Making headway

[F-100Ranger]

Did anyone see the latest Classic Trucks mag? In the first letter to the editor, rob fortier, he answers a question about a '74 Ford by saying "we know the late-'60s and early-'70s Fords are about to blow up - they have to!" (ie. explode in popularity).

He goes on to say, "The only problem is, they're not as abundant as the same-year Chebys-GMCs, so it might be a little harder for the average FoMoCo fanatic to come up with decent starting material. We knew that!

But, he finishes by saying some other complementary things about us F-series enthusiasts and tells readers that the Fatman now owns a '67 and is developing an IFS for our series. He finishes by saying, "watch out Cheby guys, the Blue Oval is about to attack!"

Almost to prove the point, on page 10 there's a parts story that Classic Auto Air now offers a '67-'72 under dash a/c contoured to our dashes.

Yea, after market parts are on the way! Yet kinda sad. Now everyone is going to want one.

What do you guys think?

[dcbullet]

I think its a great thing. To have a model be popular brings aftermarket parts, literature, manuals, etc.

I have only recently gotten into owning a classic truck. The reason is I moved out of the city (San Francisco) and into the suburbs where I bought a home. I figured out pretty quick I needed a truck to bring stuff home from home depot, etc. I've always been into cars so I decided to get an old truck.

I looked at what was out there and picked the 67-72 Ford based purely on its looks. I just think it looks better than the Chevy. I have no other allegience to Ford or Chevy, in fact I've never owned an American car.

I used to own a Datsun 240Z, which has a very respectable following and decent aftermarket parts. However, when I would look at what was available for the camaro or vw bug, I was really jealous.

You are right that the downside is the prices.

[willowbilly3]

Maybe I have blinders on but the is one heck of a lot more old original 67-72 Ford trucks running around than the same vintage of Cheby. I might agree that more of the Chevys are getting fixed up, since they fetch about double what a Ford will when dressed out.
I can't argue very hard as far as looks go. I think the lines on the 67-68 Chevys are nice. My first pickup was a 67 small window Custom Cab with all the chrome. It had a gutless 283 that got over 20 mpg. I even took it on a 3000 mile trip once with a small camper and averaged over 16 for the whole trip. But the front end was junk. I would align it and buy new tires and in 5-6000 miles the tires would be eaten off. And I couldn't keep the doors adjusted. The truck only had 40,000 on it when I got it from the original owner and maybe 70,000 when I traded it in on a new 74 F-250 4x4. I have owned 5 or 6 other Chevy/GMC pickups since and the only one I liked was a 1951 5 window I used to bang around in on the farm.
I think the time has come for the Fords. And this gas crunch is going to send them to the crusher in droves so don't take for granted the abundance of parts trucks right now. That is going to change fast in the next 5 years or so I'm afraid.

[69F110]

Well I sure hope too many do not get crushed. Especially since I won't get back to the States until November 2007. I hope folks keep them sitting in their backyards, barns, or fields until I can get to ask about them...but you know how that goes.

I would love to have about 30 acres to house every one I find...then eventually I would disassemble them, set up a parts warehouse and make a dollar or two while I restore as many as I can.

It is a dream, that some day I plan on making reality. Something to strive for anyways.

[jor]

I'm with Willow as far as sheer number on the road goes. Around here (Arizona) 67-79 Fords are a dime a dozen. Most of them, of course, are simply work trucks.
jor

[FORDification]

...I would love to have about 30 acres to house every one I find...then eventually I would disassemble them, set up a parts warehouse and make a dollar or two while I restore as many as I can.

It is a dream, that some day I plan on making reality. Something to strive for anyways.

That's kinda been my dream too...Mary and I are keeping our eyes and ears open for a small acreage in the area that would be good for this. We're looking for something with lots of trees, a large shop and within a few miles of town. Once we find this place, I'm gonna start bringing home as many derelict Ford trucks as I can find. I think I'd be much happier doing this than what I'm currently doing, and it would be even better if I could do enough business selling truck parts to at least equal what I'm getting paid at my job...so I could quit and devote myself to this full time.

[flyboy2610]

I hope you realize your dream, Keith!
I would love to have a Ford paradise within driving distance!

[Comet]

I think Rob Fartier is full of sh!t. Didn't Ford outsell Chevy by a fairly large margin in this vintage? Yes, it's true more Chevy's are being restored, but I still see waaaay more Fords doing what they were built to do: Work. The reason Chebys cost more is because there are less of them around. Supply and demand.
And as for parts availability, what don't we have? Maybe a few things like some of the interior door panels or a couple little trim pieces here and there, but I think the aftermarket has taken care of us quite well, thank you. There are less hot rod type parts, but nothing that couldn't be dealt with. CT has always made excuses why they don't have our vintage trucks in their rag. Now that so many people have sent letters and opened their eyes they're acting like some kind of renaissance is going on. I don't know about you, but a lot of the guys I hang out with have been restoring these old Fords for many years! I am glad to see more aftermarket support, but I don't need CT to tell me when or why guys "are suddenly taking an interest in '67-72 Fords."

[Comet]

I think the lack of coverage in the magazines is caused by the Twin I-Beam.

Ok, then explain their lack of '57-'64 coverage. I don't buy it. They admit they like Chevies better. Nothing really more needs to be said. Screw 'em! Primedia sucks! :twisted:

[FoMoCo]

I dont see why 57 and up isnt the popular thing? 49-56 has been played out. You'd think these years (57+) would be popular because they're the "different thing". Around here, 67-72 fords and chevys are about equal. However, they are all original rust bucket workers. In my area if you see somthing past an 85, you've seen something rare.
Go to the F-100 Super Nationals. Notice the crowds are around custom 67-79, and those walking by the 49-56's.

Nick

[1968Ranger]

Notice the crowds are around custom 67-79, and those walking by the 49-56's.

Nick

I would have to agree with Nick. Its a function of what you saw and liked when you were young and didn't have any coins in your pocket. Now were a bit older and we harken back to our youth. Case in point- Barrett-Jackson scottsdale this year, Everything from Model t's up through the mid fifties was soft on price. Those guys that thought fondly of those cars are now 60plus years old.

As for the CT Mag, they are just trying to broaden their advertising potential.

[morganater]

Yeah I really haven't been satisfied with Primedia magazines lately AT ALL.... lots of 50s chebbies and crap, and mostly tasteless crap too. Hopefully this guy is right about the future.

[willowbilly3]

If you want to see Fords in magazines, you have to buy Ford specific mags. They all pander to Chevys because that's what more people like. I agree that the 57 is an overlooked classic. A much nice looking pickup than the 53-56. The 53-56 pickups are like tri-5 Chevys, there isn't anything you can do to one that hasn't already been done. I have never seen a copy of Classic trucks with enough interesting fodder to lay down the chips for. But there was an interesting article on the installation of the Fatman front end, although it looks to be just another variation of the M2 which I consider too weeny for a truck that has to do service as a truck.
I also agree that the complications in lowering the I-beam front has kept the Fords from gaining popularity. But for me that is a good thing because you can still find good old unmolested Fords and most of the Chevys have passed through the hands of owners with more zeal for modifications than talent to pull them off. About the worst thing we have to deal with is the doors that get hacked up for speakers.
I have also wondered why the only thing available to lower a Ford are the lowered I-beams. Why can't someone come up with a lowered spindle? That seems like it would be much simpler.

[Comet]

WB, I thought someone had developed a lowered spindle for these? I personally like the '67-'72s in 4x4 format, and the 61-66s in lowered format, but I never thought about the twin I beam, just from a "what I like most" point of view. Don't get me wrong, I still love a 4x4 '61-66 and I think it's really cool to see a lowered '67-72 (mostly because they are so rare), it's just not what comes to mind for me first.
More on the twin I beam as an excuse. There are hundreds of cars and trucks that people are lowering with MII or front clips from another car, etc. and there is no reason why the '67-72 is any different. I've seen 'em. Yes there is more involved in replacing the front clip, but that doesn't mean some people aren't doing it.
Bottom line with every Primedia magazine is that they fully cater to their advertisers. So they do projects that feature their products. It's my opinion that the market for later model Ford stuff is there and there is also an aftermarket for it. You don't see it in their mags. because they don't advertise as much there. Yeah, you could argue the chicken or the egg deal, but it doesn't matter. They know where their bread is buttered and subscribers ain't it!
I've always thought that Primedia should give away their magazine, I'd have more respect for them if they did. Do any of you get Off Road Adventures? It's a free mag from 4Wheel Parts warehouse. And I think it's as good as any Primedia rag and there is no bones about the fact that it's an advertisers deal. Hotrod Mag. is only $12 a year. That probably just covers shipping. There are probably millions of people that subscribe to that. Advertisers are probably tripping over themselves to get on the pages of HRM. They can't stuff enough ads in that thing. So let's be honest and say what it is and give it away. I could go on, but I'm bored with this topic

[cobraF100]

69F110,
When you get back to the States Get with me as I'll have something for you.PM me and we'll talk about it.

lowered spindle for these
No One is making lowered spindle's for these Trucks as fare as I know and I've been try to find a Good way to do it and it be strong enough to be used as an everyday driver But I have Not and it looks as I'm going to go ahead and use a Chevy" Spit-spit" Nova/Camaro Type frontend on my Truck to get the Ride/Look I'm trying to get.

I hope they take the time to start making parts for our Trucks BUT at the same time being a NEW Product it will cost more in the beginning just like the Price's for FE parts as time goes by the price will come down but someone will have to Pay for all the new molds that will have to be made for our Trucks.

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