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My 1950 f1
Webmaster's disclaimer on history: Since the history section of Bonusbuilt.com went online I've received several emails offering information contradicting what I have stated here. The accurate depiction of historical events, whether it is US history, history of ancient Egypt, or history of 50 year old trucks, depends on accurate documentation. Since 100% accuracy is rarely achieved there will always be some debate over certain things. The information provided on this page is accurate to the best of my knowledge. It comes from Ford literature when possible. When an official Ford reference is not available a source that is believed to be reliable is used. I try to keep here say to a minimum though I will, on occasion, use my own personal experience as a reference. My intent is never to say that I know more than you, the reader. If you have information that contradicts (or better yet, compliments) my information feel free to send it my way, preferably with a reference source. With that in mind, enjoy the history of the Bonus Built Ford truck.
January 16, 1948 saw Ford's first new truck design since World War 2. It was also their largest truck line to date. Ford adopted a numbering system for their trucks that would allow one to determine the capacity of the truck at a glance. The lineup spanned from the F1 (half ton pickup) to the F8 (heavy duty 3 ton truck). The design of these trucks was a vast improvement over previous models. The front of the truck looks streamlined, and this streamlined look carried over to the cab and fenders. Ford called these trucks "Bonus Built"--an appropriate name considering the improvements over previous models. In addition to the streamlined styling, the 48 truck had what Ford called the "Million Dollar Cab", so named because Ford spent a million dollars designing it. The cab offered what Ford called "Easy Chair Comfort". For beginners the bench seat was made from individually padded coil springs and was padded with cotton batting. The seat could also be moved fore and aft on a metal track so that drivers of different heights could sit comfortably. The seatback could also be adjusted for an upright or relaxed posture. Another important feature of the Million Dollar Cab was the ventilation system. It consisted of vent windows in the doors, a large ventilator on the cowl that deflected air onto passenger's legs, and an optional heater/defroster. We take these features for granted on modern trucks, but they were cutting edge in 1948. The line changed very little from 1948 to 1952, though the slogan "Bonus Built" was replaced by "Power Pilot Economy" for 1951 and 52.
Telling them apart from year to year:
1948-1950
It is very difficult to distinguish between 48, 49, and 50 trucks. In
48 the grille was painted tan, in 49 and 50 it was painted aluminum. In
48 the division bar in the side windows was chrome, in 49 and 50 it was
black. In 48 there was a red pinstripe across the grille bars, in 49 and
50 it was gone. Late model 1950 trucks underwent changes to the bed in
that the metal bed floor cover was deleted, the stake pockets were cut
square, and the round stamped detail on the bedsides was deleted. The
following table outlines the changes:
| 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | |
| Wheel Color* | Black | Body Color | Body Color |
| Division Bars | Chrome | Black | Black |
| Grille Color | Tucson Tan | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Grille Pinstripe | Present (red) | Not Present | Not Present |
| Bed Floor | Metal over Wood | Metal Over Wood | Wood Only (late 50) |
| Stake Pockets | Rounded | Rounded | Cut Square (late 50) |
| Bedside Detail | Present | Present | Absent (late 50) |
* This information is from the Ford shop manual and it matches what I've seen but according to a reader, The American Pickup Truck by Mike Mueller states that in 48 wheels were painted body color and switched to black in 49.
1951
In 51 Ford made some changes to it's truck line. Most notable is the redesigned
grille. The grille now reached to both fenders and consisted of a large
bar with 3 vertical cone shaped protrusions (called dagmars) between the
headlights. Inside the cab the 51 had a new instrument panel consisting
of 2 separate circular clusters. The rear window was enlarged by 50% to
provide greater safety. In this year Ford began the tradition of offering
different cab options. You could buy the standard cab (called 5 star)
or the "5 Star Extra" deluxe model. The 5 Star package contained
many features found on 48-50 trucks (3 way ventilation, adjustable seat,
dual windshield wipers, ash tray, glove box, driver's side sun visor).
The 5 Star Extra cab came with foam padding on the seat, insulation on
the back of the headliner, sound deadener on the doors, 2 tone upholstery,
2 sun visors, locks on each door, a dome light, and a
locking glovebox. From the outside you could tell a 5 Star Extra by the
extra chrome bars on the side of the hood, chrome trim around the windshield,
and the grille (painted silver).
1952
Minimal changes from 51. The F1 emblem was moved to a round disk on the
side of the hood and the Ford nameplate was moved from the hood to the
bar just below the hood.
Specifications:
Engines Available:
| 6 Cyl H | 6 Cyl M | 8 Cyl R | 8 Cyl E | |
| Displacement | 225 | 254 | 239 | 337 |
| Horsepower @ RPM | 95 @ 3300 | 110 @ 3400 | 100 @ 3800 | 145 @ 3600 |
| Bore (inches) | 3.30 | 3.50 | 3.187 | 3.50 |
| Stroke (inches) | 4.40 | 4.40 | 3.75 | 4.375 |
| Comp. Ratio | 6.8:1 | 6.8:1 | 6.8:1 | 6.4:1 |
| Torque Ft. Lbs @ RPM | 180 @ 1200 | 212 @ 1200 | 180 @ 2000 | 255 @ 1800 |
Transmissions:
| Standard on: | Optional on: | |
| 3 Speed (light duty) | F1 (49&50) | |
| 3 Speed (light duty remote shift) | F1 (51) | |
| 3 Speed Heavy Duty (center shift) | F1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | |
| 3 Speed Heavy Duty (remote Shift) | F3 Parcel Delivery F5 Parcel Delivery |
|
| 4 Speed | F2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | F1 |
| 4 Speed (synchro silent) | F6 w/ M engine | F1 (1952-unconfirmed) F4, 5, 6 |
| 5 Speed Overdrive | F7 | F8 |
| 5 Speed Direct 5th | F8 | F7 |
Rear Ends & Ratios
| Model | Gear Ratio | # of pinion teeth | # of drive gear teeth |
| F1 | 4.27 3.92 |
11 12 |
47 47 |
| F2, F3, F3 Parcel Delivery | 4.11 4.857 |
9 7 |
37 34 |
| F4, F5 | 5.83 5.14 |
6 7 |
35 36 |
| F5, F5 (COE) | 6.66 | 6 | 40 |
| F6, F6 (COE) | 7.2 6.2 6.8 |
5 5 5 |
36 31 34 |
| F5, F6 (conventional and COE) 2 speed | 5.83-8.11 6.33-8.81 |
6 6 |
35 38 |
| F7 | 6.8 | 5 | 34 |
| F8 | 7.16 | 6 | 43 |
| F8 (2 speed) | 6.50-8.87 | 6 | 39 |
Last updated July 6, 2001
