We’ve all been there, taking on too many things at once. I can’t even get two minibikes restored with everything else going on, I can’t imagine having a vehicle like this 1965 Ford Econoline pickup to have to finish. This running project pickup can be found here on eBay in Limerick, Pennsylvania. There is an unmet opening bid price of $5,000 and no reserve after that.
This is a five-window pickup with curved windows in the rear corners of the cab, very cool. They also made a three-window version – not counting the windshield, of course. I’m surprised at how good this truck looks, a lot of them that we see are in rough shape but this looks like a legitimately nice project that a person could have back in shape for the late-summer car show season. The seller bought this Econoline pickup nine years ago on eBay, or off of eBay, or as they say, from eBay. There are so many choices in the English language, at least when one is being semi-casual, me thinks…
They have had this Econoline pickup stored in their garage during the last nine-year period and just haven’t gotten around to restoring it. It looks nice enough to just get everything working perfectly and just drive it as it looks now, that’s what I would do, but that’s just my preference. I’m wondering if the original color may have been the blue shown in this period advertising piece? In the first photo, there is some blue paint under the faded green paint. I like the green much more but that’s just my preference (I see a theme here). They say that this was a special order color so I’m not sure what the blue paint is from.
Unfortunately, they haven’t provided any interior or engine photos (I know), but here’s one of the tailgate! They mention that tailgates are in demand and this one looks like an easy fix, just having a rusted portion on the bottom. They mention that the engine is a 170 which would be Ford’s 170 Special Six with 101 hp. The seller says that it runs very well but it needs to have the brakes fixed. Have any of you owned a Ford Econoline pickup?
Nice writeup Scotty! I like the color and it would look 100% better with painted wheels and new trim rings….and a wash!
Very cool. Maybe the seller could have given us a few less photos?
From the few pics there are, minus the tailgate, the truck looks surprisingly solid which these things were TOTAL ROT buckets….especially in that part of the country. Wonder if it came from a more dry region? I don’t think the seller stated that.
Underbody pictures are VERY important sellers !!!!! UGH!
I’d like to have a pickup like this, but I’d prefer it to be in “Dodge A-100” flavor! Good starting project, GLWTA! :-)
Smallest base engine, no radio, no side mirror, but he said it has “limited slip” axle.
I had three 1965 Econos, green, white and yellow.
Never saw limited slip, has anyone else seen that in a no option first generation Econoline?
Nice example of a rare 5 window…..dad’s Air Force buddy had one way back and as a kid riding with got to sit on the engine cover….crazy back then…
Back in 1968, my Dad’s 65 Econoline PU could hold 5 goofy high school boys in the cab and multiple cases of cheap beer in the back. Of course, that was a recipe for disaster. Great memories though……
Now that’s funny right there !!!!
This is a nice example. I won’t have time to see it in person before the end but then again I don’t think it is selling fast. It is worth the money if the underside is in good shape. Saves a lot of work if you don’t have to rebuild the mounting points of the suspension. BTW I think that is 101bhp at the motor, the rwhp is much less.
If this truck lived in PA before the seller bought it, it led a sheltered and charmed life! I haven’t seen one this rust free around here in more than 40 years. I never owned one but I drove one on the job for quite a few years. Even with the base six they weren’t a major dog, unless it was approaching its GVWR.
How about some engine and underside pics, seller?
I’m going to be 15-20 minutes from this little truck tomorrow and there isn’t a snowball’s chance in He## that I can get away to see it.
What is a neat power train for the original Econlines is a 240 six with a three speed. Back in the day my Dad was a U ALL dealer. One piece we tried to hang onto for our own use as long as we could was just such an Econline. Very fast
but due to no weight on the rear very squirrty to drive.
Sorry Bill, need to get some cheap laughs out of your comments.
Dad was a U ALL dealer? Was that in the south somewhere? LOL !!
I think you meant U Haul dealer? If yes, interesting your last name is HALL.
Squirrty to drive…..hmmm spraying fluids all over or what?
Ok I’m done. Just having fun, no harm meant, in these pressure filled times !!
If you can’t laugh, it’s not worth it !!
I’ve seen videos on these their braking performance is scary. Under medium to hard braking the back wheels will come off the ground until the front bumper makes contact with the road. If your going to use this truck a 500 lb counter weight needs to be mounted to the frame behind the back wheels. This is where the Corvair ramp side had these fords beat with the engine in the back. They also had more power and better handling. The Corvair’s had better styling too.
I saw an old video of a gremlin during extreme hard braking
the front bumper almost hit the ground I guess because of the heavy six under the long hood and the chopped off rear
My dad bought a 61 Econoline in the early 70s. After he passed away, my mother gave it to me. I restored it for my son’s first vehicle. He loved it. We had to replace the “3 on the tree” with a C4 transmission, because he couldn’t get the hang of the standard transmission and broke 2 motor mounts bouncing down the road. We used a spray in bed liner so he wouldn’t worry about dinging up the bed paint. What a wonderful truck!!
Initially marketed as the “Falcon Econoline”, by 1964, it had just become Econoline. Miserable vehicles and a very limited following. I don’t ever recall a pickup, except at the drag races as wheelie machines. The “Backup Pickup” was an Econoline with the body on backwards. As far as trucks go, most folks went with full size trucks. These and the Ranchero did not sell very well. As for the Econoline doing a “stoppie”, that was a propaganda film put out by GM with 500lbs. of ballast on the front floor to promote the Corvair pickup. The drum brakes they used weren’t capable of that.
http://www.infinitegarage.com/ford-econoline-vs-corvair-rampside-video/
Had a Ford Econoline Van, was a pretty decent van, window type, better balance then the PU truck. Also had a 67 Ford 3/4 tn PU, had to put weight in the back of that, usuaally 5-6 cement blocks and a few 50# bags of sand or in the snow wouldn’t go
real lill gems if U ask me (no 1 did, ahma shout it out tho) esp their pickmeups.
http://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/f5-e-van-general-discussion
I love the ThriftPower motors, all 6 (144 – 300, 1960 thru efi up in ’96 the infamous ‘gasser that’s a diesel’).
Imagine hangin an engine down on clips below the frame?
Love to have this 1st gen (’61/7) no windows, 8 dor. & the dodge fella? I agree – the split windshield is great. Just can’t get it on here due to our curved edges…
http://www.fordeconolinepickup.com
Help me out too? any ’83/6 LTD/Marquis fox wagons 4 sale – put the aol behing my handle…