This is “Grandpa’s Truck” and it has been parked in a barn for 17 years. It looks good in the photos shown on the eBay listing. It’s located in Petaluma, California and the bids are at $3,500 with no reserve.
This is one solid-looking truck with some areas of surface rust on the roof and underneath but no glaring rust issues apparent. This truck was parked in a barn for 17 years according to the seller who says that it was grandpa’s truck and when he passed away in 2001 it was parked in running condition. Ranger Lariat models had square headlights as did the Ranger and Ranger XLT models.
My grandpa had pretty much this exact truck but in a different color. I love the topper/shell/cap on the back and they included a partial photo showing the inside. Unfortunately they can’t find the tailgate but if they do before the auction ends it’ll go with the truck. There is also no title for this one so plan accordingly. That’s not a huge problem here in Minnesota but shipping a non-running vehicle this far would be probably $2,000 which is a problem. Hagerty is at $3,500 for a #4 fair condition truck with a 400 V8 and $7,200 for a #3 good condition truck. It’ll take some work to bring it up to a good condition example but it’s doable and hopefully the buyer won’t be upside down after shipping costs.
The Ranger had a nice interior and when the Lariat package was added buyers got even more flair. Check out the headliner! The interior looks like it’s in great condition other than the carpets which will have to be changed. Luckily pretty much every part for this truck is available.
This is the second biggest engine that was available in this truck in this year, a 400 cubic-inch V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor. It was only good for somewhere between 150 and 170 hp. This engine runs for 5 to 7 seconds when gas is poured in the carb but then it dies. The usual trouble-shooting will have to happen with this truck with the new owner takes over, as well as the usual routine: drop the gas tank, clean and clean lines, new belts, hoses, carb kit, tune up, new fluids, new brakes and brake flush, etc. If a person does that work him/herself they can keep the costs way down. If not, be prepared to go over the value fairly quickly after shipping costs are added in. What are your thoughts on Grandpa’s old ’78 Ford pickup?
Looks like a 79 to me. 78’s had the round headlights.
Square headlights were optional on ’78’s,
& standard on the ’79’s.
Thanks, angliagt! I mentioned that in the second paragraph but I didn’t include the years when square headlights were standard across the board.
yes but the late 78 did have square head lights as well I had one
I would buy it and convert it to a 4×4 ….GREAT TRUCK
Lots of these around back in the day. I was working for a GM/John Deere dealer at the time. It was interesting that many of our JD customers drove Fords. Consequently they brought their Fords to the shop to be worked on. We often had more non-GM products in our service department than GM. These were good trucks although they were harder to work on compared to a GM. Not all that bad though….
I had a one with a 360 and a 5 speed, a thirsty beast.
Davis, I second that on the M.P.G. I had a C6 automatic behind my 1978 F150 with a 360 and the best I ever got was 8. It had torque to pull my trailer but, then the mileage dropped to 5 or 6. My 1977 with a 302 did a bit better. It would get about 10 to 12 M.P.G. but, it didn’t have the bottom end to pull as much.
My 1978 was the same color as the feature truck sans the yellow inset and top. Nice truck.
A 360 in a 78? No such thing. 360 with a 5spd? No such thing. Thirsty? No thirstier than any other V8 pickup of the same period. I’ve owned many of these, 15-16 mpg all day long. You just had to drive them like a white man
KKW Thanks… Mine was a 1976. I had 78 on the brain looking at the feature truck.
Could have been a 390, but it definitely had a 5 speed, bought used in 1980 when I was still a teen, sold a few years later. 390 would explain it’s thirstiness.
I don’t know what it was, but it wasn’t from the factory, something aftermarket maybe. There were no 5spd pickups built in the 70s, or even early 80s. Unless you’re counting reverse gear. Lol.
390ci from the factory was last available in 1975 for the F series, but yes you are right engine swaps were very common in trucks.
It’s funny, these are always known as “Grandpa’s truck”. Grandpa was a young man when he bought this. Price is right, but as an owner of a similar era truck,I like it, but it’s the gas mileage that’s bummin’ me out. To go from something that got 30+mpg( Honda Civic) to something like this,(12mpg) limits my driving it short distances. ( which plugs up the big V8, further complicating the mpg issue). With gas on the rise, ( and octane booster to boot) might want to consider that. I’m already looking for a decent 6 cylinder. Luckily, the truck is nice enough to warrant an engine swap. Adios V8.
My dad had one just like it only Green …..