How many 1947 Ford pickups were made?
Estimates commonly place the production of 1947 Ford pickups in the low-to-mid hundreds of thousands—roughly 180,000 to 230,000 units—with the most frequently cited midpoint near 200,000. No single official Ford figure for that model year is publicly published.
The question of exact numbers is complicated by the transitional postwar period, the distinction between calendar-year production and model-year designations, and the way Ford tracked “Bonus-Built” trucks in the late 1940s. This article lays out what is known, what is debated, and how researchers approach the figure.
Context: Ford's postwar pickups and the 1947 model year
In 1947, Ford continued its "Bonus-Built" program for light trucks, updating designs and features to reflect wartime production constraints and civilian demand. The 1947 pickups are often discussed alongside 1946 and 1948 trucks as part of a transitional era in the F-Series lineage. Because Ford did not publish precise production tallies for that year, historians rely on factory records, dealership inventories, and registration data to estimate totals.
How production numbers are estimated
With no single published Ford statistic for 1947 pickups, researchers compile estimates from multiple sources, including dealer catalogs, assembly plant records, and period trade publications. The resulting figures tend to be presented as ranges rather than a single exact count.
The following ranges reflect commonly cited estimates found in car histories and registries:
- 180,000–210,000 units
- 190,000–230,000 units
- About 200,000 units (midpoint frequently cited)
These ranges illustrate the uncertainty surrounding the official tally. The variation arises from whether counts refer to calendar year production, model-year output, or include all variants classified as a pickup during the transitional period. Additionally, regional and supplier-level records can skew totals slightly higher or lower.
Summary
In short, while many collectors and historians converge on a broad estimate—roughly 180,000 to 230,000 1947 Ford pickups—the exact official count has not been publicly published by Ford. The best available guidance places the figure near the 200,000 mark, acknowledging that precise totals vary by counting method. The era’s record-keeping practices and transitional product lines account for much of the discrepancy, making a single, authoritative figure elusive.
What engine came in a 1947 Ford truck?
Postwar, it became the V8-69 (suffixed "A" in Fords, "M" in Mercurys), with compression 6.75:1, 100 hp (75 kW), and 180 lb⋅ft (244 N⋅m). For 1947 and 1948, only the designation changed, to V8-79 and -89. The 239 was redesigned in 1948 as the 8RT for Ford trucks and in 1949 as the 8BA for the cars.
What is a 1947 Ford truck worth today?
Typically, you can expect to pay around $22,878 for a 1947 Ford Deluxe in good condition with average spec. What is the highest selling price of a 1947 Ford Deluxe? The highest selling price of a 1947 Ford Deluxe at auction over the last three years was $28,080.
What is the rarest Ford truck ever made?
The rarest Ford truck is likely the 1991 Ford Skyranger, a convertible pickup converted from a Ranger by an independent company, with fewer than 20 made. Other contenders for the rarest include a 1979 Dearborn 4x4 F-150 and an early 1950s custom crew cab built for the USAF.
You can watch this video to learn about some of the rarest Ford trucks: 1mDentside DepotYouTube · Jul 28, 2025
Rarest Ford Trucks
- 1991 Ford Skyranger: This is the most commonly cited rarest Ford truck, as it was a limited-production, non-factory convertible pickup based on the Ranger. Fewer than 20 were built, making them incredibly rare today.
- 1979 Dearborn 4x4 F-150: This truck is a special, limited-production model built by a company called Coachman Industries. Production numbers are very low, and some enthusiasts have never heard of them.
- 1950s USAF Custom Crew Cab: A custom-built crew cab from the 1950s, believed to be a 1953 model, was built under special contract for the U.S. Air Force. Only 47 were built.
- 1979 F-150 Freewheeling Package B: Only 892 of these were made, featuring a specific short bed, factory wagon wheels, and chromatic stripes.
This video discusses the rare 1979 Dearborn Edition F-150: 59sDentside DepotYouTube · Aug 23, 2025
How many 1947 Ford coupes were made?
He says records indicate that the 16.5-foot-long coupe was originally a West Virginia car and sold new with a base price of $1,410. Ford made 80,830 similar models in 1947. Beneath the hood is the original 239-cubic-inch flathead V8 engine with an output rated at 100 horsepower.
