This forty-year-old truck is the definition of a survivor. Said to have been found in storage with just over 17K original miles on the odometer, this 1979 Ford F150 is up for auction in late October. Found advertised here on Hemmings, the truck is being auctioned by Mecum in Chicago. It is lot T239 which will cross the block late on Thursday, October 25th. If you’ve been looking for a really original classic truck, you’d have a hard time finding one better than this!
The interior is described in the ad as a “classic interior restoration” which I assume means it has had some restoration to appear factory correct. The seat and door panel upholstery combined with the floor covering and dash pad all fit the era perfectly.
The engine is a 351 cubic inch matching-numbers V8 with an automatic transmission. The truck is said to have 17,386 miles and the engine looks the part. The ad doesn’t say if there have been any maintenance items done. If the truck sat for a long period of time, there will certainly be seals and other components that may need to be addressed.
You can see the original 70’s style hubcaps along with the classic two-tone paint. The truck also features a bed-side toolbox, which is a pretty neat option. The condition of this truck is amazing! The trim, paint and almost every aspect of the truck appear to be in great condition. What do you make of this truck? Do you believe it is a real low-mileage pickup?
damn, what a beauty. perfect period color combo in/out. would love to have it & i’m a GM truck guy.
I have an 84 Chevy Silverado with 13,900 actual miles, dark blue, all ORIGINAL with many options, build sheet, etc. It’s in the garage; not cheap. Interested, contact me.
Chuck Spectre0011@ yahoo.com
I had a 1977 one with the 351m motor would much rather it been a 300 6 ,this is a nice truck just don’t like the 351 modified engine to much🍐
There is way too much left to doubt on this truck. It is beautiful, but has seen a LOT of work. Engine is painted, inner fenders are painted, wheels are wrong color, latch for side bed box is painted, seat redone, lots of wear on brake pedal. It’s possible, but I really highly doubt it is as advertised; there are far too many keyoffs as to why it is not.
You just saved me a lot of typing. 100 percent correct on everything you say. Something is not quite right with this one.
You nailed it. It’s nice, but waaaaay too nice for 17k miles of use.
My first job in the car business back in 1976 was cleaning used cars and that included being the pedal-pad guy. I was responsible for replacing the rubber brake and clutch pedal pads on cars that were having the miles spun back. Didn’t want some apparently-28,000-mile car to show at the auction with worn-smooth brake pedals.
Nice truck but it’d be worth the same if it was advertised with a legit “miles exceed mechanical limit” description.
HA! You had a sharp boss. It’s the 1st thing I look for. I’m always flabbergasted how someone claims a low mileage vehicle and misses that. Maybe that’s why everybody hates me.
The painted vacuum advance & power steering pump is a dead giveaway that under the hood, it’s not original.
Correct. This is NOT an original truck. Get your terminology in order BF.
I personally like this vintage. The 1980 to 86 models were boxy and old mannish IMO. I thought the 87 to 91s were an improvement. I had an 88 for almost 12 years.
As mentioned above. There is more here than meets the eye. This truck hasn’t been vacuum sealed for the past 40 years. But I would still love to park it in my driveway.
I see strange things painted in the engine bay that should be different color and aftermarket ignition module , dist cap and wires at that mileage , I guess i’m skeptical.
I had a 76 and a 78 F-150 and yes that engine has been repainted and the air cleaner is the wrong color as it should be blue like the engine.
The air filter assembly on our 77 F250 with the 351M was the same color (bare metal?) of the assembly shown here. The engine wasn’t that clean the day we drove it off the lot!
79 nope ,lightweight aluminum had one one scarry aspect tho it might have a variable venturi carb yuk
holly made a nice replacement but its been 40 years sigh
Just like any other car claiming low mileage, no documentation, no premium on price. That being said, it is a gorgeous truck on it’s own merits. Being an auction though, bid fever will override prudence most likely.
Gosh, you mean there are people out there who will lie to sell a truck?
Destroys my faith in humanity.
My old dog and I are still trying to find her a truck, and I am glad this one was not nearby.
No, not just because of a wasted trip, but because I would not of stopped her from biting seller
Come on guy’s… you know you love this truck. The real problem here is that the owner thinks it’s worth more because it’s on a auction house list. Nice truck but not worth a zillion dollars…
Is that a built in trickle charger I see mounted in front of the jack in the engine bay?
I enjoy Hemmings a lot, and wouldn’t say anything to discredit one of their advertisers, just like I don’t discredit advertisers that use BF’s. CL or ebay, kind of a victimless crime. It surely is a touched up example of a low mileage truck and I think they did a nice job cleaning this up, and I think the miles are accurate. Now who’s being negative? :)
And for the record, Ford did use silver air cleaners in these trucks.
“…Maybe that’s why everybody hates me….”
glad 2 hear I’m a stand out in the crowd.
(c how I did that?)
I believe the air cleaner assembly’s were aluminum that year. No paint.
Beautiful colour combination, and it really looks sharp as a long box. It appears original however I do think someone has used some colour match to freshen it up and dress up the steel wheels – I believe Ford did these originally in an off-white colour. If those 17K miles were stop and go in and around town, that would give you such a brake pedal. I would gladly own it, but it will go for too high a price…Ford prices are quite strong now.
There are too many things blue that should not be: vacuum advance, power steering pump, and probably many other parts.
For GM,the best looking trucks were 67-72,for Ford it was this 79.
IMNSHO ,of course.
mainlyM:
I thought I wuz the Odd Duck: My fav VEHICLE (looks) is the ’73/9 F250.
(well the ‘gull wing’ 350SL MB, ’56-’60 vette’n some more R in there close)
AND I own a ’66 Bronco…
I HAVE A 68 F250 CAMPER SPECIAL.ONE
OWNER, 390 CHANGED 2 429 DOVE & C6
ENGINE & TRANNY FRESH.NO ACC. SMALL AMOUNT RUST, DRIVER’S DOOR
FRONT LT. CORNER.INTERIOR XLT BLACK
VELOR, 2 PANEL SUNROOF. BIN SITTING
UNDER ROOF ON CONCRETE ON JACK
STAND’S 4 30+yrs
David6, sounds like a sharp old Bumpside…it needs to be on the road so folks can experience what real trucks look like.
I love the 2 tone colors. I miss not seeing paint schemes like that these days.
Was about to write but Rob said everything and more than what I casually noticed. There’s been a lot of “attention” paid to appearances on this truck. Does that mean it doesnt have just 17K miles? Maybe not, but Id bet money on more than that.
The easiest way to determine the life a truck led is a quick glance at the bed floor. Hmmm, no pics of the bed floor. No pics of the door lower hemming seems, no underside pics. Door county is just up the road from me. Wisconsin uses LOTS of salt. Door county is no exception.
PRNDL lens should be clearer, power steering pump black, air cleaner is aluminum but looks like it was cleaned with strong cleaner, Ford emblem on steering wheel should still have strong silver paint, like everyone says “Brake pedal” and I’d expect beige carpet, not whatever the black is. I would have left the original hoses with original clamps to sell it. Still a beautiful truck for 117K miles. I’d like to see the exhaust. I drove my 79 F150 today. I also have a 78 crewcab f250, 76 4×4 F150, 77 ex-cab F150 and 78 F150 shortbed. I’d like more and yes I have a problem.
Yes Tony you do have a problem and a very good one that I wish I could afford to have.
Over done to appear like a 17000 mile truck, things painted wrong under the hood ,cheap replacement floor at and as mentioned brake pedal worn WAY TO MUCH to be that low of miles. Nice truck but doubtful its as advertised