About
1950 Ford F1 Marmon-Herrington AWD Ranger
The versatile Ranger was actually created in a two-stage conversion process. Starting with an F-1 Panel Truck, The Marmon-Herrington Company of Indianapolis, Indiana started the transformation by performing its usual four-wheel-drive conversion, using the same drivetrain conversion parts that were used in the conversion of the regular F-1 Pickups. This included the installation of a Spicer 41-type front axle assembly (complete with what were probably the earliest examples of constant velocity joints, or “CV” joints), heavy-duty front and rear suspensions, and a single-speed “compensating” transfer case attached to the Ford floor-shift four-speed non-sincronized or “spur-gear” transmission. All Rangers were built from only the V-8 equipped half-ton Panel Trucks. Following the mechanical upgrades, the Ranger was sent to the shop of Siebert in Ohio, a coachbuilder specializing in hearses, limousines, and the like. Siebert completed the truck by installing two-piece windows in each of the four new side openings they fashioned in the panel body. (a step requiring the repainting of the truck). The upper interior was finished with a fabric headliner. Fabric-covered panels finished off the interior sides. Original metal floor strips were removed and the wood rear floor was covered with a machine shop type black rubber mat. Extra rear seating was attached to the floor using special hook-in front legs and rear leg staves that plugged in to the floor mounted spring loaded receivers as used in the 50s Ford Woodies. This allowed you to have the seats in or out as you preferred. Despite aspirations of selling scores of Rangers, production never really took off, most likely due to the huge numbers of inexpensive surplus four-wheel-drive jeeps and other vehicles that were available due to the Korean War. In fact, the peak of production came in 1950, the vehicle’s first year, when an estimated 35 were built. Surviving Marmon-Herrington shop employees from that period recall that only about 50 Rangers of all years were produced.
Please note: All photos are for reference use. All were either taken by me or downloaded from the internet. If any of these photos are owned by someone who does not want them on this site, just contact me and I will remove them. Enjoy the shots
History of this Vehicle
This Ranger is one of the 12 surviving 1950 models that have been accounted for. Twenty Rangers of all years combined, have been verified and recorded in the Registry that has been created for Marmon Herrington converted Ford vehicles. This Ranger was owned by Dr. Robert Goulding and is known to be the very first Ranger built. I spoke with the former wife of Dr. Goulding when she was 84, and she told me that they were the original owners of this first Ranger sold. She said her husband, Robert sent a telegram to The Marmon Herrington Co. asking to purchase the first Ranger, which would be used in his practice in the back country of Bowman, North Dakota. They received a reply granting his request for the very first one built, and were told that it wasn’t finished yet. They picked up the Ranger from the Marmon Herrington company in Indianapolis Indiana, in September of 1949, and went on to visit Roberts’ brother in Washington D.C., where he worked under President Truman. They parked the new Ranger in his brothers parking space in front of the White House, and there it sat for its’ first week until they left for home.
Plans for this Vehicle
Restore to original.
Sponsors & Special Thanks
Chucks Trucks in Hamden Ct has been very helpful with the information and parts I need to do the restoration correctly. Chuck is widely known as the leading authority on Marmon Herrington converted Ford Trucks See his M-H trucks and other award winning restorations at http://www.chuckstrucksllc.com/startframe.htm
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