1940 Ford Tonner production numbers

mcharley40

Junior Member
Hello Everyone !! New to the forum this past year, just been reading great info. I own and have owned several old rides, both with four wheels and two. Travel a lot for work so I get to hit many swap meets and events all over the country.
One of the old trucks I own is a 1940 ford Tonner. my father in law has some old old trucks as well mentioned to me a while back that Ford only made about 2500
Ford 1 ton pickups in 1940. I have done a thread search but have not found anything confirming this. Can anyone set me in the right direction ?? Again thanks for a great site
 
Could my father inlaw's estimate forgotten a zero?? I have seen a 122" wheel base trucks over the years so 2500 seems short, I saw in a thread source 1/2 ton numbers but could find anything for 1 ton.
 
what wheels do you have 16" or 17"? 3/4 ton trucks had 16", 1 ton had 17" flat base rims/tires. I have a 1941 3/4 ton stake bed truck and have also been told there was about 2200 of them made
 

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Hello, I have the 17" wheels that came with the truck, but I also picked up a set of 16". Lots of tire options. I have been talking with another guy who might be parting with a set of 20" wheels. If he decides to sell them I am sure I will buy them even if I don't run them. My truck has a serial number BB and end 9Y. Where did you get the production numbers information ??
 
Are you sure the 16" and 17" wheels interchange? 17's are 5 on 6 7/8" pattern with 3/4" studs. The 16's might be more like the wide 5 pattern, but I have never had one and so I'm just thinking out loud. I have a collection of the tonners here. As far as your original question, I just remember there were less tonners built than the 1/2 tons. Still a lot of tonners on the market because most people wanted the 1/2 tons to restore and used them up. Me, I never had a use for a half ton. Couldn't haul plywood and I own a cabinetshop....
 
Ford Trucks since 1905 by James K. Wagner has a lot of info, also the V8 club has some info and Loren Sorenson's book on commercial Fords is also good
 
are you sure BB is at the beginning, 18- for 85 hp V8, 99- for 95 hp V8, BB usually denotes a 4 cylinder B engine. Y is one ton, D is 3/4 ton
 
Hello, Yes it is most deffinately 18-BB and ends 9Y. so is my father inlaw's ton an a half. BB is big truck single B is four cylinder. Both of these trucks where bought new localy here in western Colorado. I know the history of mine and the family that bought it.
 
Hello, Yes it is most deffinately 18-BB and ends 9Y. so is my father inlaw's ton an a half. BB is big truck single B is four cylinder. Both of these trucks where bought new localy here in western Colorado. I know the history of mine and the family that bought it.

Think that confuses things a little, it is BB18- not 18-BB, correct?
 
are you sure BB is at the beginning, 18- for 85 hp V8, 99- for 95 hp V8, BB usually denotes a 4 cylinder B engine. Y is one ton, D is 3/4 ton

The "BB", at least in 1940, indicated a four speed truck regardless of whether it was a half, 3/4 or one ton chassis.
 
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In all of my research, I came upon nothing that broke out the one ton pickup trucks. How anyone came up with 2200 I have no clue. I would readily admit the information may be in the Ford Research Center but I never saw a hint of it.
 
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