What is a Ford style side bed?
The Ford style-side bed, commonly referred to as Styleside, is Ford’s smooth, flat-sided pickup bed design that debuted in the 1950s as an alternative to the older stepped bed. It features clean exterior panels and wheel wells tucked inside the bed rather than projecting into the side, giving the truck a straighter, more utilitarian silhouette.
Origins and naming
Ford introduced the smooth, flat-sided bed— marketed as Styleside or Style-Side—early in the modern F-Series era to distinguish it from the earlier stepped bed designs. The Styleside bed emphasizes uninterrupted side panels and interior wheelhouses, which contributed to easier manufacturing, a wider bed opening, and a cleaner aesthetic. Over the decades, the Styleside designation became the standard way to describe Ford’s smooth-bedded pickups, in contrast to the older Stepside (also known as Flare-Side in some markets) beds that featured outwardly bulging fenders and built-in steps.
Before we dive into specifics, here are the defining characteristics that help identify a Ford Styleside bed across generations.
Key identification features
- Smooth, flat exterior side panels with minimal decorative humps
- Wheel wells located inside the bed, not forming pronounced outside arches
- Straight, unobtrusive side profiles that align with the truck’s body lines
- Tailgate and bed floor design that supports wide cargo access without stepped features
In practice, these features distinguish a Styleside bed from Ford’s earlier stepped beds and from other brands’ stepside or flareside configurations.
How it differs from other bed types
To understand the Ford Styleside, it helps to compare it with other bed layouts—especially the stepped designs that were common in earlier eras and on some rival trucks. The following points summarize the main differences.
- Stepside/Flare-Side beds have exterior wheel arches that create a stepped look along the side, while Styleside beds keep a flat, uninterrupted side surface.
- Styleside beds tuck the wheel wells inside the bed, whereas Stepside beds expose more of the wheel arches along the outside of the bed.
- Body lines on Styleside beds are typically straighter and more aligned with the truck’s main panels, aiding a cleaner overall silhouette.
- Part compatibility and restoration parts can vary between Styleside and Stepside generations, so correct identification matters for authenticity.
Understanding these distinctions helps collectors, restorers, and enthusiasts accurately date and outfit Ford pickup trucks, preserving historical accuracy and value.
Practical implications for collectors and restorers
For vintage Ford pickups, recognizing a Styleside bed is more than branding—it influences part availability, restoration approaches, and originality value. The bed type affects which fenders, tailgates, inner bed components, and even pickup trim were originally paired with a given model year.
- Part compatibility varies between Styleside and Stepside generations, so verify the exact year and model before sourcing panels or hardware.
- Restoration work may require specific inner wheelhouses, bed braces, and tailgate assemblies designed for Styleside beds.
- Good documentation and reference photos help ensure authenticity, particularly for early F-Series trucks transitioning from stepped to smooth-sided designs.
As with many classic-era trucks, the choice of bed style can affect restoration difficulty and market value. A correctly matched Styleside bed can enhance originality and appeal for collectors.
Summary
The Ford Styleside bed represents Ford’s smooth, flat-sided approach to pickup bed design that began in the 1950s and persisted across many F-Series generations. Its defining feature is a clean outer side with wheel wells tucked inside the bed, contrasting with the older stepped beds that exposed outward wheel arches. For buyers, restorers, and collectors, identifying Styleside versus Stepside is essential for authenticity, parts sourcing, and preserving the truck’s historical integrity.
