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Unibody?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by webtickler, Mar 5, 2007.

  1. webtickler
    Joined: Mar 5, 2007
    Posts: 1

    webtickler
    Member

    I came across a 1961 F100, the guy told me it was a unibody and very rare, has anyone ever heard of this? and how much would something like this be worth? thanks for your help in advance

    Gabriel
     
  2. Nads
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 11,875

    Nads
    Member
    from Hypocrisy

    The cab is integrated into the body, no seperate cab all one piece, hence unibody. I have no idea what it's worth, but they are rare.
     
  3. Preacher
    Joined: Dec 23, 2002
    Posts: 1,955

    Preacher
    Member Emeritus

    they are relatively rare, i had 2 short beds at different times, and obviously depending on the condition...

    if it runs you should be able to get at least $1500 for it, if the box is in good shape, and it's not too rotten maybe $2500-3500 as starters and up from there with your goody package of options
     
  4. slick64
    Joined: Feb 28, 2005
    Posts: 276

    slick64
    Member
    from Mobile, AL

    unibody's where made from 61 to 63. They are not as comon as the regular bodys but I wouldn't call them very rare. there are a few on this board. Check out elpolacko's truck


    [​IMG]
     
  5. They are like a El Camino just a truck though had a 62, short bed that i learn to drive in Warning dont put to much weight in the bed your door will pop open when driving
     
  6. Nads
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 11,875

    Nads
    Member
    from Hypocrisy

    Well rare...er then, you pains in the ***es. My ex-wife had one, I don't know what happened to it, maybe some lesbians live in it now, I don't know.
     
  7. Soviet
    Joined: Sep 4, 2005
    Posts: 729

    Soviet
    Member

    I would actually pay less for a unibody than for a framed truck. Aren't worth the h***le in my opinion.
     
  8. Unless the bed sides and tailgate are reeaaally nice with no rust, run for your life. The front sheetmetal and doors are common with '61-'66 f-series. They like to rust where the bed floor meets the cab, the forward bed side areas, the wheel houses.
    These are less common than, say, the '64-'66 trucks, but not rare enough to pay a premium for one.
    Did I mention look out for rust?
     
  9. Dave Woods
    Joined: Sep 25, 2006
    Posts: 94

    Dave Woods
    Member
    from SoCal

    IMHO, they are the only Ford truck made after '56 worth investing time and money in. They're truly beautiful fixed up. There was one on a special edition of "Pinks" that was outstanding.
     
  10. The Big M
    Joined: Dec 22, 2005
    Posts: 232

    The Big M
    Member

    They have a frame.

    Check the problem areas that BIGREDTODD mentioned, then decide for yourself what it's worth. Here's an idea of what you might be in for:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    The pics show the most problematic areas. Cab mounts are welded underneath the floor pans, so those usually rot out together. When that happens, the cab sags, putting stress on the bed-cab seam and causing further problems. You can see the bed-cab seam in the last pic, as viewed from inside the cab. Pay special attention to this area. It's a bent channel (not available aftermarket) that's welded to both the cab floor, bed floor, and rear cab wall. The area directly behind the doors (second pic) is under stress when the truck is under load, so it tends to rust as well.

    They are somewhat rare, as they were only produced from 61-63, but they're still pretty plentiful since Ford made a lot of trucks during those years. Most of the fresh metal in mine is available from aftermarket suppliers, but there's also a lot that had to be fabricated from scratch. You might not face this kind of carnage though if it's a Texas truck.

    Other factors affecting price are options (inline 6 vs. y-block, for instance), short bed vs. long bed, and rear window style. There's a wrap-around "big back window" option that's very desirable. And don't forget to check for a tailgate. It's rare to find one in good condition.
     
  11. Unique, not really rare... or rare like a 56 Chevy.... they are out there but one typically sees more 55's or 57's.. I am thinking about selling mine, SOLID body.. damaged my tailgate but am working on getting it repaired.
     
  12. SinisterCustom
    Joined: Feb 18, 2004
    Posts: 8,277

    SinisterCustom
    Member

    Also available in long bed version.....neighbor had one...neat trucks.
     
  13. Preacher
    Joined: Dec 23, 2002
    Posts: 1,955

    Preacher
    Member Emeritus

    tailgate...

    from what i remember the tailgates are unique, so if it doesn't have one, you may spend a while looking and can pay $$$ to find one
     
  14. stealthcruiser
    Joined: Dec 24, 2002
    Posts: 3,750

    stealthcruiser
    Member

    Rare means it was not a good seller.....'prolly for a reason.
     
  15. jtrammell
    Joined: Jan 9, 2007
    Posts: 25

    jtrammell
    Member

    I have seen guys take just a shell (almost) and make it look outstanding.I own one and she is eat slam up with cancer!HoweverI am not going for restored statis. I am building hotrod stlye mainly because of financal constraints.So I say if you like it and are comfortable withit get it.In the begining we tred to build what we had now is not really any differance
     
  16. pimpin paint
    Joined: May 31, 2005
    Posts: 4,937

    pimpin paint
    Member
    from so cal

    Hey,

    I beleve they also made Mercury Uni's for the snowbacks. Now
    talk about rare/rusty PITAs!
    S****ey Devils C.C.
     
  17. chaddilac
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,071

    chaddilac
    Member

    they're not that rare in OK... the real rare part is the Tailgate... a good one can bring $1000 or more, cause they don't reproduce them.
     
  18. zman
    Joined: Apr 2, 2001
    Posts: 16,790

    zman
    Member
    from Garner, NC

    El Polacko has a bad *** one....

    [​IMG]
     
  19. oldspert
    Joined: Sep 10, 2006
    Posts: 1,263

    oldspert
    Member
    from Texas

    They are reproduced. $499 each from Dennis Carpenter. I had two of these things. Had to trade them for some concrete work to get rid of them.
     
  20. SlamCouver
    Joined: Jun 26, 2006
    Posts: 2,000

    SlamCouver
    Member
    from Brazil, IL

    unibody truck huh? the 60's lincolns are also unibodys.
     
  21. ELpolacko
    Joined: Jun 10, 2001
    Posts: 4,682

    ELpolacko
    Member

    Zman, I gotta have that picture. Do you have it in a larger format?


    "unibody" only in the term "Uni"tized bed and "body" They have regular frames under them just like the regular pickup. Think of them as full size Ranchero's. The last of the Ranchero pickups was killed off after '59 and then downsized to the small platform Falcon. Ford was also very sucsessfull at making their pickups more user friendly and civil they took the next logical step to make their style side truck more like the previous Ranchero but with the capacity of a regular F100. It didn't catch on, they pulled out the stamping dies for the 57-60 F100 beds to compete with the Apache line of trucks GM was offering so you will see some 62 and 63 F100's with the earlier beds. By 64 they had a matching separate bed.


    There is alot of unique atributes to the unibody, the tailgate as mentioned previously is not shared by any other truck in the line as are the tail lights themselves. they have a roll pan on the rear and the roof is pancaked above the window line. There was even a "big window" option that gave you wrap around gl*** on the rear.

    Check out www.fordtruk.com or annother way in directly to the forum is www.slick60s.org
     
  22. Comet
    Joined: Dec 1, 2004
    Posts: 2,571

    Comet
    Member

    Hey J, did we talk about your truck when we met at Mooneyes in Japan? I don't remember you telling me about that. Hahaa! I've got a '61 shortbed, I think I told you that.
     
  23. Jeem
    Joined: Sep 12, 2002
    Posts: 5,882

    Jeem
    Alliance Vendor

    Not positive but, ALMOST positive, the taillights are '60 Ford p***enger car turned vertically.


    Unibodies. So rare ElPo had 4 of 'em in his shop at the same time as well as a goofy little '64 shortbed. HAHA
     
  24. cool57
    Joined: Dec 19, 2002
    Posts: 1,756

    cool57
    Member

    They are on my wish list.
     
  25. zman
    Joined: Apr 2, 2001
    Posts: 16,790

    zman
    Member
    from Garner, NC



    I'll see how large it is... but I know I have a larger format on my backup disk... I'll get it for ya...
     
  26. Missing Link
    Joined: Sep 9, 2002
    Posts: 865

    Missing Link
    Member

    Nice introduction...
     
  27. ELpolacko
    Joined: Jun 10, 2001
    Posts: 4,682

    ELpolacko
    Member

    I thought so too, but the p***enger style has three screw holes and the vertical pickup style has only two and in diferent locations.. I have a brand new NOS set of pickup lenses on my desk as we speak. Neato!
     
  28. clemdaddy
    Joined: Jan 10, 2007
    Posts: 147

    clemdaddy
    Member

    i 've got a 62 uni short bed / custom cab with wrap around back gl***. it's the teal and cream two tone. this truck is straight with great floors and bed. oh yeah, there's 2 good tailgates. for styling the ford unibody is as good as the mid-60's got. i can't wait to start the build... thinkin' 302 fi with 5-speed, late model mustang hi-po engine. dropped i-beam and 9 inch with posi, steelies, rings and caps. oh, i love to dream about 'em ... it's the only part i can afford. (ha)



    it's not how much it costs to get there...
    it's the style in which you arrive.
     
  29. metalman
    Joined: Dec 30, 2006
    Posts: 3,299

    metalman
    Member

    Sorry but the doors do not enterchange, a unibody doors have a straight style line that arc down towards the back, all the rest have a kink to make the style line go straight back. If the doors are rusty or damaged beyond repair it might be tough to find replacement.
     
  30. The Big M
    Joined: Dec 22, 2005
    Posts: 232

    The Big M
    Member

    Yup. :D

    [​IMG]

    I thought the taillight lenses were the same as a '60 Ford p***enger car too. I picked some up at a swap meet, in fact. I never did try to fit them up though.

    Oops...

    And no, the doors do not interchange.
     

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