This truck checks so many boxes it isn’t even funny. I feel like an Amazon warehouse line worker. It’s a vintage pickup; check. It’s a 4×4; check. It has a V8; check. It’s a short bed; check. It has a 4-speed manual; check. I even checked the box for it being a Flareside, I’m a big fan of that bed style. The seller has this 1983 Ford F-140 4×4 Flareside Short Bed 4-speed truck listed here on eBay in Austin, Texas, and they’re asking $16,900, or you can make an offer.
One box I didn’t check is the price, given the general, overall grittiness of the exterior. I like a good “patina”, but there is a bit more surface rust on this rig than I personally like. Maybe it’s because I grew up in snow country with salty, slushy roads and always-rusty vehicles. In looking at the underside, it looks solid, but there is a lot of surface rust under there, and also under the hood. Those are areas I like to be clean if at all possible. That being said, I wouldn’t shy away from this Walnut Metallic truck if I were seriously in the market for a truck like this. The Flareside short bed look is hard to beat for me.
And the unusual rear treatment with the tail light shroud things. I would have to try to redo this to a more factory look if it were headed this way from Austin, TX. Inside the bed is a mystery as well, with plywood on the floor/deck. Is it rusty underneath that wood? I’m assuming not, as the seller lists “no rust” in their description. I didn’t even realize this is the same seller who has the huge red and white 4×4 diesel pickup that we just saw a few days ago. Man, they have some great trucks for sale in Texas!
The seventh-generation F-Series trucks were made for the 1980 through 1986 model years here and the jewel of this truck has to be the interior. It looks excellent inside, with only one small crack in the vinyl on the passenger side of the nice bench seat, and I don’t see any dash cracks or anything else alarming. The steel snake poking out of the tunnel is a 4-speed manual, a major box-checker for me, especially in a truck.
The engine compartment could be fun to spend a few weekends on, and I’m sure it would and could look much nicer with some elbow grease here. This is Ford’s 351-cu.in. OHV V8 with a two-barrel carb (according to the VIN), and it would have had 150 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. It’s sent through a two-speed transfer case and the 4-speed manual to all four wheels as needed, and is said to be a one-family-owned truck. What would you offer for this box-checker?
F-150 Awesome! Cool pick-up, I’ll be watching the bidding(hope it doesn’t go crazy.
Rugged little half ton 4wd from Ford.
I’m right there with you Scotty. This checks a bunch of boxes for me too. And it’s even brown. I like trimmed-up trucks, but a base model like this is cool in its own way.
The “snake”: I think Ford must have had a contest among their engineers as to who could create a gearshift lever with the most kinks and curves.
You know Bob. I never ever understood the design of their 4 speed shifters. Maybe you’re on to something there.
Now that’s a real truck! Except for the price,this would
be the kind of truck that I’d buy.
The curve in the gearshift was so the ashtray would clear when open. I had 2 an 80 and 82 four speeds, 84 and 86 Broncos as well. Gen 7’s are still my favorite.
MattD. I just stared at that photo of the shifter and the dash. I never realized that. You can see the ash tray is right there, they way the stick is bent it wouldnt matter what gear your in, it wouldn’t interfere with it.
Its still a lot of extra bending though.
yum, yum—I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!
I have to agree with you too Scotty. This Ford was really optioned well where it counts. Usually half tons you have the 300 straight six ( great engine) or a 302 ( nothing wrong with that either) but for it to have a 351. I don’t remember ever seeing one in a half ton, always a 250 or 350 series. The 4 speed and 4WD too. And this shade of brown looks great polished up too. The big surprise is the clean interior. Great truck I enjoyed your write up too Scotty. Thank you.
a nice truck with an unfortunate color in my opinion. The price is ambitious but there is always someone….
“Steal snake”, I love it! And this truck is almost perfect. The seller will probably get his price, or close to it.
I had an 1985 with the manual and I smoked then. Never thought of that ashtray clearing bend in the shift column. Whoever came up with the missive that you learn something new every day was spot on. Calling it a snake was a good one, Scotty.
I may be running on bad intel but, weren’t the 5 cab lights on the roof reserved for 3/4 ton trucks and up? Just curious if that’s true, or was it an option, or owner added at some point?
Erich, from what I can find, the “5 Amber Clearance and Identification Lights at Top of Cab” were standard on 2WD F-Series trucks if the trucks had dual rear wheels, and again on a 4WD truck if it was equipped with the “Snow Plow Special Package.” I’m assuming they were optional otherwise, as this 4×4 truck most likely didn’t have the snow plow package. It doesn’t appear to be related to whether it’s a 3/4-ton or not from what I can tell.
It’s listed on pages 116 and 162 of this 1983 Ford Light Truck Facts Book.”
https://xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/1983-Ford-Light-Truck-Facts-Book.pdf
I love my Fords but this combination always looked cobbled together.
I’m not positive about the clearance lights. But I think they came as standard equipment on dually and optional on the rest of the line. I currently have an ’85 F150 4X4 with the same 351 Windsor engine as this one. I also have the snake shifter. Mine, as in most other ones I have seen has the 3.55 gears. Mine is a long bed “fleet side” that I modified to be a dump bed. This arrangement makes alot of torque. With acceleration easily to 100mph. Be careful, as most tires that people fit to these are not rated for those speeds! Nevadahalfrack has one of these also.
But his has the 351M (Modified) engine. More torque but less fuel economy. Mine is just a work/ranch truck and rarely taken for long drives. I don’t see an A/C compressor, and the A/C hoses are missing. So no cold air available at this time. Around town and running errands I get 10 mpg. On the highway I have gotten as much as 14 mpg, and 12 is the norm. Great reliable vehicles. And I beat the crapput of mine!
Oops, Wayne, I think you’re right! My apologies, I didn’t see your comment before posting a reply to Erich. Thanks for the info!
I also noticed that it’s located in Texas,but has Oklahoma plates
on it.For the asking price,I’d expect the seller to transfer the title.
Great looking truck. I want it. Maybe I’ll just go ahead and get it.
Dana, if this is going to be your everyday truck. Swap the carburetor over to an aftermarket throttle body fuel injection. An improvement that I can’t recommend enough. Better fuel economy, and better driveability. After that, bullet proof truck. Summit makes a 2 barrel kit that just bolts on with the addition of a new fuel pump (higher pressure) and a fuel return line and an O2 sensor in the exhaust. Makes it run smooth and efficient.
Love everything except the color. If it should come my way it would get a color change before it could even be parked in my driveway.
God Bless America