Keeping a vehicle in the family can be a good way to ensure it’s maintained due to the family connection and memories. You don’t want to disappoint your parents or grandparents by letting their vehicle fall apart, do you? Most of us wouldn’t, so we’d keep it well-maintained. This one-family-owned 1989 Ford F-150 Custom is posted here on craigslist in Vancouver, Washington, and the seller is asking $11,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Curvette for the tip!
I believe this is what Ford called Bright Regatta Blue, and it’s a gorgeous color. I did notice that it’s white in the engine compartment, but maybe one of you will know if that’s the way it should look or if this was a white truck painted blue at some point? If it was repainted, it appears to be a fantastic job, and again, we don’t know for sure. And who really cares, come to think of it, a blue truck has to be more desirable overall than a white truck, no?
The eighth-generation F-Series was made from 1986 through 1991 here, and I thought the grille would be black on the lowest trim level (Custom), but this one isn’t. It also appears to have what was an optional chrome front bumper. And, the wheels appear to have been upgraded. I guess after a vehicle is in a family for almost four decades, some things can evolve a bit. Hagerty is at $19,400 for a ballpark value of a #3 good-condition truck, and this one looks much nicer than that to me. $11,500 could be a bargain. Check out how clean the inside of the bed is! That toolbox back there sure makes me think this was a white truck when it was new, but I could be wrong.
The interior looks pretty much perfect, from the base model vinyl seat to the fun-to-shift five-speed manual. This is a rear-wheel drive truck, so there’s no transfer case to worry about. The seller says this truck is “all original” and has always been maintained and garaged.
Wouldn’t the firewall and inner fenders have been Regatta Blue rather than white, like this? I have to believe this truck was originally Colonial White, but there’s no mention of it, and no photo or listing of a data card/plate showing the color code to check it out. It does look like an actual Ford factory blue, though. In any case, the engine is Ford’s 300-cu.in. OHV inline-six with about 150 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque when new, sending power through the five-speed manual to the rear wheels. This doesn’t look like a 95,000-mile truck to me. Any thoughts on this great-looking F-150?
Good job Scotty. Looks like this Ford is in very good shape. Nice to see a base model which has been maintained. The six cylinder five speed powertrain will last forever. The blue finish (I’m guessing you are correct on the repaint) makes for an attractive look.
Two asides:
Speaking of white Ford trucks, I joke that I wish I had the contract for supplying white paint at the Ford truck and van plants…….
For some reason, the “shape” of truck manual transmission floor shift levers interests me. We’ve all seen examples which feature several twists and crooks and turns; meanwhile, this one is simply…. straight.
Period correct shifter Bob. At least for 5sp. The HD 4sp models maybe had a different shifter from the factory.
Yep, I agree Stan, 5 speeds had the straight stick, the 4 speeds the roller coaster one lol.
Trucks with T18 4sp the shifter was toward the front of the transmission coming through the floor closer to the dash requiring the twisty shifter to clear the dash in 1st.
The M50D 5sp, the shifter was centered in the transmission several inches back from the 4sp. It also had a shorter throw in first and reverse and could use the strighter stick.
I agree about it be repainted,so they should delete
the “all original” comment,At least they did a good job
on the repaint.If you could see the ID plate,you could tell
what the original color was.
The word “original” has lost its meaning, at least with regards to used cars. Many sellers use it mean whatever they think will make a car easier to sell or bring a higher price such as original owner/one family owned and original mileage.
Some other words that suffer from the same issues are, “no rust”, “survivor”, “rare”, ran when parked, only needs to be recharged (AC). Words matter, when there are too many words in an ad that no longer have a defined meaning it should raise a red flag, but often doesn’t.
Steve R
The wheels are ford and were optional.
You can see the blue over spray on the tail pipe I think the odometer has rolled once the floor matting is available at multiple classic car places and it’s not that hard to install nice truck overall
I once borrowed a good friend’s ‘88 XLT in the early aughts while my 1990 BMW was out of service waiting for the alternator to return rebuilt. The truck was maroon, 4×2 long-bed, 300 with a granny 4-speed. Pretty sure it had a crooked shifter. I really liked the truck. Best dash design of the 80’s-90’s F-series. It’d get 9-12 mpg driving around from home to work in the mountains, it’d get better mpg on the highway, as long as it kept 55mph or under. Mileage really suffered closer to 60mph and over. This will be a nice truck for the next buyer, especially in blue. The color change likely explains the lower-than-Hagerty asking price. Better mileage around town than my 535i.
Thanks for the 4-speed/5-speed shifter info, guys, that’s great.
I agree about the term “original,” as I use or overuse that myself. Original should mean bone-stock original as it left the factory, shouldn’t it? Other than things like the big toolbox in the back or anything that was added and can be removed without altering the “original” appearance in any way. I use “original” sometimes when I say I like vehicles “original,” as in, restored to original spec or just plain original, warts and all. Whatever this truck is, it sure looks nice for the asking price and John S. nailed it with the lower-than-usual asking price may have something to do with the color change. This is a very rare case where I wouldn’t change this truck back to white again.
There’s nothing more “manly” that a straight stick shift!
None of that Grandmas C shifters! :) I would be willing to overlook what I consider the nadir of truck design ( of course thats just an opinion and you know about opinions…), the 1980’s Ford design….too boxy imho.
When you consider what a new Ford F 150 costs today….not to mention the ones on steroids that most buyers seem willing to pay for…like the Raptor etc, this truck with a six sipper and a row your own would fit my bill…..if I didn’ t already have an “original” 1972 C 10 with a 3 speed moved to the floor that looks like it was left in a field for 40 years……but does have the optional wheels and chrome rings :)
Scotty, you are correct that this truck has had a color change from white to blue. The white under the hood makes it obvious, and the letters on the tailgate confirm it. These are great basic pickups that will last indefinitely, if kept away from salt. Bob is right about white Ford pickups. You can’t fling a dead cat without hitting one. My last 4 trucks have been white, or mostly white. I had an ‘89, but it was an F250 Supercab 4WD with a 7.3 diesel. Another tough truck. I currently drive a ‘12 F150 Supercab. I call it bologna on white bread. (boring) White with grey cloth interior. It’s an OK truck, but the body, chassis, and running gear are far more durable on this ‘89.
something doesn’t add up here. If you clink on the current listing it shows a white engine bay but if you click on the original listing then toggle through the photos the engine bay is blue. The two listings have to be two different trucks.
Brian, what I saw in checking this color mystery was a white firewall and white inner fenders but the under part of hood is blue. What I think is what Scotty said, looks to be a good recolor paint job without changing the harder white areas. One thing that I like about Craigslist ads over the Facebook ads, the ability to click and enlarge the Craigslist photos on the computer screen. We can also enlarge photo areas on cell phones but that is not as good. This super clean truck looks to be a winner with that engine if you don’t mind shifting.
No pics from underneath. They would fill in a lot towards unanswerable questions from the ad. Color change, realistic mileage, long term maintenance …