Help Identify this rear bumper

1966Mercury · Post by **1966Mercury** » May 16, 2007, 2:12 am

This is the rear bumper that came on a 66 merc I just bought. It looks like it has been on there a very long time. It looks as though it was made to fit these trucks. The outer edges are contoured to the rear bed sides and it tucks up tight to the rear of the bed. The ends where the lights are mounted are diamond plate. This thing is some thick metal. The brackets are massive.

I have a chrome one I am putting on it and was just wondering if this was anything special or can I send it to the recycling yard with a clear conscience?

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mikecarson · Post by **mikecarson** » May 16, 2007, 5:06 am

I've got one similar, ain't nothing special, far as I can tell.

reeses66ford · Post by **reeses66ford** » May 16, 2007, 5:48 am

it goes to it! my truck had one.

douglloyd · Post by **douglloyd** » May 16, 2007, 6:29 am

My '66 longbed from Texas had something similar. The ends wrapped around the box and extended darn near up to the wheel wells. Same diamond plate steel - heavy too. P.O. had put bolts through the ends into the box sides. Now I have holes to fill someday.

Guy at the F100 Supernats told me these were real common out west - sure enough, my truck originated from Montana. Learn something new everyday...

I still have it if anyone wants it, but I would not recommend towing anything subtantial with it.

Doug

Post by **Greg D** » May 16, 2007, 6:49 am

The parts 64 I had hauled off yesterday had one just like it (cept for this one was solid rust, lol). I don't think they are a Ford part but were definately made to fit slicks.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » May 16, 2007, 10:36 am

They are what is commonly know as a "Farmer Bumper" around here.
mine came with this homemade gem
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I never saw a slick with a factory bumper until I joined this club. Didn't thing they existed, all old trucks out here have those just like yours.

Where'd ya pick that truck up? Looks in decent shape..

jakdad · Post by **jakdad** » May 16, 2007, 3:44 pm

Back then, many dealerships had bumpers made for the trucks. Some even had their dealership name welded into them. If I remember correctly, the trucks were delivered without rear bumpers. So these were big profit items for the dealerships. The one pictured above looks like a dealership bumper. Most of them were good bumpers put together at a local welding shop.

shawns fords · Post by **shawns fords** » May 16, 2007, 10:26 pm

ford didnt put rear bumpers on F series until the new generations 1997 F 150s and 98 super dutys, we installed them at dealers al lthe time, my 64 has the luverne bumper which wrapped aroudn the sides and almost all the way to the tires, it was solid as heck but also bend up pretty good from 40 years of use

unibodyboy · Post by **unibodyboy** » May 16, 2007, 11:27 pm

Most of the trucks out west had a bumper called a barden bumper. It was a diamond plate that wrapped all the way around to the wheel wells....

Slick Fan · Post by **Slick Fan** » May 17, 2007, 12:01 am

unibodyboy wrote:Most of the trucks out west had a bumper called a barden bumper. It was a diamond plate that wrapped all the way around to the wheel wells....

That's what my '66 has.
My '65 has the same basic thing, without the wraparound pieces.

1966Mercury · Post by **1966Mercury** » May 17, 2007, 6:25 pm

Thanks everyone.

I got the truck off E-bay. It is in pretty good shape considering it was from Canada. Frame is very solid. Usual thinning in the front of the bed I have a spare bed I got for the other Slick I bought in a tow auction (photo in the gallery). As luck would have it I found a 66 in a wrecking yard with a factory automatic, Bendix power steering (minus the pump set-up), power brakes, perfect core support and inner fenders. Got all of it for a decent price. By the way, pulling the automatic from below is a big pain in the rear.

Going to refurbish it all and get it installed.