It could be for carrying barrels, or something that fits exactly to that shape, or maybe for carrying things like firewood to help keep it from rolling off. That's interesting, as long as I've been into restoring classic iron, and going to look at potential hot rods in barns, hayfields, and such, I've never seen a bed like that. If I were you, I would have to go knock on the door and inquire about the truck.
George, that could be your next project. Build a regular bed that is correct for that model, put a nice lil small block in it, add an airbag suspension for the wife. And besides when the cops ask if you've got airbags, you can just hit the switches on them. (Be careful, we did that exact thing one time, and it pissed him off because we scared him so bad when the truck jumped off the ground) Anyway, put some aluminum or facory steely wheels on it, and paint it flat black with hand painted red pinstripe, maybe airbrush a period correct pinup gal in the corner of the tailgate.
Ahhh, I can feel it now as I just imagine the truck rolling by with the hooker super comp headers wide open and that big ole cam loping. Whoops, gotta go, I got way to excited and I've gotta go release some tension.
