1953-1972 Ford Pickup Rust Free 6.5' Flareside Box & Fenders With Minor Rust on 2040-parts.com

     I believe this nice original rust free genuine Ford 6-1/2 foot long flareside pickup box is correct for 1953-1972 Ford F-100 or F-150 half ton pickups. I suspect one might also be able to use it on short wheelbase trucks later than 1972 by shimming between it and the truck frame or moving some of the mounting holes. I am no expert on these vehicles so please help me out here if you know a lot about these pickup boxes and what chassis they might work on. Thanks to our relatively dry climate here in Montana, this fine original box has absolutely no rusted out spots in it anywhere. 

     I have looked a lot of these Ford pickup boxes through the years and very few of them would have been as good as this one is. It seems that a lot of those boxes had rusted out filler panels below the floor and in front of and behind the fenders. Many of them were also rusted out or had at least heavy rust pitting at the bottom inside of the front panel. Several also had cracks in the flange at the bottom of the side panels. This box has no issues in any of those places except for a 3 inch piece of the flange broken off at the bottom rear of the left side. You can see that very minor damage in the 6th photo of this listing.  

     The top of the right side panel is very straight while the top of the left panel is bent a bit in one place about a foot back from the front of the box. I have straightened bent tops of pickup box side panels before by pulling them as straight as I could followed by turning a piece of rod on a lathe to the diameter that will just barely slide through the curved feature at the top of the panel. One can force that rod to the point of the bend and tap gently on the deformed metal to work it straight again. 

     The tail gate has some minor dents and cracks but I believe it is worth saving. The pair of original tail gate latches and chains are included. The forged piece that sticks out of the right upper corner of the tailgate has been broken and welded at some point a long time ago. The right tail gate hinge is included but the left tailgate hinge is missing. Reproduction hinges are available from Mac's Auto Parts for $9.95 each in primer or $18.95 each finished with chrome plating. Mac's Auto Parts also sell reproduction tailgates with no letters on them for $209.95 plus shipping as well as reproduction tailgates with the correct F O R D block lettering on them for $376.95 plus shipping. 

     The pair of included rear fenders are very good but have a bit of rust at the bottom of the fronts where they attach to the steps or short running boards in front of both rear fenders. There is a sheet metal backing piece that goes behind the bottom of the front of each rear fender where they attach to the backs of the steps or short running boards in front of each rear fender. There are 3 layers of sheet metal there so they tended to hold moisture which eventually rusted through the sheet metal backing pieces as well as the bottoms of both front fenders. The rear parts of the short running boards must have been heavier or did not trap moisture because they do not appear to be rusted through anywhere. There is a 3 inch long piece of the upper front bead on the right fender that is missing. Evidently someone needed that piece for another fender and very carefully cut that section from that right rear fender bead. 

     I have marked this listing as being "For Local Pickup Only" to keep this listing simple. I have a lot of friends that travel throughout the USA throughout the year. One of them may be able to safely deliver this box to you or to a friend's place near you for a very modest fee depending on where you live and how soon you need this box. I have plenty of free and reasonably secure outdoor storage here if you or a friend are planning a visit to beautiful Montana sometime in the next year or two.   

     Here is your change to own an exceptionally nice original Ford pickup bed for your favorite early Ford pickup project for just a bit over half of what a reproduction box costs today. Mac's Auto Parts sells a kit of reproduction 6-1/2' flareside box parts for $2,495.95 plus freight or an assembled 6-1/2' flareside box for $2,699.95 plus freight. Thanks a lot, Bob Woodburn - phone 406-799-1847 in Bozeman Montana USA