the fin man
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2010/01/11 Ford Trucks
Trivia Questions (answers below)
1. What was the first model year for the Ford F-150?
2. In what year did the movie ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ open? Was it, A. 1947; B. 1957; C. 1967 or D. 1977?
3. Can you name two or more of the primary cast members?
4. Back in the early seventies, what camera company had a 35mm, single lens reflex model named ‘F-1’?
5. The ‘F-1’ visa allows what sort of people into the United States?
6. On March 31, 1998, this high performance, English sports car, with model designation ‘F-1’, set the record for the fastest production car in the world at 240 miles per hour. What was the brand name of this very limited production automobile?
7. I remember listening to the VOA on my shortwave radio late at night when I was a teenager. On February 1, 1948, the Soviet Union began ‘jamming’ the signal of this pro-American broadcasting operation. What was the name of this radio program which was transmitted worldwide via shortwave signals?
8. Born February 4, 1948, Vincent Damon Furnier is an American hard rock singer and musician known for his theatrically gory stage performances. What is his stage name?
2. In what year did the movie ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ open? Was it, A. 1947; B. 1957; C. 1967 or D. 1977?
3. Can you name two or more of the primary cast members?
4. Back in the early seventies, what camera company had a 35mm, single lens reflex model named ‘F-1’?
5. The ‘F-1’ visa allows what sort of people into the United States?
6. On March 31, 1998, this high performance, English sports car, with model designation ‘F-1’, set the record for the fastest production car in the world at 240 miles per hour. What was the brand name of this very limited production automobile?
7. I remember listening to the VOA on my shortwave radio late at night when I was a teenager. On February 1, 1948, the Soviet Union began ‘jamming’ the signal of this pro-American broadcasting operation. What was the name of this radio program which was transmitted worldwide via shortwave signals?
8. Born February 4, 1948, Vincent Damon Furnier is an American hard rock singer and musician known for his theatrically gory stage performances. What is his stage name?
Trivia Answers
1. The ‘F-1’ was the first generation of what are still referred to as
the ‘F-series’ pickups. The second generation F-100 was introduced in
1953 and the F-150 arrived for model year 1975 as the ‘heavy’ half ton.
It ran concurrently with the F-100 until the end of model year 1983
when the F-100 was discontinued with the F-150 taking its place as the
entry level half ton.
2. The movie was released in 1967.
3. Cast members included Julie Andrews as Millie Dillmount; James Fox as Jimmy Smith; Mary Tyler Moore as Miss Dorothy Brown; John Gavin as Trevor Graydon; Carol Channing as Muzzy Van Hossmere; Beatrice Lillie as Mrs. Meers; Jack Soo as Bun Foo and Pat Morita as Ching Ho.
4. Introduced in 1971, the F-1 was a popular top-of-the-line model by Canon.
5. The F-1 visa allows students to enter the United States for the purpose of pursuing their educational goals.
6. The F-1 visa allows students to enter the United States. 6. The F-1 was a high performance sports car made by McLaren Automotive. Only three other production cars have surpassed it in sheer speed, but the F-1 stills holds the record for naturally aspirated production cars. In 1994, AutoCar stated in a road test regarding the F1, "The McLaren F1 is the finest driving machine yet built for the public road." and that "The F1 will be remembered as one of the great events in the history of the car, and it may possibly be the fastest production road car the world will ever see."
7. Launced in 1942, with the primary purpose of disseminating news about World War II, the official external radio and television broadcasting service of the United States federal government is known as the Voice of America. And, in case you thought VOA was history, think again. The program has gone high-tech and is now on the internet, but still maintains regular shortwave-radio broadcasts.
8. Reporting on his Theatre of Death tour which featured his 2008 release album Along Came a Spider, The Times remarked that the show featured "enough fake blood to remake Saving Private Ryan". In case you haven’t figured it out by now, the artist referred to is Alice Cooper.
2. The movie was released in 1967.
3. Cast members included Julie Andrews as Millie Dillmount; James Fox as Jimmy Smith; Mary Tyler Moore as Miss Dorothy Brown; John Gavin as Trevor Graydon; Carol Channing as Muzzy Van Hossmere; Beatrice Lillie as Mrs. Meers; Jack Soo as Bun Foo and Pat Morita as Ching Ho.
4. Introduced in 1971, the F-1 was a popular top-of-the-line model by Canon.
5. The F-1 visa allows students to enter the United States for the purpose of pursuing their educational goals.
6. The F-1 visa allows students to enter the United States. 6. The F-1 was a high performance sports car made by McLaren Automotive. Only three other production cars have surpassed it in sheer speed, but the F-1 stills holds the record for naturally aspirated production cars. In 1994, AutoCar stated in a road test regarding the F1, "The McLaren F1 is the finest driving machine yet built for the public road." and that "The F1 will be remembered as one of the great events in the history of the car, and it may possibly be the fastest production road car the world will ever see."
7. Launced in 1942, with the primary purpose of disseminating news about World War II, the official external radio and television broadcasting service of the United States federal government is known as the Voice of America. And, in case you thought VOA was history, think again. The program has gone high-tech and is now on the internet, but still maintains regular shortwave-radio broadcasts.
8. Reporting on his Theatre of Death tour which featured his 2008 release album Along Came a Spider, The Times remarked that the show featured "enough fake blood to remake Saving Private Ryan". In case you haven’t figured it out by now, the artist referred to is Alice Cooper.
Ford's truck lineup in 1950 boasted over 175 models
Yes Pablo... before there was a Ford F-150, there was a F-100... and
before that there was a F-1. Ford’s truck lineup for 1950, including
pickups, cab overs, conventional tractors, dumps, vans, etc. totalled
over 175 models.
It may not be possible for the Gen-Xers and later to remember back when F-1s rolled the back country roads, but The FIN MAN remembers. I was just a young lad of course, but I do remember the unique styling of Ford’s venerable pickups of the early fifties. I don’t know what other car and truck spotters called the twin air intakes on the hood of the F-1s, but this very recognizable feature reminded me of ‘nostrils’. The trademark styling cue, most likely borrowed from the aircraft industry, was unique to Ford’s little work horse. A new for ‘48, one piece windshield and headlights integrated into the front fenders were styling features which gave the new Ford pickup a more contemporary look. You might even say it was ‘thoroughly modern’... Millie! (I know. Bad.)
Nineteen fifty-one and fifty-two models got a nose job with less prominent ‘nostrils’ and a new grill featuring a heavy bar connecting the headlights.
As a kid from north St. Louis (and later north county), I had very little exposure to pickup trucks. They definitely had not gained the urban acceptance that they have enjoyed for the past few decades. My father had a Dodge 1/2 ton with a big board for a front bumper, which he used to ‘push’ customer’s cars back to the station for service when we couldn’t get them started. Despite his business being located in an affluent part of town, the budget at Han-De Super Service couldn’t accommodate a fancy ‘wrecker’ with a winch and hoist. And, although my dad’s aunt Frieda had a small livestock farm in Staunton, Illinois, she and her brother, uncle Walter, were up in the years and well past the driving stage of their lives when I came along.
What’s all this got to do with the Ford F-1? Not a darn thing, except to prove that for this kid, pickup trucks were something with which I was not very familiar... and my aunt Dorothy wouldn’t have been caught dead in one!
One look at a 2010 F-150 and you can see just how far pickup trucks have advanced in the past few decades. Today’s F-150 offers a plethora of performance, convenience and comfort options which would have been inconceivable back ‘in the day’. When prospective buyers walked into their local Ford dealer to order a F-1, options were few. The base power plant was a 3.7 liter (226 cubic inches for us old school folks) straight six which produced a meager 95 horsepower. The optional, (and barely larger at 3.9 liters) flat head V-8, just managed to break the triple digit barrier at 100 horses. Monitoring engine functions was accomplished by a full set of gauges. No ‘idiot lights’ here, thank you very much!
The scant list of options included the ‘See-Clear’ foot-operated windshield washer; a passenger wiper and sun visor; twin horns and twin taillights. Yes, only one taillight came standard. The light duty F-1s had a six foot bed whereas the heavier F-2 and F-3s were fitted with eight foot beds. The F-series trucks were built in sixteen plants and you can bet your last George Washington dollar all those plants were erected on American soil.
F-1 buyers, like most pickup owners of the period, had to know how to drive a stick, because there was no such thing as an automatic transmission on the options list.
A modest selection of sixteen colors was offered, which spanned model years 1947 through 1951. The list included:
A quick glance at the web turned up a handful of F-1s for sale, ranging from a rusty but solid example being offered for four grand, to a very nicely restored specimen with an asking price of $25,000.00.
There are a number of clubs dedicated to Ford truck enthusiasts including the Classic Ford Truck Club. If you have a thirst for more knowledge on the subject, go to fordtruckclub.com on the web. And, if you really want to ‘get involved’, be sure top visit the 2010 F-100 Supernational and All Ford Show being held this year on May 13, 14 and 15 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. For information on this event, contact show chairman Charlie Cobble at 423-623-4644.
Don’t forget to look me up at It’s A Gas, the midwest’s premiere petroliana show THIS Friday and Saturday in Columbia, MO. Neither rain nor snow will stop vendors who come from across the country to attend this annual event. Early bird ticket pricing is available for Friday afternoon. If you intend to come for Saturday only, GET THERE EARLY (doors open at 7AM), as vendors usually start packing things up shortly afternoon, depending on turnout. Food is available in the building. Admission is $8.00 per person on Saturday; $25.00 for early birds on Friday. The all-indoor show is held at the Boone County Fairgrounds, just three miles north of Columbia on Route 63. I suggest a Friday arrival with overnight accommodations at the Regency Premiere Hotel in downtown Columbia and dinner out at The Pasta Factory. You won’t be disappointed!
For more information, call John or Mike at (573) 592-1991 during business hours.
Don’t miss this show. It really IS a GAS!
And, watch for ‘Pablo’s Picks’tm to appear on The Fin Man’s site after our visit the auto show at the end of this month.
Yes Pablo... before there was a Ford F-150, there was a F-100... and
before that there was a F-1. Ford’s truck lineup for 1950, including
pickups, cab overs, conventional tractors, dumps, vans, etc. totalled
over 175 models. It may not be possible for the Gen-Xers and later to remember back when F-1s rolled the back country roads, but The FIN MAN remembers. I was just a young lad of course, but I do remember the unique styling of Ford’s venerable pickups of the early fifties. I don’t know what other car and truck spotters called the twin air intakes on the hood of the F-1s, but this very recognizable feature reminded me of ‘nostrils’. The trademark styling cue, most likely borrowed from the aircraft industry, was unique to Ford’s little work horse. A new for ‘48, one piece windshield and headlights integrated into the front fenders were styling features which gave the new Ford pickup a more contemporary look. You might even say it was ‘thoroughly modern’... Millie! (I know. Bad.)
Nineteen fifty-one and fifty-two models got a nose job with less prominent ‘nostrils’ and a new grill featuring a heavy bar connecting the headlights.
As a kid from north St. Louis (and later north county), I had very little exposure to pickup trucks. They definitely had not gained the urban acceptance that they have enjoyed for the past few decades. My father had a Dodge 1/2 ton with a big board for a front bumper, which he used to ‘push’ customer’s cars back to the station for service when we couldn’t get them started. Despite his business being located in an affluent part of town, the budget at Han-De Super Service couldn’t accommodate a fancy ‘wrecker’ with a winch and hoist. And, although my dad’s aunt Frieda had a small livestock farm in Staunton, Illinois, she and her brother, uncle Walter, were up in the years and well past the driving stage of their lives when I came along.
What’s all this got to do with the Ford F-1? Not a darn thing, except to prove that for this kid, pickup trucks were something with which I was not very familiar... and my aunt Dorothy wouldn’t have been caught dead in one!
One look at a 2010 F-150 and you can see just how far pickup trucks have advanced in the past few decades. Today’s F-150 offers a plethora of performance, convenience and comfort options which would have been inconceivable back ‘in the day’. When prospective buyers walked into their local Ford dealer to order a F-1, options were few. The base power plant was a 3.7 liter (226 cubic inches for us old school folks) straight six which produced a meager 95 horsepower. The optional, (and barely larger at 3.9 liters) flat head V-8, just managed to break the triple digit barrier at 100 horses. Monitoring engine functions was accomplished by a full set of gauges. No ‘idiot lights’ here, thank you very much!
The scant list of options included the ‘See-Clear’ foot-operated windshield washer; a passenger wiper and sun visor; twin horns and twin taillights. Yes, only one taillight came standard. The light duty F-1s had a six foot bed whereas the heavier F-2 and F-3s were fitted with eight foot beds. The F-series trucks were built in sixteen plants and you can bet your last George Washington dollar all those plants were erected on American soil.
F-1 buyers, like most pickup owners of the period, had to know how to drive a stick, because there was no such thing as an automatic transmission on the options list.
A modest selection of sixteen colors was offered, which spanned model years 1947 through 1951. The list included:
- Silvertone Gray
- Sheridan blue
- Alpine Blue
- Sea Island Green
- Tucson Tan
- Rotunda Gray
- Barcelona Blue
- Glade Green
- Meadow Green
- Birch Gray
- Vermilion (bright red)
- Chrome (yellow)
- Monsoon Maroon
- Shoal Green
- Strata Blue
- Feather Gray
A quick glance at the web turned up a handful of F-1s for sale, ranging from a rusty but solid example being offered for four grand, to a very nicely restored specimen with an asking price of $25,000.00.
There are a number of clubs dedicated to Ford truck enthusiasts including the Classic Ford Truck Club. If you have a thirst for more knowledge on the subject, go to fordtruckclub.com on the web. And, if you really want to ‘get involved’, be sure top visit the 2010 F-100 Supernational and All Ford Show being held this year on May 13, 14 and 15 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. For information on this event, contact show chairman Charlie Cobble at 423-623-4644.
Don’t forget to look me up at It’s A Gas, the midwest’s premiere petroliana show THIS Friday and Saturday in Columbia, MO. Neither rain nor snow will stop vendors who come from across the country to attend this annual event. Early bird ticket pricing is available for Friday afternoon. If you intend to come for Saturday only, GET THERE EARLY (doors open at 7AM), as vendors usually start packing things up shortly afternoon, depending on turnout. Food is available in the building. Admission is $8.00 per person on Saturday; $25.00 for early birds on Friday. The all-indoor show is held at the Boone County Fairgrounds, just three miles north of Columbia on Route 63. I suggest a Friday arrival with overnight accommodations at the Regency Premiere Hotel in downtown Columbia and dinner out at The Pasta Factory. You won’t be disappointed!
For more information, call John or Mike at (573) 592-1991 during business hours.
Don’t miss this show. It really IS a GAS!
And, watch for ‘Pablo’s Picks’tm to appear on The Fin Man’s site after our visit the auto show at the end of this month.
Half a century of cleaning and detailing show cars, and half a decade managing one of the largest detailing shops in the metro St. Louis area qualifies Bruce Kunz to offer you his
Detailing Tip of the Week:
If you live in St. Louis, the nasty residue of road chemicals put down over the last week or so, has your car looking like a cookie rolled in powered sugar. That white coating isn’t very tasty though, and in fact can be damaging to your car’s delicate finish.
Try to resist the temptation to wash your car until the outside temperature is above freezing. If you must wash your car before that, be sure to wipe down the door jambs with a highly absorbent cloth, like my favorite the Auto Spa micro fiber towel... the one I like to call the FIN MAN’s ‘seven dollar rag’.
If you think the Sham Wow is wonderful, you’re going to say "wow man!" when you pick up the Auto Spa towel. First of all, it doesn’t stick to every little rough spot on the palm of your hand. I hate those cheap micro fibre towels that you just want to shake off your hands. Somehow the Auto Spa folks have found a way to make micro fiber cloth palm friendly. Use this towel (which holds seven times its weight in water) to thoroughly wipe down all rubber seals around your doors and the mating jamb surfaces. This will prevent the residual moisture from freezing up when the temperature drops below freezing overnight.
If you don’t dry these seals, you may damage the rubber strips as you attempt to open the door after the moisture has frozen.
Content copyright . Bruce Kunz. All rights reserved.
