landser555
Junior Member
I just bought a 1936 oprn ca truck with a really old fifth wheel mounted in the back. I've never seen an open cab on this late of a truck. Are these rare?
1936 open cab truck
- Thread starter landser555
- Start date
Walt Dupont--Me.
Well-known member
A friend just bought a 36 Ford fire truck, open cab, or roadster type. It had a big water tank with a wooden floor bed. He removed the water tank, I'm sure it would be easy to insatll a 5th wheel. Walt
landser555
Junior Member
I've looked at all of the 1935-1936 Fire trucks on the internet. It is for sure not a fire truck cab. I also found all of the original convertible rods behind the seat, I need to figure out how they go together now. I"ll put some pictures on here soon.
Mike/Franklin
Member
Get a copy of Ford Trucks Since 1905 by James Wagner and look at page 140 and 151. These show "Drive away Chases" You could buy a Ford truck without cab and fit your own windshield. These were supplied to aftermarket truck converters that wanted to install custom cabs and bodies like Railway Express or UPS. Also contractors bought them to install a seat and dump body to save weight and increase payload. usually used in southern states where cold weather wasn't a problem. Yours could also be just a truck with the cab cut off. I also have the big Dodge truck book and one page,I think it's around 1939 shows big Dodge trucks with cement mixers with a half cab and canvas tops. That picture was taken in a snow storm I think. Can't put my finger on the book right now. Back then labor was cheap and drivers were glad to have a job. Payload was what was important. My father got his first job out of high school in 1939 picking up cans of milk at local farms for the princely pay of Ten Cents per hour and was glad to have the work. ML
itslow
Well-known member
It's either the drive-away cowl, as mentioned, or a cut-down closed cab. Some photos would be good.
landser555
Junior Member
This one has has the water tank removed, and has an ancient, working fifth wheel on it. It's probably going to the scrap heap since no one could possibly want the fifth wheel.
landser555
Junior Member
Possibly a 1936 Fire Truck?
Weird cab with wood reinforcements. Chrome trim around the cab. looks to have original chrome grill, I have the trim ring and V8 emblem.
What the heck are those metal rods for?
Strange hole for gas cap. has metal florr trim.
Did someone shorten the bed and add a fifth wheel?
Original bottom seat
Weird cab with wood reinforcements. Chrome trim around the cab. looks to have original chrome grill, I have the trim ring and V8 emblem.
What the heck are those metal rods for?
Strange hole for gas cap. has metal florr trim.
Did someone shorten the bed and add a fifth wheel?
Original bottom seat
Last edited:
Rem
Member
I think I'd keep it as it is. If you want to put a useful bed on it, at least don't scrap the fifth wheel - someone, somewhere wants it, and it doesn't look big enough to be worth much as scrap.
Was Ford still using under-seat gas tanks then? I know my '32 has one, but thought '33-'34 had rear-mounted tanks under the bed?
Was Ford still using under-seat gas tanks then? I know my '32 has one, but thought '33-'34 had rear-mounted tanks under the bed?
landser555
Junior Member
If no one buys it, then it is getting parted out and scraped completely. I've owned several Ford trucks, but this cab is so unusual. I don't think it was even a fire truck. No place for whistles or bells.
itslow
Well-known member
The cowl is Ford, like that of the firetruck posted previously. The back of the cab is 3rd-party. Could've had any number of "beds" on the back, if any, beyond the hitching mechanism. I'd guess it probably didn't, and was used as a tractor to move trailers around a lot or for short distances.
Clem Clement
Well-known member
Where is this bodacious creature located?
landser555
Junior Member
It is in Eugene, Oregon $2500 OBO complete with engine if you want it. The parts will be sold off in five days if no buyer.