1942-1947 Ford Trucks Fender Extensions ?

[mercman from oz]

My friend has the remains of this 1942-1947 Ford Truck front clip in his yard.
What is unusual is the "joiner piece" on the inside of the front fenders.
That then makes the truck wider, maybe for a Heavy Duty model?
Looking at the front, you can see that these extensions create another problem.
The actual grille nose-piece also required an extension at each end.
Looking at the actual workmanship, it is all very professional.
All very odd. Can anyone throw any light on this subject?