Ford COE history

H

horsinaround930

Junior Member
Hello, I just recently bought a 1938 COE and am interested in the history of these earlier trucks, im having a hard time finding info earlier than 1948 models. If you guys have any info on these earlier models your input would be greatly appreciated. I'm mostly looking for any documentation and info on options and such. Thanks for your time.
 
1938 was the first year for Ford to actually produce a cabover truck, before that they were a conversions by Dearborn Line and a couple of other shops. The book Ford Trucks since 1905 by James K. Wagner is about the best I have seen. The Ford dealer books have some information about accesories and how these trucks were equiped, but these books are only for one year (1940, 1939, etc) and are hard to locate. Ford Trucks book is out of print but can be found on e-bay, etc
 
is your truck as found? restored? My friend did a '38 cabover and sold it to a man in Lake Havasu, Arizona
 

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I'll have to look up that book, see if I can get my hands on one.

Mine is in no where near that condition, I'm really hoping there is enough solid truck left for me to put it all back together. That one is really nice! These have always been my favorite vehicles ever and I was very excited about finding one for myself. I'll have it home Thursday and start diving in. I'll start a new thread when I get rolling on it.
 
I'm on page 40 now! Lots of pictures but not a lot of information. Thanks for the good luck, I'll need it! Nature has taken a lot of it back but I'm confident I can bring it back.
 
This is the cover and a page from the original Sales Brochure for early Ford COE Trucks.
 

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Here's one that's a little rare. The kids in reform school rode this bus. It's pre 40 there are no parking lights in the headlight stands.
 

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The COE trucks are very cool. I see them occasionally at car shows. One in particular that I recall had been built as a rollback that is used to transport cars to the shows. I have some pictures of it filed somewhere. Doing a running thread here on your truck would be great.
Welcome to the Fordbarn and good luck with your project.
 
JM 35 Sedan said:
The COE trucks are very cool. I see them occasionally at car shows. One in particular that I recall had been built as a rollback that is used to transport cars to the shows. I have some pictures of it filed somewhere. Doing a running thread here on your truck would be great.
Welcome to the Fordbarn and good luck with your project.
Click to expand...

I've seen a few like that but one with a nice jerrdan aluminum bed that was sweet! I'll definitely share my build as it comes along, I pick it up tomorrow I'll try to get pics up as soon as I get the junk out of it and figure out what I'm working with. The wind chill tomorrow is predicted to be 1 degree ONE! I hate cold so we'll see how long I spend on it. It was 70 a few days ago! I look forward to the pics if you find them.
 
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