-10-12', supossedly after 49/50 the script would be block letters, but lots of leftover rear cross members with the script writing were used up to the sixties

49fordv8f4 · 07-19-2014, 10:32 AM

The Ford script bed was used until about '57-'58 when they went to the block letter style. My '49 f4 has a 9' script bed. The 9' foot beds were used on the 134" wheelbase trucks and the 12' beds on the 157" wheelbase trucks. You bed would be correct for a 157" wheelbase Ford from the late 30's to about 1956.
Your bed looks very restorable and looks like you also have the stakes, which are usually missing and can be hard to come by. My back panel was damaged so badly I had to replace it. Yours looks very straight.
Mark

alanwoodieman · 07-19-2014, 05:40 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

a few pictures of my bed restoration, mine appears to be a little worse for wear than yours

28-31 · 07-19-2014, 07:18 PM

Thanks to all!

If anyone knows anything else, please keep the info coming.

This bed is almost certainly going to get pulled off this truck and sold (we're putting a large stock-appearance oversize pick-up bed on the Dodge).

I'd like to learn all I can about the Ford script flatbed in order to make sure it goes to someone who will use it on an era-correct Ford...where it belongs!

Thanks,

-Jeff

hotrod1940 · 07-19-2014, 08:43 PM

My 51 was called a produce special and was a model available from Ford.

alanwoodieman · 07-20-2014, 08:20 AM

pictures of my 122" 3/4 ton bed

07-18-2014, 08:07 PM	#3
Barry-ct Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Newington, Connecticut Posts: 1,374	Re: Ford Script Flatbed (the actual bed) - ID Needed Yes, that's a factory made bed. __________________ Barry 50 F-1

07-19-2014, 07:48 AM	#4
alanwoodieman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: upstate SC Posts: 2,965	Re: Ford Script Flatbed (the actual bed) - ID Needed yep Ford bed and yes Ford did build beds all the way until the late sixties, year? really hard to tell exactly because they were very little to no differences as to years. My 51 scrip bed looks just like yours--they were made in various lengths 6-8-10-12', supossedly after 49/50 the script would be block letters, but lots of leftover rear cross members with the script writing were used up to the sixties

07-19-2014, 10:32 AM	#5
49fordv8f4 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Yellville,AR Posts: 222	Re: Ford Script Flatbed (the actual bed) - ID Needed The Ford script bed was used until about '57-'58 when they went to the block letter style. My '49 f4 has a 9' script bed. The 9' foot beds were used on the 134" wheelbase trucks and the 12' beds on the 157" wheelbase trucks. You bed would be correct for a 157" wheelbase Ford from the late 30's to about 1956. Your bed looks very restorable and looks like you also have the stakes, which are usually missing and can be hard to come by. My back panel was damaged so badly I had to replace it. Yours looks very straight. Mark Last edited by 49fordv8f4; 07-19-2014 at 10:38 AM.

07-19-2014, 05:40 PM	#6
alanwoodieman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: upstate SC Posts: 2,965	Re: Ford Script Flatbed (the actual bed) - ID Needed Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) a few pictures of my bed restoration, mine appears to be a little worse for wear than yours Last edited by alanwoodieman; 10-20-2014 at 05:02 PM.

07-19-2014, 07:18 PM	#7
28-31 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 93	Re: Ford Script Flatbed (the actual bed) - ID Needed Thanks to all! If anyone knows anything else, please keep the info coming. This bed is almost certainly going to get pulled off this truck and sold (we're putting a large stock-appearance oversize pick-up bed on the Dodge). I'd like to learn all I can about the Ford script flatbed in order to make sure it goes to someone who will use it on an era-correct Ford...where it belongs! Thanks, -Jeff

07-19-2014, 08:43 PM	#8
hotrod1940 Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 13	Re: Ford Script Flatbed (the actual bed) - ID Needed My 51 was called a produce special and was a model available from Ford.

07-20-2014, 08:20 AM	#9
alanwoodieman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: upstate SC Posts: 2,965	Re: Ford Script Flatbed (the actual bed) - ID Needed pictures of my 122" 3/4 ton bed Last edited by alanwoodieman; 10-20-2014 at 05:02 PM.