|
A 1920 Calumet Truck Body Corp. catalog offered a number of bodies for the
Model T and Model One-Ton chassis. Style 701 was a express body with
side-facing passenger seat, another body called the "all-purpose double
extension express box body" included downward folding grain-tight sides and
an integrated grain gate for farm use. Calumet continued to offer bodies
aimed at rural America offering an all-purpose express box and rack body in
1921 that could be used to carry small livestock, hay or equipment. As in
previous Calumet bodies, the sides could be dropped to facilitate easy
loading from all side of the vehicle.
xxxxx
Although some very early Ford trucks were sold with commercial bodies,
Ford discontinued the program in 1913.
For over ten years Ford had literally given away their truck body
business to independent builders around the country and in 1923 decided to
stop being so generous, and implemented a new fully equipped Ford Truck
sales program starting with the 1924 model year.
Some of the 1924 Ford brand commercial bodies were built at Ford's
Highland Park plant while others were outsourced from various suppliers who
included Budd and Simplex Manufacturing. The first body made available was
an all-steel express body, a canopy express body became available later in
the year in three popular styles; totally open, screen-sided or with roll-up
curtains.
The new Ford bodies were stocked by larger dealerships and could be
ordered individually through regional Ford distributors by smaller dealers,
who couldn't afford to keep them in inventory.
Following closely behind the express bodies was Ford's new enclosed cab
which were easily identified by their sloping windshields and half moon
openings in the rear quarters. By the middle of 1924 Ford had 8 distinct
fully equipped (cab, chassis & body) light trucks available across the
nation. Within 5 years many of the small commercial builders found
themselves out of business, while larger ones prospered, providing that they
were official Ford body suppliers.
|
