The rarest Ford hubcap in existence

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by nospartsman

I think I might have caused some confusion in the photos of post #18 which shows a 40 DLX cap for size comparison as is stated in the text. The cap on the left of that photo is the 40-41 Tonner hubcap. I knew that the cap of post #1 was 1942 3/4 ton, where my knowledge was week or wrong, is when the 3/4 was introduced.
Some Ford literature I have shows the 1940 3/4 ton with the same cap as a 1939 Standard hubcap. 1941 as Wooieman pointed out is when the cap of post #1 was introduced for 3/4 ton and I assume carried through to 1947 3/4 ton truck using the 1936-39 wheel bolt pattern and hubcap attachment, but I think they were split rims.
Where are the 1941-1947 3/4 ton Fordbarn owners?
Allanwoodieman and Ken of Alabama win the 1932-48 rear axle seals, both are correct. PM your addresses and I'll send them to you.

Partsman, this was a pretty neat thread that challenged us to do a little thinking and some research. If you have any other rare items similar to this one that may stump us like this, please do another post.

[funrunr]

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

Partsman, this was a pretty neat thread that challenged us to do a little thinking and some rmesearch. If you have any other rare items similar to this onethat may stump us like this, please do another past.

I agree with John, I read every reply and learned something along the way.
Please feel free to start another.
BTW; do you have any of these hubcaps pictured below you would like to sell?

[49fordv8f4]

I believe the wide 5 pattern on the 3/4 ton trucks stopped in '41. The '42 3/4 ton had the same bolt pattern as the tonner except it used 1/2" lug bolts instead of 3/4" bolts as in the tonner. I have seen at least 1 '42-'47 3/4 ton and it did not have the wide 5 pattern and I as I interpret the parts book, it bears this out. So, this hub cap would be for a '41 3/4 ton or earlier. This has been an enjoyable thread.

[Bob C]

The green parts book shows the same 3/4 ton wheel 39-47.

Bob

[rockfla]

At 35FordTN
You are correct in that BOTH Ford/Mercury Hub caps are very "rare" if you will BUT with in this strata......We have seen three sets of the Ford/Mercury cap in the center of MercManfromOz's picture (small Diameter cap)...one set we passed on buying back in 1975 in Atlanta at a Early Ford V8 Meet, one set that wasn't for sale and the third set on our 39 Mercury Town Sedan. There is also one on display in the EFV8 Foundation Museum. The "FULL" SS Ford/Mercury caps that MercmanfromOz posted are the rarest of the rare...we have only seen two sets. MercmanfromOZ's and one other set. I'll still contend on this thread they are the "Rarest Ford Cap"!!!

[47 flatbed]

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My 39 3/4 ton truck has the wide 5. I have no idea on hub cap mine has none.

[49fordv8f4]

Bob C, You are correct, the wide 5 wheel WAS used on the '39-'47 3/4 ton. I'm not sure now how I arrived at my assumption. I did see a 3/4 ton with a small pattern, I guess the axles had been changed. Thanks for the correction, I learned something new today.
Mark

[Marvin/TN]

Very well could be. I removed it from a customers 36 Ford. I also have 3 36 Ford hub caps off the same car. A couple of them are pretty good shape.

[nospartsman]

My lawyer said I can continue to call the 3/4 ton caps the rarest because I didn't mention Mercury or Lincoln.
Here is why I came to the conclusion that the 3/4 ton hubcaps are so rare. I have here 29 1940 and 1941-47 one ton hubcaps, 7 of which are NOS. If the 3/4 ton cap was easy or even difficult to find I would have more than two. The small hubcap in the foreground center of the photo is a 40 DLX for size comparison.
Where are the Fordbarn owners of 3/4 ton pickups? Can someone give production numbers from 1939 to 1947 3/4 ton year by year? I now remember having my hands on one 39 3/4 ton in a junk yard, the scrap man bought it at the auction.

[nospartsman]

Originally Posted by 47 flatbed

My 39 3/4 ton truck has the wide 5. I have no idea on hub cap mine has none.

According to Ford literature the hubcap for a 1939 3/4 ton would be the same hubcap as 1939 Standard car, same for 1940 3/4 ton truck. 1941 thru 1947 3/4 ton would take the cap shown in post #1. One ton trucks 1941-47 take the cap shown in post 69 with Ford script, one of the NOS Ford script caps has a part tag with 11Y prefix.

[mercman from oz]

NOSPARTSMAN, that is a fantastic collection of these Tonner Hubcaps.

[Fordors]

Here are figures from Lorin Sorensen's "The Commercial Fords" on the 3/4 T pickups-

1939 3,817
1940 3,002
1941 through 1946- Production records incomplete
1947 29,343 produced, but Sorensen notes that for '46-'47 only the 1 T truck was offered, no 3/4 T.

In addition, the 3/4 and 1 T trucks were known as Express trucks, built on a 122" WB chassis.

[GB SISSON]

Holy Cow nospartsman!!! Why didn't you show those before Christmas? I need some so expect a pm. Holy freakin cow..... Oh wait I should curb my enthusiasm before you tell me the price.

[47 flatbed]

Do the figures break down the number of flatbreads vs pickups for 39

[Fordors]

Originally Posted by 47 flatbed

Do the figures break down the number of flatbreads vs pickups for 39

Looking at your avatar I think you have a 112" WB Platform truck. The book mentions no production figures available for 1938-'39 models. Sorry.

[nospartsman]

Mercman from OZ, The collection of one ton caps is the reason I went out on a limb and called the 1941-47 3/4 ton Ford script cap the rarest. I didn't include Lincoln and Mercury. If I can find the tonnner caps, which aren't too plentiful, but I never see any of the Ford script 1941-47 3/4 ton caps they must be scarce. It's begining to make sense with Fordors helpful production figures.
Every year at Hershey I will see one or two of the accessory 1939 Mercury large hubaps (might be the same vendors every year). Some of my die-hard 39/40 Mercury friends have one or two of the 39 Merc accessory large caps hanging on their shop wall. The last complete set of 39 Merc accessory caps, that I saw, was offered at a regional V8 meet by Duane Hammond several years ago. I do agree with you that the rarest Mercury cap is the 39 Ford/Mercury accessory large cap. The Lincoln large accessory cap on the left is also pretty scarce.

[47 flatbed]

Ya my avatar is a one ton 47. I have a 39 also along with a 41 commercial 1/2 ton pu

[nospartsman]

Originally Posted by Fordors

Here are figures from Lorin Sorensen's "The Commercial Fords" on the 3/4 T pickups-

1939 3,817
1940 3,002
1941 through 1946- Production records incomplete
1947 29,343 produced, but Sorensen notes that for '46-'47 only the 1 T truck was offered, no 3/4 T.

In addition, the 3/4 and 1 T trucks were known as Express trucks, built on a 122" WB chassis.

Thank You for your helpful data. This helps explain the mystery why I can't find any 1941-47 Ford Script 3/4 ton hubcaps. The production numbers for 1941 could be 3,000 or lower and 1942 a lot less, production ending in February and in 1946 47 why make a vehicle that was so near a duplicate to the tonner. The manufacturers were in control with demand exceeding supply, sell them the more expensive one. (my speculation) And yet there could have been 12,000 plus hubcaps made, the caps had a better chance to survive than the trucks, no high school kid fell in love with a 3/4 ton truck to save it from the scrapper. The stray caps should have eventually found there way to the swap meets, but where are they?
If it's not too much trouble what were the production numbers of one ton trucks 1941 through 1947. Thanks, Paul American Parts

[nospartsman]

Originally Posted by funrunr

I agree with John, I read every reply and learned something along the way.
Please feel free to start another.
BTW; do you have any of these hubcaps pictured below you would like to sell?

Sorry I can't help with caps shown, my limited knowledge ends with 1948. I'm guessing those are accessory 49 or 50 maybe. What are they?

[Fordors]

1 T Express, 122" WB

1941 Production records incomplete
1942 No figures shown, but Sorensen estimated 40% of '41 output.
1942 through 1946- Production records incomplete
1947 29,343

Not much help I'm afraid.