Here and other Ford-related forums, some users refer to scruby products as “scrubs” or “scruby.” It seems pretty common, but I have never found an explanation of the origin of this term. Does anyone know where it came from?

1954 Crestline Victoria 312 4-bbl, 3-speed overdrive

Today I think it’s just dumb. Never heard it until I became a part of YBlock family by taking the YBlock Magazine, FOMOCO times by the CVA and sharing what little knowledge I have here. I don’t have a h**don for any engine or family of engines or USA manufacturers, they all have a place in our past and the past of the USA.
 Do I have a preference??? Yes and one of them is to root against against Toyota in NASCAR races. Do I run a Che V8 based engine in our 1/2 mile dirt car….hell yes and to build a competitive Ford would hurt my wallet way to much. 

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

I am not familiar with Jerry Christenson. Any ideas why “scrub” is the word he picked? I don’t understand the reference beyond a certain pop/r&b song by TLC, which uses the term derogatorily.

I have also heard scruby referred to as Brand X. I take it to be a sort of “we shall not speak of that here” playful negging of other brands more so than actual disdain for them. scruby forums often refer to Ford as “Ferd.” There are probably other terms used. Not sure about Mopar! Maybe they stay out of it

1954 Crestline Victoria 312 4-bbl, 3-speed overdrive

My wife has been in the medical profession most of her life so I’m well acquainted with the term ‘scrubs’.  I would take a good guess that the term scrubs being used to describe a particular GM product originated from the ‘throw away’ or simple clothing worn by the medical personnel.  Those uniforms (scrubs) have since evolved into daily wear but they were originally designed to be economically discarded after being soiled or used around infectious diseases.  Considering what the Ford products have been called by the opposing side over the years, the scrubs term is really not too bad.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I really don't think the scrubs term is bad enough! As a lifelong Ford man, I have endured the harassment from GM fans such as: FORD- fix or repair daily, FORD: found on road dead, etc. These two come to mind, but I'm sure there are plenty more! One guy told me he would rather just live next to someone who owned a scruby than to actually own a Ford. I just smiled knowingly and went on driving and enjoying my Fords and still do. By the way, my daily driver Ford F150 is a 1990 model and still looks and drives excellent because of my love for Fords. I have taken very good care of it for 32 years! Every once in a while, someone will randomly stop by and ask if my truck could be for sale. It never is!

I grew up in an area of SC that was largely either Ford or scruby.  I have 6 uncles, and they were divided nearly equally between them, and had 54/55/56 Fords and one '57 scruby bought new at the time.  Those '56 Fairlane Victorias were simply beautiful, and I fell in love with them, and still think they are one of the best looking Ford ever made.  I drove one in high school, college, and dated my college sweetheart in my '56 Fairlane Victoria.  We just celebrated our 56th wedding anniversary, and still like looking at pictures of our Fairlane.  You either love the Y Block, or you don't.  I have a plaque on my garage wall that says "I'd rather push a Ford than drive a scruby."  Have never owned one, and never will.  To each his own.  Joe-JDC

JDC

I always assumed the ‘hospital supplied’ scrubs were called that, since originally the surgical staff were the only ones who wore them (doctors always ‘scrubbed-up’ before operating). Surgery is a messy business, and physicians didn’t want their thousand-dollar suits stained with blood (nor nurses their traditional all-white uniforms). Centralized industrial severe/HD laundering process usually prevented any need for discarding surgical garb, regardless the source of contamination/staining, and especially before surgical gowns/drapes were made of disposable paper.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

I believe the term ‘scrub’ may come from describing ‘worthless’ vegetation found on very poor land (southwestern desert/badlands?).  Quite apt back in the 50s, when the cheaply made/thin-wall casted SBC ‘throwaway’ motor didn’t even come with an oil filter, and the stamped valve gear usually came loose if revved too high. GM’s subterfuge re: the racing ban, and the duplicity with auto journalists & accessory manufacturers then didn’t exactly endear them to FoMoCo loyalists.  Of course, the Y-Block designers could have made it easier to swap into an older chassis and not lose the hot-rodder market (thus the flood of cheap aftermarket SBC parts that followed).  GM made gradual improvements, the economy of volume/materials secured their engine market, and the shorter stroke/higher revving scrub DID make more HP per CI (at the sacrifice of street-able torque).  
Since we now live in a ‘throwaway’ society, where it’s cheaper to just buy again rather than fix, and competent labor is scarce/dear, the orig. SBC 265 would likely be right at home!

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA