1941 Ford F-5 Vin number oddity (German?)

G

GJ02

Junior Member
Hello I am new to the 1941 F-5's I have a strange frame/VIN number
it is *99TY<->626342* I figured out that it was from the river rouge plant and these frames were ear marked for Germany. There seems a very high likelihood that this truck was assembled over there served through the war and then was shipped back here. The man that had is before me has all the parts and bought it from Vermont. It was in a scrap yard there and the paperwork prior to the previous owner seems to be missing. I am trying to contact the ford museum to see if they have any info on it. Is there any resources I can use to find out more of the trucks story? Also some of the internal parts and the fuel cap have certain markings of a defunct WW2 government.
 
Here in the states in 1941 Ford did not use any "F" numbers to indicate the size of the truck. Usually the wheel base , in inches, is used and the body style.
99T is the indication for a 1939, 134" wheel base, with 95H.P. engine, truck frame.
The model numbers using this frame:
82 for the Panel truck, 86 for the Stake body, 80 Platform body
 
The 1938 through 41 chassis parts catalog has a good run down on the different truck model numbers. The 99TY prefix gave the engine type as the 239 and the 122" wheelbase truck identification. Other prefixes designated different truck wheelbases and body types.
99B was for 141" bus chassis, 99C was the 112" commercial pickup, 99D was the 122" 3/4 ton, 99T was the 134" truck, 99U was the 134" dump truck, and 99W was the 134" COE truck. The T was just a truck identifier and was likely used on any vehicle that had the 4-speed truck transmission. A truck, in those days, could also be modified to carry more weight by addition of special springs and dual rear wheels.

The F series trucks were bonus built trucks beginning in 1948. The single digit was also accompanied by an alpha digit to denote the different truck bodies that were available after 1947. The numbers were for gross weight designations.

Trucks were in full production at the Koln plant in Germany for wartime production for the axis powers. Trucks may have been shipped between countries before and after the war was well over but not during the war. The war began in late 1939 so international dealing with axis powers would have ceased at that time. It took us a while to send stuff to the Soviets due to their indifference to the axis powers at the beginning of the war. It wasn't till after Germany attacked the Soviets that they started pleading for help from the US. The German flathead V8s were just a little different than ours and those characteristics are easily identifiable.
 
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Thank you Terry,OH and rotowrench! I truly appreciate the information. There are some parts that came with the truck that are of German descent. I am not sure when they were added to the truck, whether it was overseas or if it was here back in the states. The truck had been used as a farm truck prior to being sent to the junk yard. I also found out its not from Vermont like I thought but Pennsylvania. Vermont was the only place that the previous owner could get it titled until it was rebuilt. This is my first ever rebuild and it feels like a daunting task, but I am also excited to get the truck restored. It is definitely a 99T 134" truck, and has the larger engine I believe its a (237) with it. Thank you both for pointing out the detail about the F designation. That is really good to know. I have a second transmission and a second engine with it. The engine is in torn down and I need tot see what size that one is. I know I have so much to learn about these trucks and getting it all correct but that if half the fun to me. Thank you again for all the help!
 
As a "side note" to this post.....BY 1941 Ford USA was not sending ANYTHING to Ford Werks A G Berlin/Koln. In reality, by 1936, Ford USA had little to no control of Ford Werks.
 
rockfla said:
As a "side note" to this post.....BY 1941 Ford USA was not sending ANYTHING to Ford Werks A G Berlin/Koln. In reality, by 1936, Ford USA had little to no control of Ford Werks.
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Thank you for the information that's great to know. I am very new to restoration and to early ford V-8 trucks. I love learning and appreciate all the knowledge that anyone wants to share. I know it's a long road ahead on this rebuild but I am excited to learn and for the journey.
 
So I seem to have a 39' frame with a 41 body and parts. I was told this happened if they were wrecked or damaged or if the frame was late enough in production that it was just used for the next year. It's unclear. The paperwork says 99T clearly so does the stamp on the frame. but the body hood and parts all scream 40-41'. The body types as far as grill and hood are starkly different between the 39' and 40-41's. I have to get some pictures and place them here to help
 
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