F450 with bed from factory? - Diesel Forum

Quantus · 03-05-2003, 07:17 PM

Several months ago, I read on these forums somewhere that Ford would be offering the F450 Super Duty as a regular pickup (not just as a chassis cab). This was mentioned to be coming available mid model year.
Is this still in the pipe, so to speak? I looked at Ford's website but i could not find it anywhere. I also got sucked into the current build-n-price section on the F450/F550 section. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

If i could just convince the wife I needed that 43,000 dollar beastie, what is another 1200 or so for a bed?

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SmokeyWren · 03-05-2003, 10:05 PM

Dealers have been asking for an F-450 pickup for years. Finally, about a year ago, Ford told the dealers that the F-450 pickup would be available at the first of the 2003 model year. Shortly thereafter, they said it would be available as late availability at the same time as the 6.0L engines. Then a week or so later they said it was delayed until January, 2003.

That's the last I've heard from official Ford. Unofficially, a Ford employee told me the project had been delayed indefinitely. He thought probably until at least the 2004 model year, but maybe longer. I haven't heard any reason for the slippage in dates.

If you need an F-450 pickup, several aftermarket upfitters will build you one. Manning, right there at the back door to the KTP assembly plant, builds a lot of them. And Manning is a ship-thru upfitter, so you could order one from your Ford dealer and it would be delivered directly to the dealer after it's completed by Manning. Centurion has also built a lot of them over the years, but as far as I know, Centurion is not a ship-thru upfitter.

Quantus · 03-05-2003, 10:28 PM

Thanks for the quick reply Smokey, It's not really a need as much as a want. I am considering (heavily) trading the Z-28 and getting an F-250 Super Duty. Have to wait out the work situation I am in, as the company I work for is in Chapter 11 at the moment.
Hopefully all will work out and this Summer I will be looking to wheel and deal.
I gotta quit driving the wife's 02, it really makes the itch hard to resist. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

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