AMT 1960 3-in-1 Ford F-100 Pickup Truck

[Carmak]

Random thoughts on why the FE was not available in light duty F series trucks in the early 60’s.

Twist:

The 57-60 F series and 61-64 F series trucks used a similar frame design that is prone to twist. The failure of the Uni-cab in the marketplace was partially the result of frames twisting enough under the stiff cab-box units that the front cab mounts would tear out.

The FE series of engines are not necessarily known for their HP but they are known for their torque. It is POSSIBLE that Ford felt the high torque FE series was a bad match in a vehicle with a frame that was prone to twist.

Supply:

It is POSSIBLE Ford could sell all the FE’s it could make in high profit margin cars like Galaxies. The F series trucks were a good way to get more use out of the Y-block tooling.

[leafsprings]

IMO, Ford knew about the limitations of the uni-body design ( Ranchero  concept taken one step further ) which is why the body was never used on '61-'63 F 350 pickups and '61-'63 F100-F 250 4x4's from the get go. Strength of the frames were not the issue. Ford touted there early '60's pickups in ad campaigns "Built like the big trucks". Ford, however, did like to get more out of there tooling by extending the use of older sheet metal and older engines to the South American market well into the 70's.

Edited July 11, 2024 by leafsprings

[mk11]

23 hours ago, leafsprings said:

 but, maybe Ford might have installed a few 352's by special order...

Sure, through places like Dearborn Steel Tubing, like they did with the F100XL drag truck 427. There were no correct engine mounts in the catalogs before the F-series FE came on-line in the summer of '64.

[Chuck Most]

Blue truck has the intake from the AMT '57 Ford Fairlane, with the kit heads cut from the molded manifold. I made the exhaust manifolds and crossover from plastic rod.

Red truck has heads and intake from the Revell '57 Ford, and a '53 F100 air cleaner. I just used the Revell exhaust manifolds for a dual setup.

For a model of a body style I don't particularly like, I sure am liking this kit!

[slusher]

Chuck, I am a fan of your builds and I always comment on them.  I am glad AMT and Moebius brought all these older Fords out…

[Jim B]

So, I am planning on swapping out the kit V8 with a VCG Resins Ford Y-Block stock F100 engine.  The VCG Resins kit comes with either a Ford-O-Matic 2 speed auto trans, or a 3 speed TopLoader manual trans.  I'm not sure what the AMT kit has (automatic, I think).  What transmission would be appropriate for a F100?

Thanks.

[Chuck Most]

21 hours ago, Jim B said:

So, I am planning on swapping out the kit V8 with a VCG Resins Ford Y-Block stock F100 engine.  The VCG Resins kit comes with either a Ford-O-Matic 2 speed auto trans, or a 3 speed TopLoader manual trans.  I'm not sure what the AMT kit has (automatic, I think).  What transmission would be appropriate for a F100?

Thanks.

You could get a Fordomatic or a three speed manual in an F100 in 1960. I can't remember how many pedals are molded into the floor but I'd go with whichever transmission that suggests. Kit transmission looks like a manual but it's a stubby '60's annual kit transmission.

Or, add some parts box pedals.

Or... Paint the floor matte black and use whichever transmission suits you.

[Jim B]

Thanks for the help, Chuck.  I appreciate it.

[Dave Darby]

On 7/22/2024 at 1:49 PM, Chuck Most said:

Blue truck has the intake from the AMT '57 Ford Fairlane, with the kit heads cut from the molded manifold. I made the exhaust manifolds and crossover from plastic rod.

Red truck has heads and intake from the Revell '57 Ford, and a '53 F100 air cleaner. I just used the Revell exhaust manifolds for a dual setup.

For a model of a body style I don't particularly like, I sure am liking this kit!

They look great! 

Edited August 21, 2024 by Dave Darby

[Radretireddad]

On 7/22/2024 at 1:49 PM, Chuck Most said:

Blue truck has the intake from the AMT '57 Ford Fairlane, with the kit heads cut from the molded manifold. I made the exhaust manifolds and crossover from plastic rod.

Red truck has heads and intake from the Revell '57 Ford, and a '53 F100 air cleaner. I just used the Revell exhaust manifolds for a dual setup.

For a model of a body style I don't particularly like, I sure am liking this kit!

Very cool! I love the front mounted spare.

[Ragtop Man]

What a great thread, from rumor mill to on the shelf, to some pretty amazing builds. The learned commentary from Tim and others is a bonus! 

Question: Could the AMT unibody be kitbashed with the cab from a Moby to get a conventional standard cab? Thinking that cutting away the bed and 'clamshell' grafting the back of a Moby might be the win. Or would it even be necessary? Goal would be either a stepside '63 or a standard bed, which I'm guessing could be crafted from Moby bits as well.

I'm the first to admit that I'm pretty clueless to the mid-year changes in the bodies, Ford did a good job on making the updates relatively modest, which would make some changes look easy, even if they weren't. 

 

[mk11]

Here's a side by side look at the two...

The amt has the most accurate profile on the fenders. There's two things to contend with in back-halving the cab - the cab roof height above the rain gutters was raised about an inch in '64 and

the body line on the door is sloped on the unibodys vs jogged on the reg cab, but they end up in the same place on the c pillar.  I found out that the moeb bodyside has more curvature than the amt

when I tried a fitting of the amt front clip to the moeb cab. Hope this helps.

[slusher]

Not changing the subject, has anyone seen any 63 Fords for sell except for like model roundup and such?

[stavanzer]

7 hours ago, slusher said:

Not changing the subject, has anyone seen any 63 Fords for sell except for like model roundup and such?

I have not seen one for sale in person, Carl. But, I don't get out much to shop. I suspect Hooby Looby may get them in stock sometime, but I could not even begin to guess when that might happen.

Good Luck. I got mine from Model Roundup.

[Jim B]

15 hours ago, slusher said:

Not changing the subject, has anyone seen any 63 Fords for sell except for like model roundup and such?

I saw the 1960 & the 1963 for sale at my LHS the other day.  It is a Hobby Town, so that might have something to do with it.

[Can-Con]

On 8/29/2024 at 2:49 AM, slusher said:

Not changing the subject, has anyone seen any 63 Fords for sell except for like model roundup and such?

My local shop [not a chain store] has had them for months.

Actually, I just checked to see if he still had any and he does, in fact, on sale for 20% off.

[slusher]

I wonder if hobby lobby plans on selling any?

[stavanzer]

33 minutes ago, slusher said:

I wonder if hobby lobby plans on selling any?

I would guess that they will, but it could be months before they hit the shelves there.

[Ragtop Man]

On 3/9/2022 at 5:53 PM, Oldcarfan27 said:

Chalk that one and the 66 Chevy pickup as probably lost in the "Great Purge".

Went back to the top of this thread - the '66 tool is ....... somewhere..... in the 90's a promo dealer shot the tool and was proposing a limited release of same. So, it managed to avoid the '70s scrap drives, at least. Were R2 to locate it and clear any licensing issues with GM, it could easily be a "Craftsman Plus" but I'm sure much remains to be negotiated. I am very confident it would sell as well as the current kits in that series, or better. 

[Luc Janssens]

44 minutes ago, Ragtop Man said:

Went back to the top of this thread - the '66 tool is ....... somewhere..... in the 90's a promo dealer shot the tool and was proposing a limited release of same. So, it managed to avoid the '70s scrap drives, at least. Were R2 to locate it and clear any licensing issues with GM, it could easily be a "Craftsman Plus" but I'm sure much remains to be negotiated. I am very confident it would sell as well as the current kits in that series, or better. 

The name Roger Sills comes to mind, but after American Satco vanished so did he it seems.

[niteowl7710]

9 hours ago, Ragtop Man said:

Went back to the top of this thread - the '66 tool is ....... somewhere..... in the 90's a promo dealer shot the tool and was proposing a limited release of same. So, it managed to avoid the '70s scrap drives, at least. Were R2 to locate it and clear any licensing issues with GM, it could easily be a "Craftsman Plus" but I'm sure much remains to be negotiated. I am very confident it would sell as well as the current kits in that series, or better. 

Legit question - With Revell having done a '66 Fleetline as part of their '64-'66 Chevy truck line, what would be the point of resurrecting an old promo be? With all the grumbling about the curbside nature of the Craftsmen Plus kits (aka - "I'll wait for the version with an engine") I can't see where cloning something to provide the market with a curbside version of an already existing full detail kit makes them any money. Back when American SATCO threatened to produce it the Revell kits didn't exist yet.

Edited September 1, 2024 by niteowl7710

[niteowl7710]

*accidental double post delete*

Edited September 1, 2024 by niteowl7710

[Luc Janssens]

7 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

With all the grumbling about the curbside nature of the Craftsmen Plus kits (aka - "I'll wait for the version with an engine") I can't see where cloning something to provide the market with a curbside version of an already existing full detail kit makes them any money. 

Dunno about the yes or no curbside (see link below*), James.

Also IIRC the tooling still exists, the only thing that needs cloning is the clear shot.

 

* I know that it's not a scientific poll and sales figures only tell the true story, but maybe more people chip in, sharing their preferences and ideas, giving a broader view on the matter.

I myself do prefer engines, as it's the beating heart of the automobile/truck/big rig.....only a van IMHO could do without, due to difficulty having a separate hood and just a small opening to show very title engine, so the tooling dollars spent there, are better spent at dress-up items. But again that's just my preference.

Cheers

Edited September 1, 2024 by Luc Janssens
added link and ramblings...

[Luc Janssens]

watch HPI guy while typing. a recipe for disaster, well double post

Edited September 1, 2024 by Luc Janssens
Also double post.

[niteowl7710]

3 hours ago, Luc Janssens said:

 

I don't doubt the tooling still exists, I just wonder what point it would serve to reissue some old promo "kit" when there's already a full detail kit that's 30 years newer on the shelves already. It might have made financial and logical sense in the early 90s before the Revell created the '64 Chevy in 1996. Heck the fact that kits are usually in the pipeline 18 months in advance the news that Revell was doing a new tool truck might be what killed the American SATCO project.