How about some pics of 60-66 Trucks

[thunder71]

[markeb01]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

Even today you go to the new truck lot and there's components rusting already, I guess if they want to sell more they can't build them to last.

Notice in the photo's above, not a hippie in the bunch. LOL No one of color or any ethnic origin. I have a salesman's training film from 1963 that comes with a poster ( all white ) that asks the salesman to quess the occupation of the potential client. Truck driver, mobster etc. quite funny and biased.

OMG, that's Clarke Kent looking at the grille on the white stepside!

Those overhead shots are amazing. I particularly like the first pair with the chassis, very cool. I remember looking at a brand new Ford van on a dealer lot back in 1986, and discovering the leaf spring brackets were orange with rust. I asked the salesman if they had some type of plating, as they appeared to have no paint of any kind. He responded, “no they’re bare steel, they discovered it takes decades for them to rust through so there really isn’t any need for paint”. I was flabbergasted. So much for made in USA quality.

Originally Posted by thunder71

That is one of the coolest photos I’ve seen in a while. Looks like it’s been there for a long time and is becoming part of the landscape.

[aerotruk63]

[SiCk_DiAbLo]

Picked this up yesterday for a grand, was stuck in a backyard for a year...Not sure yet if it's gonna be a keeper or not!!

[willyp]

aero, i always wondered why my crossmember aft of the axle was not quite square. thought my truck may have been in a wreck but your first picture shows thats how it came. thanks

[markeb01]

Originally Posted by willyp

aero, i always wondered why my crossmember aft of the axle was not quite square. thought my truck may have been in a wreck but your first picture shows thats how it came. thanks

It does make you wonder why they did that. Everytime I've seen one I assumed it was bent and wondered what caused such consistent damage on so many different trucks.

[Rich 5150 69]

Originally Posted by markeb01

It does make you wonder why they did that. Everytime I've seen one I assumed it was bent and wondered what caused such consistent damage on so many different trucks.

That crossmember just makes me nuts,,,,Thats just wrong

[aerotruk63]

Did you notice the type of finish on the licence plate bracket of the fleetside! Never seen that before.

[collins10672]

yes aerotruk63 i am no expert at all and do not claim to be,but i think the license lamp bracket was cadmium plated when the trucks were new,not painted body color like they all have been today.

[jonzcustomshop]

I like the shots of the all black beds, you don't see that today either.

I also beg to differ on thier roof claim "welded around a thick layer of insulation"
I have had a couple apart, and the insulation is by no means thick, it is about 2'X3' and about 1/4 inch thick....

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

I like the shots of the all black beds, you don't see that today either.

Love the black beds too. Sooo tired of oak and stainless.
Here's a few shots of an original, un-restored factory bed from an 8900 mile barn find. Notice it's not flat black as it seems everyone thinks they should be.

[Strodder]

WOW, nice find. Got any more pictures?

[markeb01]

Originally Posted by oem4me

Love the black beds too. Sooo tired of oak and stainless.
Here's a few shots of an original, un-restored factory bed from an 8900 mile barn find. Notice it's not flat back as it seems everyone thinks they should be.

That is both unbelievable and incredible. Thanks for sharing.

[aerotruk63]

I've seen alot of NOS licence plate brackets at various flea markets, I believe the one on the back of my blue truck was NOS with a sticker and came black primer with a GM sticker. Interesting detail will have to look for more photo's

The 63 beside the rubble, I believe that came from a craigslist-ing.

[aerotruk63]

Were going to have to wrestle the pictures out of him, what if we beg. Please!

[chevy_man5]

Please!

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

Were going to have to wrestle the pictures out of him, what if we beg. Please!

Ha!... Ok, we'll start off slow... with just a little leg, so to speak...

[aerotruk63]

I've had women that I didn't have to pay that would show more! Very nice, very crisp.

oem4me how would you describe the finish on the floor of the bed? What type of finish do you think that is?

collins10672 I looked at an NOS Stepside licence plate bracket as well as a NOS fleetside licence plate light housing, both are cadmium plated.

[65Pickup]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

I've had women that I didn't have to pay that would show more! Very nice, very crisp.

oem4me how would you describe the finish on the floor of the bed? What type of finish do you think that is?

collins10672 I looked at an NOS Stepside licence plate bracket as well as a NOS fleetside licence plate light housing, both are cadmium plated.

My question too...stain, paint ???? You are one lucky @#!!? what a beautiful truck, is it a short wide, custom??? More pics please. Why didn't it get used, family connection? Let's hear the story.

[fryer1979]

oem4me: That is an outstanding find! Absolutely beautiful.

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by 65Pickup

My question too...stain, paint ???? You are one lucky @#!!? what a beautiful truck, is it a short wide, custom??? More pics please. Why didn't it get used, family connection? Let's hear the story.

Ok, several of you have asked, so here is the story and finally some pictures of the whole truck.
The truck came off the Fremont, CA assembly line in the spring of '66 and headed for the state of Washington to do light duty as a secondary delivery vehicle on a family run berry farm. (not my family)
Typical farm abuse was not part of the picture here, as it was stored indoors since new, saw no rainy day work, and got careful maintenance.
This was the program, but for only a few years, when the owner was forced to give up driving due to health issues. Business was halted, equipment sold, and the truck was parked in the garage/barn.
Fast forward almost 40 years, and the truck is still there. 8700 miles on the clock and still totally original right down to the tires!
Occasional trips down the driveway and back had kept it operable, and heavy coats of wax had protected the paint so well that it had barely even oxidized!
The decision was made to let the truck go, so a family member prepped it for sale. The engine compartment was treated (unfortunately) to a high pressure wash, fluids were changed, a few clamps replaced, new fuel pump, fan belt, battery, and so on. The front bumper was freshened up with a rattle can, covering the few rock chips it had acquired some four decades earlier, and the rear bumper was brushed with a new coat of silver. It was listed on Ebay in December 2007.
Since purchasing the truck, most aftermarket maintenance items have been replaced with NOS parts, and of course, it got a thorough cleaning/detailing.
Cosmetic restoration was strictly limited to properly refinishing both bumpers. Original wheels and tires are set aside for safety reasons and a correct set of wheels with reproduction tires are installed. Caps are original.
As it sits today, it feels, smells, and drives like a new 1966 truck did, and is about as close to a time warp machine as any vehicle I have ever seen.
One can look closely at the build quality (or lack of, in some cases) of how these trucks were built. I can tell you that in general, today's higher quality restoration work is far superior to how they actually rolled off the line. These things were made to be used!
Thanks for your interest.
P.S. - These pictures are older, before repainting the bumpers and still wearing the original tires! - Enjoy

[65Pickup]

Originally Posted by oem4me

Ok, several of you have asked, so here is the story and finally some pictures of the whole truck.
The truck came off the Fremont, CA assembly line in the spring of '66 and headed for the state of Washington to do light duty as a secondary delivery vehicle on a family run berry farm. (not my family)
Typical farm abuse was not part of the picture here, as it was stored indoors since new, saw no rainy day work, and got careful maintenance.
This was the program, but for only a few years, when the owner was forced to give up driving due to health issues. Business was halted, equipment sold, and the truck was parked in the garage/barn.
Fast forward almost 40 years, and the truck is still there. 8700 miles on the clock and still totally original right down to the tires!
Occasional trips down the driveway and back had kept it operable, and heavy coats of wax had protected the paint so well that it had barely even oxidized!
The decision was made to let the truck go, so a family member prepped it for sale. The engine compartment was treated (unfortunately) to a high pressure wash, fluids were changed, a few clamps replaced, new fuel pump, fan belt, battery, and so on. The front bumper was freshened up with a rattle can, covering the few rock chips it had acquired some four decades earlier, and the rear bumper was brushed with a new coat of silver. It was listed on Ebay in December 2007.
Since purchasing the truck, most aftermarket maintenance items have been replaced with NOS parts, and of course, it got a thorough cleaning/detailing.
Cosmetic restoration was strictly limited to properly refinishing both bumpers. Original wheels and tires are set aside for safety reasons and a correct set of wheels with reproduction tires are installed. Caps are original.
As it sits today, it feels, smells, and drives like a new 1966 truck did, and is about as close to a time warp machine as any vehicle I have ever seen.
One can look closely at the build quality (or lack of, in some cases) of how these trucks were built. I can tell you that in general, today's higher quality restoration work is far superior to how they actually rolled off the line. These things were made to be used!
Thanks for your interest.
P.S. - These pictures are older, before repainting the bumpers and still wearing the original tires! - Enjoy

Sorry to make you write all that, but great back story...its always fun to hear, you may be fortunate to find this special truck, but the truck is lucky to have you. One this virginal needs kind treatment. Great work.

I'll put a pic of my Dart at the end, but will apologize to everyone for posting it on this site. Hope I don't get booted for the sin It was my Great Aunt's, she was the only ower, its got 50,000 miles though. I thought it was low til I saw your truck. I had to put the Rally Wheels on her, just needed the muscle car look.

Thanks again for sharing.

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

how would you describe the finish on the floor of the bed? What type of finish do you think that is?

Paint, for sure paint. Not stain. Not lamp black and linseed oil. It's paint.
You can call the sheen by a dozen different names, but it does have some gloss. It's not dead flat by any means.

A few more shots... easy...

[63sbssbbw]

Beautiful longbed truck
T

[fryco]

Well, finally got the old heap out for its first(and last) run of the season. This was the first weekend of November and I live in Wisconsin. Season is over.

Its kinda dirty, and needs some finishing touches yet, but you get the idea........