coupes turned into a pick-up

S

satanssho4

Junior Member
i recently bought a model a coupe that had a pickup bed conversion installed into the trunk area. It looks as if it was an accessory you could purchase,my father said it was done during wwii. Does any body have pics of a coupes with this done? And know any history on this.
 
this is what i was talking about
COUPEBED.jpg
 
This was very common in the 1930's and 1940's for trsdesmen and commercial fishermen on Cape Cod where I live. They were registered in Massachusetts as "box body coupe". In those days if the box hung over 4 inches beyond the bumper it required the box body coupe to register for truck plates. If 4 inches or less passenger car plates would do. Just some old time facts not applicable today.
 
As I understand it, part of the benefit of having the pickup conversion done was gas ration was increased during WWII for a car registered and converted to being a "commercial" vehicle i.e. pickup truck. Back in the 60's my first Model A a 1929 coupe was done like that. The phaeton was also modified when I got it.
 
My first A had a factory body in place of the rumble seat.(aftermarket factory,not Ford) The box was made in Amesbury Mass,diagonally across the street from LeBaron Bonney.My great grandfather put it on in 1939,and it got them the extra gas during the war.It really was used for farm use anyway.It was the farms tractor and family car all in one.They hauled so many rocks with it the tops of the box got beaten down,and the tops of the quarters were beaten too.I threw it away in the early 70's,but I kept the brass tag off it with the makers info.I have it with the A stuff,I just have to find it.For some reason the name Hughes comes to mind.Right now that old coupe has a roadster pickup body on it,and it get used daily in the summer.
 
someone awhile back posted a link to a video of starting a motor, at I think was Berts and I believe it was a coupe with a bed in the trunk area
 
trucks got more gas coupons during the down time. by adding a "bed" yourr would be able to score more fuel than a car.
 
a guy i know has a really nice coupe with a bed conversion. this one, unlike most i've seen, was done pretty well-which is surprising because from what i understand, most were done very hastily and thrown together as quickly as possible.
 
I found the video. I googled. a typical day at berts model a ford center and it came up but when I clicked on the video it stated it was a private video and wouldnt let me play it
 
shooter54 said:
a guy i know has a really nice coupe with a bed conversion. this one, unlike most i've seen, was done pretty well-which is surprising because from what i understand, most were done very hastily and thrown together as quickly as possible.
Click to expand...
yeah i know most are hacked in there but this one wasnt it looks like a kit you could buy.it had had a canvas bed liner to cover it the same as the pic i posted
 
Satanssho4, Swampy is on the "Ahooga" board, he does not frequent the Ford Barn. A very interesting individual, he may have mfg. info etc. concerning his box, which appears like yours. Here is a pic of his.
 

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