3/4 Ton Survivor: 1978 Ford F-250 Ranger

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Some trucks just have a look – one that screams toughness. It’s hard not to get that in a four-wheel-drive model but it certainly helps to find a truck like this 1978 Ford F250 4×4 with a four-speed manual, 400ci V8, turbine-style wheels, and the raised ride height that comes on a truck equipped this way. The seller reports it runs and drives well and has very little in the way of rust. The chassis is said to be in very good shape and while there are cosmetic faults here and there, none of it is out of line for an original truck like this one. Find it here on eBay for $12,500 with the option to submit a best offer.

This Ford appeared to have sold a few days ago but the seller re-listed it with some additional warnings about getting in touch before making an offer. I get that; so many bidders today just want to see what will happen versus actually committing to a purchase. The truck looks just about perfect here with its high-riding stance and aftermarket wheels with a low offset so they sit outside the wheel arches. The California blue plates tell you just how long this F-250 has been hiding out on the West Coast, just waiting for someone to realize how well it’s been preserved despite being used like a truck the whole time.

The interior is about what you’d expect for a used truck. Tattered seats, some mismatched floor mats, and one curious detail: an aftermarket cruise control system that the seller claims came from JC Penny. Now, this is not entirely surprising as many department stores dipped their hands into automotive components and accessories, from radios to CBs to air conditioning – and now, cruise control. The seller hasn’t tested it out and I can’t say I blame him; fitting cruise control to a manual transmission truck in the 80s had to involve some clever engineering. The fake wood trim on the dash still looks decent and adds some style to the interior.

The seller reports the 400 starts up and idles well. This is a beefy motor and should make hauling a decent payload entirely manageable. That being said, the bed is in decent shape despite being used; it’s beaten up but not to the point of being completely trashed, which makes me wonder if it was used fairly gingerly by previous owners. A truck like this may not ever be worth considerably more than it is now, but it’s a solid choice for a vehicle you can use without any fear of losing your money even after using it for a few years.

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Comments

  1. Rw

    My Dad bought a new bronco in 79 had turbine wheels and Ground Hawgs on it with in a week.

    Like 3
  2. AndyinMA

    Nice colors

    Like 1
  3. RexFoxMember

    My ‘79 fuel injected VW bus had an aftermarket cruise control when I bought it. One time while making a right turn at a light, a small bump in the road activated the cruise control, attempting to immediately achieve the pre-set speed. Flooring a 2 litre bus while making a 90 degree turn on wet streets can be quite entertaining, but I did not appreciate the surprise fishtailing, so the first thing I did upon arriving home was to disconnect the cruise control. This is a very long way of saying that I do not trust aftermarket cruise control, even from well respected auto parts suppliers like JC Penney. I do like this Ford truck, but would not appreciate the bulk, nor the fuel economy.

    Like 5
  4. Shuttle Guy Shuttle GuyMember

    Make it a “High Boy” while restoring it.

    Like 0
  5. 767driver

    JC Whitney…perhaps. But not JC Penny…

    Like 5
  6. Rw

    Lots of JC Penney stores had auto centers maybe they still do.

    Like 0

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