This 1940 Ford Stake Truck is representative of the many "depot" trucks used by all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces in the early days of World War II. This model is painted U.S. Navy "Battleship Gray" and features markings from the Ford Island Naval Air Station at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

        In 1940, Ford began a truck modernization program that would influence truck designs for decades to come. The design team at Ford blended a single-piece hood, sculpted all-stainless steel grille and new sealed-beam headlamp units to create perhaps one of the best-looking Ford trucks of all time. The updated cab design also featured one-piece cowl top, roof and windshield pillar stamping, which included a fixed windshield complete with cowl-mounted wiper, a first by a major truck manufacturer.

        The 1940 Ford 1-1/2 ton truck was powered by the venerable 85 horsepower “Flathead” V-8 engine. The popular 134-inch wheelbase Regular Stake model with “Ford Script” logo bed weighed just 4,641 lbs. Popular options included dual rear wheels and tires, auxiliary springs and a spare tire. This combination of performance, economy and durability guaranteed Ford a major portion of the medium-duty truck market for many years to come.