OK Ford guys...What y'all know about this?

I am curious because I have never seen one. Is it factory with the altered wheel base (looks altered) and spare tire compartment? I thought it was neat and if it is factory must be pretty rare.
http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/4039544298.html

 

Looks factory to me. Very clever nice design.
I like this truck very much! Probably is a very thirsty beast, but would be a great tow vehicle.

David

 

I think that was part of the Super Camper Special - the factory positioned the rear axle further back to help towing. I think that's all factory original.

 

I saw a truck like this as a kid when we where camping, it didn't have the cover anymore. No clue if it was original, but it was very strange. 'Least they had the good sense to put it on the side facing the ditch in case you actually need the tire.

Cool find though, I'll ask my father about it when I get a chance, he knows a bit about obscure American packages on vehicles like this from the time he's spent at flea markets, junk yards, swap meets, and so on.

 

I guess you have to be a Roman to be able to contact him.

 

Yeah, that is a Camper truck. The long wheelbase rides better with the added weight. Plus.... many campers were extended at the back making the spare tire unavailable in the normal position, so the side mount is necessary.
I bet you will find the truck has saddle tanks to boot for extended range.

 

I had one like that. I believe it was my 1977 Super cab camper special. Two fuel tanks on driver side. A 460. It needed them!
Also had one with a tool box either there or back at the rear quarter panel. Too many trucks and too little memory.

 

I remember the one with the tool compartment in the bed but had never seen one of these. Very cool truck, thanks for the info everyone.

 

JRW and Jairus got it. This truck was done when huge, 10-12' cab-over campers were all the rage. Increasing the wheelbase gave the truck better weight distribution when you threw one of them big Mac-daddy campers in the bed. Problem was, moving the axle rearward meant the spare could not longer live between the rails behind the axle. The side spare housing did take up a bit of space on the inside of the bed as well.

 

Right you are, Marshall! The tire storage is described, and shown on the blue truck.

David

 

They are a nice truck to drive also, I have. You clearly notice the longer wheel base compared to a standard truck, feels more stable when driving. They also were a regular cab only, no super cab option.






No mistaking the difference in wheel base.




AMT made a 1:24 scale model kit of the truck also.

 

None of my Ford trucks came with the optional hood ornament and I ordered them loaded. Seems like it would have been more fun when camping in the wilderness.
I'll bet Dollie had that deleted after delivery!

 

Your a Bad Man ModelT!

 

"CLANG!".............(Bell like sound of iron skillet as it strikes CatMan's empty haid,lol!)

 

And here they are, Dolly and Cat discussing the hood ornament option........

http://soundbible.com/1217-Metal-Clang.html