{"id":3739,"date":"2020-06-11T10:46:05","date_gmt":"2020-06-10T22:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thesurgery.co.nz\/?p=3739"},"modified":"2020-06-11T20:13:07","modified_gmt":"2020-06-11T08:13:07","slug":"franks-dream-1949-ford-bonus-f1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thesurgery.co.nz\/photography\/franks-dream-1949-ford-bonus-f1\/","title":{"rendered":"Frank’s Dream – 1949 Ford Bonus F1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Perhaps one of the greatest classic pickups of all time, the Ford Bonus F-1 is a study of simplicity and style. By Ashley Webb, photography John Galvin<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the 1940s, Ford battled financial issues but fought back with several successful new products. Although the decade will always be remembered as \u2018The War Years\u2019, Ford produced some vehicles outside of its war effort that are still very much sought after by enthusiasts today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January 1948, a new era began at the Ford Motor Company with the release of a new range of trucks. Ford promoted this range as the \u2018Bonus Built Line\u2019. It featured an extensive range of models with different cab and chassis combinations starting out with the light-duty half-ton-rated F-1 pickup trucks through to the extra heavy-duty, three-ton-rated F-8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fresh new look of the F-series line-up was met with a positive response from the buying public. The squared-off front guards wrapped smoothly into the front fascia, which contained a prominent horizontal-
bar grille. Rear guards were styled to match the profile of the fronts, plus for the first time, a one-piece windscreen to tie it all together into one very handsome truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For 1949, the truck line was not affected. All trucks shared the same corporate face of the 1948 redesign, regardless of chassis set-up or weight class so they could easily be identified as a Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
THE PERFECT CHOICE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On 28 October 1998, Frank Gibson purchased this 1948 Ford Bonus pickup truck for approximately $12K from someone nearby in Paraparaumu. After some initial maintenance work, it was warranted four months later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Frank was no stranger to working on anything mechanical. He\u2019d Motorbikes became Frank\u2019s passion during his teenage years. He spent most of his free time either working on his bike, or fixing bikes for other people. Frank was also the first person in Hull, Yorkshire (his birthplace) to import chopper parts from the US and soon found himself fitting them for his customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On long rides with his biker \u2018gang\u2019, Frank rode at the back to ensure that no one was left behind and to lend a hand for any mechanicals at the side of the road. He was the \u2018Guy Martin\u2019 of Hull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Given his passion for all things mechanical from an early age, Frank\u2019s career was hardly surprising. After leaving school at 16, he worked as a mechanic for several different garages before ending up at British Gas, eventually becoming the foreman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
been interested in metalwork and engineering from the age of 11, building and making things for his three younger brothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n