History 4x4 Early Ford Pickup Discussion; Sure to Ruffle Some Feathers

Anybody else REALLY liking these period-looking 30’s Ford 4x4 conversions that have become more popular lately?





I know that the idea of putting an A through late 30’s pickup cab on a 4WD ch***is is nothing new, and perhaps even done in limited numbers during the hotrodding period. Regardless, I really like these “plausible reality” vehicles when done to a high standard.

Has anyone ever seen one done (like perhaps back in the day) on an early Willy’s Jeep pickup ch***is!? I believe the picture is a chopped down A Coupe with a pickup bed. I have no idea what it’s sitting on. My wheels are turning…

Shameless “artsy” photo of my ‘61 Willys pickup…



I’d kinda love to put the Willys on a more modern ch***is and actually use it (more) as a truck. But I’ve sort of painstakingly restored the original ch***is, with a really neat early 283 engine…



I know, I know…I’ll see myself out.

 

My 52 Marmon Herrington conversion. MH was a factory authorized accessory. Interesting enough, a man named Jesse Livingood did this with the Model Ts. He approached Ford about it, but Ford wanted the rights. Livingood didn’t like that idea, or so I read. 10-12 years later Ford entered in agreement with MH for 4wds. Nearly doubled the price of a Ford. Conversions were offered up til 48 on cars, and on half and 3/4 tons through 58. Later into 70s on one tons and up.

 

Oval badge on hood is identical to window in my shop office. 30s badges were upside down triangles.

 

I'm ok with 4x4's if they were offered from the factory and some of those 40's conversions are kinda neat. But it's a hard NO from me on 30's cars or trucks being turned into a 4x4.

 

This one has saved more potential hot rods from the crusher for close to fifty years, just turned 150k since built in the early 70s. I like them all factory or not. That A is just gorgeous.

 

But not traditional rodding, so.....

 

That A
Appropriate for this site?, probably not....cool?, a definite yes.

 

NO

 

I’m well aware of the MH conversions, and Napco stuff too, but I had never heard of the Livingood’s; thank you for sending me down that rabbit hole last night.

Maybe not in the sense of the dry lake era or 60’s show-rod era, but as we expand the definition of “traditional” hot rodding out to things like early hardtop dirt track racers and the other creations of Middle-America innovators…then maybe!?

Look, I’ve been a member of this site since the beginning. There’s a VERY narrow view of “traditional hot rodding” that says that if it doesn’t look like this car right here:



…then it’s not a “traditional” hot rod.

Back in the early 2000’s, people on this site were telling me that “they didn’t build them that low”:








And then a decade ago everybody said “nobody ever ran those ‘tractor tires’ on the front of a hotrod”:



Anyway, in all my digging, the only thing I’ve ever found to be 100% true is that they DID it ALL back in the day. And I’m not trying to make an argument that this IS in any way “traditional”, BUT, what you turn up when you ask questions like this never ceases to amaze me.

You should Google “Jesse Livingood Model T”…

 

While that Model A looks well executed, it doesn't do anything for me. Form follows function....
I love old trucks and vintage 4x4s, I own and use a bunch of em. I prefer the ones that have some function. That A looks like a show piece only.
"Phantom" trucks are cool to see though.
The Traditional part is just anybody's opinion......build and drive what you like! Whether they fit on the HAMB is up to the mods

 

Not a 4x4 and not "traditional" by most definitions but definitely severed a purpose back in the day.

 

It looks like it could use some more up travel in the front, but I know the guy drive’s the Hell out of it. @Rottenwood Garage had a build thread on here until the mods deleted it. I would have loved to have seen it.

 

good try, - but still no……….….. ……………

 

Those 4×4 examples are cool, but not hotrods, nor customs, by Ryan's definition, so they're not HAMB- appropriate.

You could always start your own internet board for "Old school 4×4 conversions.

 

IMO, most of you folks would not know " traditional " if it bit you in the ***.

Ben

 

There's nothing like a traditional Hot Rod!

And this is nothing like a traditional hot rod.

 

That was kind of my point, Ben. I’ve found plenty digging through vintage copy’s of Hot Rod and Hop Up that the HAMB’s own “traditional police” have gotten wrong over the years. All due respect to Ryan and what he has created here; I owe some of my best friendships to this website, but he has also empowered a generation of nose-pickers…err, nitpickers who hang out at cruise-ins just to pick apart a car that somebody else has poured their heart and soul into. And I’m not talking about 4x4 Model A’s, but cars that have the wrong shock mounts, or the wrong tires, or lord forbid an electric Mallory distributor, or a radiator made in the last 30 years.

What’s funny is some of these same folks will pay somebody else to build them a “hotrod” and then argue that the phrase “built not bought” should still apply to them because they had “the vision”. It reminds me of that episode of South Park with the Prius’ and fart smelling. But I digress…

 

I'm thinking the Antiquated section is the right forum.

 

I lower everything but I’d probably be game for a 55-57 GM NAPCO pickup.

 

I thought I had put it in the “History” section, but realize I accidentally clicked “Projects” so I fixed that. I am curious about the “History” of these types of creations, but the post itself is not outlining any particular “history”. So perhaps it should go over there…

 

You and me both!

 

Phantoms are traditional. Back in the day there were plenty of phantoms like dual cowl model t roadster sedans and such. I have seen plenty of model t’s and A’s with track conversions, skis and huge tires along with a few 4x4 conversions. Most were done for local mail carriers in rural areas. So while they may not have made the magazines of the day, they were definitely done.

 

YEP.

Ben

 

PS-This is a FANTASTIC video of a 1917 Livingood T Roadster in 2’ of snow. Not really HAMB appropriate, but I’m sure you’ll get a kick out of it: