Can anyone tell me what year Ford started production on the C cab truck? I would like to use the trucks made by Athearn on my layout.
I guess it was sometime in the late 50’s but i’m not sure.
There was a review of the athearn ford “C” last year in RMC (i think). anyway it went throught the history of the ford “c” and the little details to look for (i.e. the word “ford” versus the blue ford oval) and i argee with mustanggt it was in the 50’s. and i still see them on the road today, mostly fire trucks.
I believe 1957 - note that Mack and Ford shared the same Cab (from Budd) for several years (late 1950s-1960s), and that during that period the headlights on the Ford were dual headlights (like the old Revell model), not the later Single headlights of the Athearn model.
Last year of production was in the late 1980s (perhaps it made it to 1990)
I saw so many of these trucks as a kid growing up in the 60s and 70s. They were everywhere! Municipalities and utilities also used them. Tough quality and cheap. Sure gave GM a run for the money.
I remember them used as box trucks, small garbage trucks, flat beds, and even fire/rescue vehicles in small towns.
Athearn did a beautiful job with the model. I plan on buying several. (would be call to make them light up!) [:p][;)]
Ironic that today, Ford Motor Company is in such bad shape that it’s being forced to downsize to effectively compete. [V]
But I have them on my 1952ish pike cause I feel like it. [:-^]
There are not enough vintage autos on the market… The new CMW WC22’s are awesome though.
Dave,have you checked out sylvan scale models,and don mills models? nice trucks for your era.Ford fire trucks are still around.
I drove one brand new 1957 for a freight company in CT,they were single head liteand 1n 1958 them came out with dual headlites,they were the best unit for making city deliveries because they had great turning radius,especially on the tight streets and alley ways you would have to manuver.
There are several of the Ford C Cabs running around in this area today. Several for smaller local fire departments and several for an LCL carrier.
And, a few months ago, GM announced similar layoffs and plant closings. And they sold off the locomotive division, EMD, and borrowed more money, before that.
And, Chrysler was saved from bankruptcy, or take-over, by being bought by German Daimler-Benz; this after Washington gave them almost 2 billion dollars in loan guarantees in 1980.
So, its just not Ford.
Actually, Ford continues to earn a profit in total worldwide operations, but loses money here in North American sales.
Last year, I had to drive a old c cab that had steering so loose I was constantly spinning the wheel around just to go straight; the trans was so loose it took a couple tries to find a gear, and the air brakes leaked so bad, that I had to pump them up every time i need to stop. And i had to drive this frigging cab-over, with no hood in front to protect me, all over NYC and northern NJ for my job. Crazy.
Greg
Greg
Thanks Greg,
Still though, I feel bad for the dedicated workers that will be cut from the payrolls.
A little clarification here? Are we talking about modern trucks, or model T’s with C-Cabs? The old original was a cab with a back, top, windshield, and half-way sides shaped like a “C”. The model T’s were made from 1908-1927, and Model A’s were made from 1928 to sometime in the mid-thirties, with the same C-Cab option.
Greg
no,modern(50’s to 80’s),c cab model fords,like athearn makes,excellent model btw
I saw the news earlier. Yes, Ford is still profitable but what was pointed out is that it’s not just the high overhead, but many American consumers have been shying away from Ford products. Especially the gas drinking SUVs, which were a big hit just a few years ago.
Another factor pointed out is that when quality deteriorated back in the 80s, many of us turned to import vehicles and haven’t looked back inspite ot the fact that GM, Ford, and Chrysler worked hard to improve quality. Ford and Chrysler pickup trucks are tough to beat. What many people need to remember is that once you get a reputation for producing junk, years can go by; you can make the best product on the planet;…but the customers that were around during the “junk period” don’t forget!! So the battle today is to win them back…some have come back but according to the report it’s been a tough one.[:p]
A good example of this is Life Like. When I first heard of the Proto 2000 line, I laughed and said “No way, no how!” It took 10 years but I eventually bought my 1st P2K, an E7. I was very pleasantly surprised.[:D][;)]
I remember back in the late 1980s my friends gradually getting rid of their Camaros and Mustangs and buying vehcles like Toyota Corollas and NIssan Sentras. We were in our 20s then. None wanted a Ford, even though they were comfortable and affordable. I criticiezed one of them . He told me: “Try a Japanese car”. I did and have been a Toyota owner since. Today, in our 40s every single one of us has at least one Japanese vehicle in our driveway.