Although I've always been a "straight axle" guy, on Monday I became the proud owner of my first "Twin I-Beam" Slick. And it is a real, verified, certified, honest to god Ranger, Body code: V81. In addition to being a crew cab owner, I am now a member of another "exclusive" group of Slick owners.
In all honesty, the truck is rough as a cob. I bought it as much because of, what the art and antique world call the trucks "Provenance" or it's history.
I am, for all practical purposes, the trucks second owner, as the truck has never been titled outside of the original owners family.
The truck was purchased in March of 1966 from Herff Motor Company in Memphis, TN. The truck was special ordered as a bed delete (DSO 63) with the Ranger option, including console, bucket seats, etc., AM radio, power brakes, padded dash, 352 engine and a three speed Overdrive transmission. Dealer installed options included: Jr. West Coast Mirrors and Air Conditioning. In fact the original owner purchased two identical trucks and they had consecutive serial numbers, but alas the other on is missing, probably sitting in a pasture in NE Mississippi.
The truck(s) were ordered and used as "salesman" trucks as the owner had flat beds installed on them and they were used by the salesmen to take pieces of farm equipment around to the farmers to demonstrate. BTW: The original owner designed and patented the first (as I understand it) fold-able disc harrow and later added hydraulics to it.
After the owner died, the trucks sat outside for a few years and eventually the grandson, who lived out of state, took possession and move this one into a barn for safekeeping. Over the years, vandals got into the barn and did some damage, particularly to the hood and the engine compartment.
The hood is severely bent and the air cleaner was removed which allowed water to get into the engine compartment, so there's a lot of rust there.
Radiator is missing as well as the A/C compressor, but the high output Leece-Neville alternator is still there.
The only things that appear to be missing is the door pocket in the driver's door and and one piece of cowl molding. I even have the original "curtain" that goes over the gas tank.
The flatbed (or tabletop as Alan calls it) has been long gone, and the grandson put a "very rough" long styleside bed on it so he could haul stuff around on the farm. It's toast, so I'm not sure which direction I'll eventually go with the bed.
Here are a couple of pictures and as I said up front, it's rough as a cob.
I'll post pictures of the interior pieces tomorrow. After a 700 mile one-day round trip and loading and then unloading it the next day, my butt was dragging. Of course, the starter crapped out on my fork lift so unloading was a challenge. Actually getting it on the hauler was a challenge too as the starter on the guy's tractor went out. Luckily we "old farts" had two strong guys to help us.
Which year? She'll have to go at the end of the project list, unless I can find a super straight donor for front clip and bed. Little Red is all but finished. Big Red goes on the rotisserie tomorrow and the body comes off the crew cab next week, maybe.
, once your`ve had twins forget singles
. The tank cover is carpeting, appears to be the same as in the floor carpet. Sort of a loop style. The curtain is in really bad shape, but is intact enough to use for a pattern for a replacement. Think Jim Oldberg (SLICKCOLLECTOR) still has the brackets for sale. Haven't taken the screws out that hold it to the cab back so not sure how it was attached. There is still bits of the carpeting behind the screws.
to Slick 60's from Louisiana.