Has anyone ever found out about Ford trying to come up with a new version of its C-series tilt-cab trucks in the mid-'60s, using the cab from their E-series vans of the period?

James K. Wagner explains this in his history of Ford trucks, Ford Trucks Since 1905, on page 330 (the last page of the 1964 chapter). A photograph of the E-cab C-series is seen, with the following caption above it:
~Ben

 

Ben,

I would love to see a picture of the proposed truck. I had not heard of it. Those Dodge L600/700's that you mention are few and far between nowdays.

I can say this, owning both a 70' C600 and a 85' Cargostar I find the cab on the Ford C series to be much better from a drivers standpoint. Much more room. My better half likes the thicker foam in the Cargostar though on her side!

David

 

Here is the picture from page 330 of Ford Trucks Since 1905:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/73164368@N00/5632330967/" title="Ford C-series w/ E-Series cab by classictvman81, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5632330967_983ddd52e3_z.jpg" width="640" height="424" alt="Ford C-series w/ E-Series cab"></a>

And here is the Dodge L-series tilt-cab that was inspired by the above prototype:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/carhaul/4346234215/" title="Dodge L-Series tilt cab by PAcarhauler, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4346234215_efbd9e2fb1_z.jpg" width="640" height="445" alt="Dodge L-Series tilt cab"></a>

~Ben

 

I actually kind of like the way the "C/E" looks! I may be mistaken, but I think I used to have a pressed tin toy of some kind that looked like the really big Econoline.

 

One of the reason they had cab overs like that more back then was more on length restrictions then buyer preference.

I drove long haul for years, and talked to alot of old timers.

 

Excellent picture. Thank you!

I am glad though that they never made the change, I like the wider C series cab by far. That is one of the reasons that I never carred for the Dodge version. But then I don't care for narrow conventionals either.

Thanks again, David

 

I still think my favorite cab overs were the H-series trucks from the late '60s: a C-cab on top of fluted skirts that just looked tough. The W-series that replaced it just didn't have the same appeal for me.

One thing we liked about the C-series as opposed to the Chevy cab overs of the '60s/'70s was that the shifter was on the floor on the Ford whereas it was between the Chevy's driver's and two-man passenger seats in a kind of console that stayed in place when the cab was tilted. Shifting the Chevy just felt awkward, like pulling up on the collective in a helicopter (I'd later discover) to get into second and fourth gears. Sadly, we owned the Chevy along side of our '58 and '67 F-700s...never owned a C-series.

 

Having never flown a helicopter, I cant say I have direct collective experience ( I understand the principle) I would have to say you have a apt comparison to the shifting in the GMC/Chevy cabovers. I always found them unusal in the shifting, but arguably?!? a slightly more positive shift feel than the C series.

You don't see many of the GMC/Chevy cabovers anymore either. I will have to admit that I have been looking for one for some time now though to add to the C series and the Cargostar - but it has to be decent shape (zero rust) and auto equipped - I am 52 and I may die though before I happen across one though!

David

 

What is the British/South American Ford cabover model? For some reason "J-series" sticks in my mind. I don't have a picture, but I had countless Matchbox toys with this design cab and it sort of resembled the E-series but had a grille that had fluting like the N- and/or H-series if I recall correctly. The only one I saw in person was a by-then ancient version on a truck in Honduras.

 

In the UK there was the D-series and the K-series.

~Ben

 

There's a red 'Advance Design' GMC cabover parked next to a ranch house along the Sierra Hwy east of Saugus CA, but I doubt it has Hydra-Matic.

The best place I've found to look for old trucks is on the side roads of CA's Central Valley between Bakersfield and Modesto.

I found a 1923 Moreland in Newman off Hwy 33 (once known as the Central Valley Hwy before I-5 was opened), told a pal about it. He bought it, because it's one of the very few Moreland's extant.

This Moreland was manufactured in "beautiful downtown Burbank." The Moreland Motor Truck Co. was one of the very few companies that manufactured trucks in CA that were not associated with automakers.

 

I'm in Watsonville, CA and was just looking at the 'AutoShopper'. There is a 64 F-100 short bed. 6 w/3 on the tree. Also, 55' F-100 step. Both pretty good prices.

I'm not sure if its proper, so I didn't post any phone #s or prices. The pics say they run. If any one is interested send me a pm and I will respond. I would get them if I had a place and extra $$$. BUT, i don't. ;o(
Fritz

 

Wow, that was a pretty strange looking Ford cabover, glad they didn't replace the C series with it. About the Chevy/GMC steel tilt cabs, yes the shifter in those took some getting used to, but it was far more positive and durable than that mess in the C series! The manual shifter on a C needed constant lubrication and adjustment and always felt like a wet noodle. The C was a fine truck with an Allison automatic in it. The Chevy/GMC tilts were more cramped for 3 guys because of the shift lever between the seats, and for some stupid reason they didn't come with diesels after 1975 or so. They were a nice medium duty with the 350 or 427 Chevy engines.

 

Hey dmanlyr, theres a chevy cabover dump truck for sale up in friday harbor wa. Has a 6v53 and I think he said it had an automatic also..

 

Interesting pictures above. I never had any idea that the Dodge L-700 was based on a phantom (and good looking) Ford. I like the 'L"s too though. I saw this on eBay Motors a couple years ago. It went for over 60 thousand! What a cool rig!



I built this model in 1997. Pretty similar, don't you think?



But this is a C-disussion, is it not? Well, as my involvement in C ownership developes...I finally got some warm enough weather to go and work on my 700. With some buddies helping, we put an electric fuel pump in it. That 370 ran horrible. We pulled a couple plugs for a look. No wonder! Replaced all 8 of them and now it starts easily and runs smooth. One thing I didn't expect was how quiet it runs. I just kind of assumed it would be loud and obnoxious, but it's surprisingly smooth and quiet.

It still needs a master cylinder before I can drive it across town to my home. But that didn't stop me from trying out it's crane functions. It can go even higher than in this picture.


...And reaches this low:


Clowning around a bit, but the hydraulic winch operates like new. And I understand that the previous owner had it rebuilt.




All 6 functions; Left & right outriggers, elevation, extension, rotation, and winch all work smoothly. So now I have to get that master cylinder in it, and get to the paperwork, and I can bring it home. Can't wait, but I have to! Dan