My Great Grandmother had this exact same truck in this color (1975 I believe becuase it had the oranger front lights). They custom ordered it new, except theirs had the side storage pocket. I included a picture of one below as well. My grandfather bought the truck from her in 1991 when she got her a new ford, and he used it up until around 1997-98 when he literally wore it out using it as a work truck. It had a huge dent in it from where he dropped a crane knuckle on the bed. haha. I loved that truck and wish we still had it, but he sold it for $100 bucks to some guys that cut our yard.

Question is.....was that side storage pocket a rare option? I'd like tot know the proper name they used for it, and also I'd LOVE to know more about it becuase I have not seen but just a handful (less than 5) trucks in person of that era over the last 20 years with that option.

 

don't quote me on this but I think it was for a package that was called "camper special".....there also could be an extra leaf spring....

 

well it had the same interior and exterior as the first truck pictured....same color. THey never had a camper top nor had a "camper". The truck was 2wd, and seemed like it sat low to the ground (like the 2wd F-100's of that era). I feel like if it had an extra leaf spring it would have been a little taller. One time we had a load of steel on the back of it and the whole bed was dragging the ground (about an inch from it)!! THat extra spring (if it had one) would have helped it not do that!

 

it was actually heavier leaf springs and not an extra one....my bad

you don't need a camper to order the camper special package and the owner didn't have to put one on either...its not a requirement....

camper special is the option package that was added to the base package....the next upgrade was the explorer/ranger package that was added on to the camper special package

the f150 was also added in 1975

link>>> http://fordification.com/forum/viewt...st=0&sk=t&sd=a

the truck you have pictured is the ranger option package....its the camper special with a premium touch and ranger badges...

 

My buddy's dad's old truck had the same side toolbox.. But his truck had no camper.

We used to kick that toolbox before and after every baseball game for luck.. Good times...

 

its just an option package that Ford labelled "camper special"

that package upgrades were...

4.10 gears
heavier leaf springs
additional wiring pigtail for camper
there's a few more items I can't remember....

 

I remember seeing those doors back a looong time ago. Were pretty common where I live.

 

I believe that Ford also offered a stretched version of the pickup bed with the spare tire mounted under a large removable section of the outer bed surface between the cab and the rear wheel.

 

super camper special. Extended wheel base, spare tire mounted in a slide box in the bed.

 

No, ya'll are mixin' up two options. The camper specials had the set back axle, and the door was the access to the spare. Any other truck could be ordered with the side tool box.

One of like three options total ordered on my old '74 F-250 Custom



Adrianspeeder

 

No Adrian, i am right. a super camper special was available on f350 2wd and had a 140" WB, bed mounted sparem dana 70 rear, narrorwer frame, larger rear tires/wheels and heavier springs.

 

Yes, and that isn't the same as the toolbox side option pictured everywhere else in this thread.

Adrianspeeder

 

According to the Owners Manual, it's called Tool Stowage Box and was available on any truck. The Camper Specials were never F100's or F150's. There were 3 different Camper Specials- an F250 with a 360,390,or 460 engine. The standard axle ratios were 360/3.73, 390/3.54, and 460/3.73. GVWR were 6900,7500, and 8100 lbs. Then was the F350 Super Camper Special that only came with the 360 engine. GVWR at 8350,9000, and 10,000lbs. Rims were 16.5". The 3.73 was the standard axle with 4.10 available. Then there was the F350 Camper Special that was available as a 137" wheelbase and a 161" wheelbase. Engine was a 360. Axles were 3.73 and 4.10 with GVWR same as Super Camper Special. Optional equipment included Auxiliary gas tank, Power disc brakes, A/C, Sliding rear window, Tinted glass, Power steering, and heavy duty shocks. A dual battery was also an option.
Although this is an incredibly bad pic, this is my 74 F100 with a hopped up 390, cam, headers, heads, intake, carb, cooling system, ignition, fuel delivery, oil delivery system, pretty much everything.

 

i was refering to this post, adrian

 

Just to throw my hat in the mix, the majority of these BS trucks ive seen that have that box are the Contractor's Special, which was totally different than the Camper, Super Camper, or Explorer/Ranger package

Gotta love Ford, offering 75 flavors of the same truck (though vastly different in purpose and capability)...they are the Baskin Robbins of truck manufacturers.