Tracing back the gears of time, the story of Ford's iconic "P-R-N-D-L"

The 1950s marked a period of significant evolution for Ford Motor Company in both the automotive and truck sectors, characterized by engineering innovations and aggressive marketing strategies that aimed to capture the burgeoning post-war American market. Engineering Innovations: Starting with the 1949 models, Ford introduced a complete redesign that set the tone for the decade. This new line was characterized by more aerodynamic and modern styling, moving away from the pre-war designs. The Ford '49, as it was popularly known, featured a more integrated body design with smooth lines, which was a significant departure from the previous look. This design ethos continued into the 1950s, with each model year bringing incremental changes, but the 1952, 1955, and 1957 models were particularly notable for their styling advancements and engineering enhancements. The introduction of the overhead valve (OHV) V-8 engine in 1954 was a pivotal engineering achievement, leading to the launch of vehicles like the Thunderbird in 1955, which was Ford's answer to Chevrolet's Corvette. This engine was not only more powerful with its 181 horsepower but also set Ford apart in what became known as the horsepower race of the 1950s. The Fairlane Crown Victoria, introduced later in 1955, embodied luxury within the mid-price range, featuring this new V-8 engine alongside other engineering improvements like power steering and brakes, which became options in Ford's vehicles during this period. For trucks, the 1950s saw the further development of the F-Series, which had been introduced in 1948. The F-Series trucks evolved with the inclusion of a more robust chassis, new suspension systems, and eventually, the integration of V-8 engines, making them not only workhorses but also suitable for personal use. The F-100, in particular, became a cultural icon, known for its sleek design and versatility. Marketing Strategies: Ford's marketing in the 1950s was as dynamic as its engineering. The company leveraged the post-war economic boom, focusing on the American dream of owning a car. Ford capitalized on the new consumer culture by introducing vehicles that appealed to a wide demographic. The Thunderbird, for instance, was marketed not as a sports car but as a "personal car," emphasizing comfort and style over raw performance, aiming to attract both men and women. The introduction of models like the Edsel in 1958 was an ambitious marketing move. Named after Henry Ford's son, it was meant to fill the gap between Ford and Mercury in Ford's product lineup. Despite its innovative features like push-button transmission controls and a unique grille design, the Edsel was a commercial failure due to poor market reception, which highlighted the limits of marketing when not backed by consumer desire. Ford also pioneered safety features, introducing seat belts as standard in 1956, a move that was heavily marketed as part of Ford's commitment to customer safety. This era also saw Ford's advertising becoming more sophisticated, using television and print media to showcase their vehicles' modernity, performance, and styling. In summary, the 1950s were transformative for Ford. From engineering perspectives, the decade was about power, efficiency, and safety, while from a marketing standpoint, it was about capturing the spirit of an era filled with optimism and economic prosperity. Ford's vehicles during this decade not only shaped its destiny but also influenced the American automotive landscape profoundly.

Owning or restoring a Ford F100 means that you’ll need easy access to Ford F100 parts whenever you need them. You want the right parts to keep your classic humming along for as long as you own it. If you’ve had your Ford for several years, then you probably already know where to get your hands on Ford F100 parts when you need them. If you don’t know because you haven’t had any issues with the truck until now, there are a lot of different ways you can find what you need. Check out places where other classic vehicle enthusiasts gather and talk to them. You can find groups that hang out on or offline. In some towns, the local drive-in restaurant has an area where classic car owners will gather on the weekends in order to show off their cars. The best place that you can buy Ford F100 parts is from an online store where the employees know about older model cars and trucks and can easily locate or order exactly what you need and ship it right to your doorstep. C&G Ford Parts fits that bill nicely. If you’ve already diagnosed the issue with your Ford and know exactly what part it is that you need, then getting it is going to be fairly simple. But, if like a lot of people, you don’t have in depth knowledge about what could be causing your truck’s issue, the pros can help if they specialize in classic car parts. Many of the employees in a classic auto part business have a love and admiration for the classics and they really know the older vehicles inside and out. Plus, by serving a lot of classic car owners when they have needs, this business more than likely has a lot experience with a wide range of vehicle problems. They may have heard all kinds of stories about what’s going on with the Ford truck and helped other owners with the right Ford F100 parts. Not only will the site know what you’re looking for, but a lot of times, if you ask them how to put a part on, they can tell you how or share online video tutorials with you and save you time. You gain the benefit of their parts knowledge as well as their mechanical knowledge for the same price. What they may suggest and you may find helpful, is to get a catalog of the parts that they do carry so that you’ll have a listing of the parts and the prices. For most classic vehicle owners, they want their F100 truck in pristine condition inside and out. Getting a part that’s “good enough” isn’t enough, they want the best Ford F100 parts.

Since you buy all your classic Ford parts from us, we thought we would enlighten you to a product that you might find useful! Let’s say you’re cruising around town in your Classic Ford… you’re reveling in the number of folks you see looking at your ride (yes your car, not you anymore). You roll to a stop easily and decide to turn the corner and drive down Main Street to see if any of your buddies have made it to the Burger Barn. Suddenly, you feel “clunk” and you KNOW the old Ford didn’t come that way from the factory, so you begin to wonder “Hmmm, what could the old girl need now?”Finishing the cruise you head home and call it a night. Next day you’re up and at ‘em, headed out to the garage. You whizz past your wife in your grubby's and wonder for a moment why she has a big grin on her face, “Oh well, she musta been on the phone” you figure. With a big grin on your face and a wave to the wife, you whistle out loud as you head out the door thinking, “I’ll be at this most of the day” After organizing your tool box and getting everything ready for troubleshooting you begin to diagnose what could be ailing your “baby”. After troubleshooting for a while, you begin to realize that the bushing in the upper steering tube has worn out. It turned to rock and the steering shaft is wobbling around in the tube causing the clunk you felt last night. “Well, that’s a relief” you gush, “I don’t need to tear apart the front end!” “I wonder if Ford has a warranty recall on those” you chuckle to yourself as you pull your dog eared copy of your trusty C&G Ford Parts catalog off the shelf. You see that there is a replacement rubber upper bushing that often gets worn out over the years. “Just what I need” you think. “Hold the phone, what’s this?” you spot a new- fangled “kit” that only C&G has! This Upper Steering tube bearing kit includes bearing, spring, and bushing sleeve that replaces the original rubber bushing for a longer lasting, easier turning, tight fit. The kit includes a diagram to show you exactly where to install the parts, and in it what order. “Excellent” you whistle. So you pick up the phone, call C&G and after speaking to some friendly and knowledgeable parts folk, you have your kit on the way. A couple days later, your classic Ford parts show up and you’re ready to install the new B-3517-K kit you ordered. Remove the steering wheel. Remove original rubber bushing from over worm shaft. Install in this order- bearing , sleeve , spring. Make sure the tapered ends are facing down on both bearing and sleeve, drive the bearing down the worm shaft about 3/4" with a large socket, then let sleeve follow. Finally, put spring over worm shaft, in-between the sleeve and the steering wheel. Put steering wheel back on and tighten down the steering nut. No more play in the upper part of the column! Steering Tube Bearing Kit B-3517-K