Another excellent shot from Triborough, this is a great example of intentional modesty as practiced by attractive types. Paint zebra stripes on, say, a Lumina, and the result would be nowhere as charming. One needs a good looks or a strong air of confidence in order for self-deprecation to have any appeal, and this 1966 Ford truck has both in spades.
I don’t even think the Jeep Gladiator series would look as good in this sort of semi-battered state. The extreme patina is almost a requirement for this period of Ford truck design; the lived-in look just works. If the Chevy trucks were the sleek party truck and Dodge trucks the wallflowers, this Ford truck really exemplifies the Built Ford Tough tag line. The same isn’t as true after 1979, when design details became more well-integrated, so it’s probably no coincidence that this famous ad slogan dates back to 1978.
With GM trying out different independent front suspension designs before finally getting it right, Ford took a simpler approach with the Twin I Beam. Ford didn’t let on that it wasn’t as sophisticated as a Chevy’s wishbones, as this proud call-out indicates. There’s that bravado poking though.
The use of a V8 is more worth bragging over, though there are no interior shots to show what transmission is used in this particular rig. That badge alone was incentive to choose the V8 and provided the apparent benefit of helping to ensure the stripes were painted symmetrically. Someone put a good deal of effort into this display of relaxed playfulness.
Note the double patina off worn off zebra stripes in areas where there’s been a lot of contact with the painted surface. It’s a nice match for the Retrac mirrors’ fading chevron logo.
Between the Rockville Center dealer logo on fender and the Queens address on the doors, this truck has seen obviously seen a lot of local use and has probably seen every corner of the Tristate area, but that kind of rambling is almost expected of a weathered fifty-year-old charmer like this.
SWEET ! .
I remember these old Fords well , both when new and after decades of good service .
I worked for a Ford Man who told me to never , EVER buy a Twin I-Beam Ford Truck ! .
-Nate
That guy you worked for… was an idiot. The Twin-I-Beam trucks are some of the most durable trucks ever made from a standpoint of the suspension. You’ll have a hard time damaging the front suspension let alone ever kill them!
@ Brian ;
Maybe not ~ please to remember : I was there when these were new trucks being mercilessly worked on rural New England Farms and they tended to shimmy terribly and wore out tires in weird patterns .
I am aware of the need to cold bend the axles to affect proper alignment , same as solid I – Beams .
That is an art form remembered by few and still practiced by no one I know apart from Heavy Duty Truck Shops .
In 1968 or 1969 I got a 1959 Ford F-100 from Ayers Air Force Base for $25 , it had been a runway crash truck and was incredibly rusty , it had the single solid I – Beam front axle and we never had a lick of trouble with it and yes , we over loaded it most every time we used it , hammered it over the frost heaves on the Highway and so on…..
Big Jim was an odd duck yes but he was a Ford Man to his bones and would bleed blue if cut .
He taught me much about the care and feeding of his beloved Y – Block V-8’s and Skyliners etc. .
Jeeze ~ I’m a die hard Chevy fanboi and you alls have got me defending FORDS ! =8-) .
-Nate
Now that looks a bit familiar!
Many a time I wished I’d gotten an F250 instead of my F100, like when the axles are riding on the rubber stops in stead of the springs. Or trying to get a heavy trailer started on a (slight) uphilh incline. But when I’m whistling along the highway at 60 mph with the 240 six turning 1800 rpm in overdrive, and the ride is pretty decent, I remember how brutally harsh these F250 ride with anything less than a ton in the back. And their gearing is hardly highway-friendly. And then I’m glad I didn’t get an F250.
Of course, I should have one of each. I’ve been kicking myself over passing on a really nice and clean 66 F250 for sale at the St. Vinny’s lot; they were asking $1295; probably could have gotten it for $1000. V8, stick, and even two-tone paint; just no zebra stripes,. I like these, BTW.
Twin I-beam = extreme bump steer at no extra charge!
‘ Big Jim ‘ told me they’re fine until you fiddle with or re – bush them , then they’re impossible to ever get back to that sweet spot .
I remember ‘ Bear ‘ Alignment Shops that had ” Twin I-Beam Specialists ” shingles out front .
I’ve owned a few older Ford light duty pickups , all had a solid beam axle and were fine for working , overloading etc.
-Nate
The adjustment/alignment procedure involves *bending* the I-beams, if that gives you any idea…
For the wife’s van (2000 model), I did find a old school front end guy who has (devised?) a method of aligning the I-beams without bending them. I forget the details but it involves what I want to say is a slip nut.
He said bending the I-beams always worried him.
Not his invention he is just using a caster/camber adjusting sleeve like is done on the old school 4wds. The Twin I beams have been able to take them since sometime in the 80’s. The reality is that because they are beefy I beams it usually took a wreck to get them to the point where they needed to be bent to be aligned, or they were just due for new king pins on the old ones or ball joints on the new ones. The fact that the Twin I Beam will go for 100’s of thousands of miles with only needed the track arm bushings replaced is one of the reasons they are so popular among fleet operators.
In the mid-60’s, trucks with zebra stripes enjoyed some popularity thanks to an African safari-themed TV show called “Daktari”. Their version was a Jeep Gladiator…you can google the images of it.
I thought the Daktari truck was a Land Rover Series.
Them old twin I beam trucks were tough. I ran them for years at my shop. They took a beating and didn’t require as many alignments as the others did with their A arm suspensions.
New York’s Gold and Blue Empire Plates work better on older vehicles such as this than newer vehicles such as that Corolla.
Sure is a nice catch and a fine looking truck that truly is a survivor. The inspection sticker on the windshield is red, are these photos a few years old? The last vehicle using the Twin I-Beam the Econoline is winding down production, impressive lifespan.
The photos are a couple years old, but it is still around. Be on the lookout for it on 3rd Street between Bond and Hoyt Streets or thereabouts. Just haven’t had the time to stop and shoot when it was around.
Ok. Are you the same Triborough from Jalopnik?
Yes.
Howdee do hope things are well with you.
All I can think of is “What’s black and white and red all under?” How can I possibly be the first to think of this?
I call a painting party at Paul’s house on Saturday. If your last name begins with A-L, bring white paint with your brush. The rest of you bring black.
Sounds like a good idea to me. Since I’m in the early part of the alphabet, I’ll grab some white paint, throw it in the trunk and drive down to Eugene early Saturday morning. Seattle to Eugene ain’t much of a drive; I’m sure the time will just rush on by.
Those of you who live a bit farther away could just fly in to Portland, and then maybe carpool on down to Eugene in a grey Corolla…
Cool ol truck I got offered one of these for a grand but with 351 transplant and original gearing it wasnt very highway friendly, it would pull anything but I didnt need a tow vehicle at the time, green and black zebra stripes might have swung the deal.
Excellent pics Triborough. Your choice of lighting at this time of day, allows the distinctively Ford fender styling, to still remain highlighted. Especially noticeable in the first and last pic.
The stripes do a good job of “hiding’ the patina. And it will confuse the fly’s and help keep them away. Always nice to see an old work horse showing it’s true colors. I like it.
I’ve been doing some research on these as I am going to test drive a 1966 f350 about an hour away. A few things I’ve become aware of is just how many of these are still a going concern for work vehicles. That and it is surprisingly easy to get parts still. And thirdly, finding a one piece split rim replacement is a right pain. I may not end up with one but after all the old Ford truck stories on here I think I’d like one.
Just about any 8 lug truck rim will work, just look out for 16″ vs the 16.5″ as the tires are getting to be hard to find for the 16.5″. The only other issue that can pop us is the hub size is smaller on the newer trucks, don’t remember the year that it changed. IIRC all Ford, Dodge, and Chevy trucks use the same size 8 lug pattern.
Hey this is my truck! It lives in upsate new york now… and I still use it to haull all kinds of stuff.