Sighting Problems on a late Inland

[USGI]

Charlie, my original '52 headlight "doors" (Ford's name for bezels or rims) were "argent painted steel," kind of a silvery gray. Mine were rusting, so I got the chrome plated ones from of a '51 that a neighbor was parting out. The trim "spears" on the sides of the hood are stainless. The Five Star "Extra" Cab models have additional trim on the hood sides, plus stainless trim around the windshield. Mine never had hubcaps when I got it, but my understanding is that '52 hubcaps were also argent painted steel rather than "bright plated" as used on '51 models. The '48 to early '50 beds had wood over steel, I believe. I understand there was a nationwide steel strike going on in '52 as well as the defense related restrictions to conserve scarce metals. The molding on the nose of the hoods are chromed on a '51 and painted (body color) on a '52. On the '52, they went back to the separate FORD "block letters" that had been used from '48-'50 -just below the molding. Yep, shouldn't have got off topic - but interesting to "talk" about. This stuff is like carbines though, always variations in trucks coming from different plants with different sub-contractors, older parts to use up, etc. - Bob

Oh, the front hood molding is completely gone on the Forest Gump pickup.