There’s nothing quite like venturing out into the wilderness, and this 1974 Ford F-250 Highboy 4×4 should be able to get you virtually anywhere in both style and comfort. With flawless presentation and a stroker V8 under the hood, this is a vehicle that has so much going for it. If this is one that grabs your attention, then you will find it located in Manheim, Pennsylvania, and listed for sale here on Bring A Trailer. Bidding on this seriously tough truck has now reached $19,000.
The Ford is now on its third owner since new, and it is this owner who has turned a humble F-250 into the fire-breathing monster that you see here. The vehicle was originally finished in Candy Apple Red, but as part of a total refurbishment, a fresh coat of two-tone red and black was applied. And it wasn’t just the top-side of the vehicle that received a refresh, because the underside is totally spotless. The bed hasn’t escaped attention, and that looks brand new. Forget about rust, because that simply isn’t an issue. There is none visible anywhere. The external trim and chrome are close to perfect, and while the owner also fitted a ’77 grille insert into the F-250, the original is included in the sale. The weatherstripping around the doors and glass has also been replaced, but your eyes can’t help but to be drawn to those wheels. Those are Pacer aluminum wheels, measuring 16×10″. These have been wrapped in a set of General Grabber A/T tires, and while the owner doesn’t refer to them as new, they show no real wear. Poking out from under the bed is a receiver hitch, meaning that this beast is also set-up to do the odd spot of towing as well.
I’d be very willing to bet that when you lift the hood on your average F-250, you won’t find anything that looks quite like this lurking in the engine bay. This piece of cast iron started life as a 390ci V8, but why settle for that when you can have more cubic inches? The 390 has been treated to a Scat crankshaft kit, and engine capacity is said to now be increased from 390 to 445ci. The mechanical goodness just keeps on coming with the addition of TRW pistons, ARP fasteners, Harland Sharp roller rockers, an Edelbrock Performer RPM Top End (aluminum heads, intake, and camshaft), a Holley carburetor, MSD ignition, and a re-cored radiator. It isn’t clear how much power this combination produces, but if you said “plenty,” then you’d probably be right on the money. All of that power is fed through a C6 automatic transmission, while the Ford is equipped with a Posi rear end, power steering and power brakes. The Highboy also features a dual-range transfer case, with the front axle being fitted with Warn manual-locking hubs. So, how does it go? Don’t take my word for it, but check out the video at the bottom of this article. The engine sounds amazing, and this old girl gets up and moving very quickly.
The best word to use to describe the interior is “spotless.” This area of the Ford came in for treatment at the same time that the other refurbishment work was being undertaken. The seat has been fitted with new foam, while all of the upholstered surfaces feature new black vinyl/ The floor has been covered with new tan carpet, and all three occupants can buckle up safely with new seat belts. Extra sound deadening has been added to the interior, and the standard gauges have been supplemented by a column-mounted tach, and a set of aftermarket gauges mounted under the dash. The F-250 hasn’t been fitted with a lot of extras, but if the sweet music from that 445 isn’t to your taste, the Pickup has been fitted with a RetroSound radio, with speakers mounted in both doors.
This 1974 Ford F-250 Highboy 4×4 is a true brute of a vehicle. Its 4×4 capabilities, enormous ground clearance, and those huge tires should mean that this is a vehicle that could be stopped by virtually nothing. That engine is just something else entirely, while the overall presentation is superb. Fancy a drive to the top of Mount Everest? Your vehicle awaits.
Wow, if this doesn’t slap you upside the head. I don’t think anyone will find fault with this one. 1st trucking company I worked for, Paul J. Schmit Trucking of Brookfield, Wis. the guys son had a truck very similar to this, pretty sure it was a high boy, just all stock. I remember it being a tank to drive, even compared to the Mack trucks I drove there. Besides it’s outstanding condition, I’m not sure where you’d use this. One trip off road will dirty up that pretty underside, and not too practical as a daily driver. Never understood why people hang those chinsey aftermarket gauges,, especially when these had full instrumentation anyway. The 390 got pretty dismal mileage, I can only imagine this should be a single digit truck. Wasn’t made for gas mileage, try and keep that in mind on your 2nd trip to the gas station in a day. Sure is nice, though.
You’re right, Howard A; too nice for off-roading and too thirsty for daily use. It’s a show truck though it can also come in handy for towing. It’s a beautiful truck but has limited use.
Howard A the purists will find fault with the fact that it’s a 74 truck with 77 grille and racetrack molding/two tone paint vs stock original. Also the F250 badges have been changed to the 77 cowl mount style. Sharp looking truck, but it’s a re-do, and I’d rather have a low mile original for the money this will bring. Just personal preference.
It’s a ’76 grille. Clear lenses.
Very nice. The restoration work is well-done and the modifications are tasteful. I suppose one would use this like other collectible vehicles, cruises and cruise-ins and errands and such. I for sure wouldn’t want to take it off-road.
I agree with Howard’s nitpick on the aftermarket gauges. My nitpick is the tan carpet. Maybe the restorer wanted a three-tone look on the interior, but I would have installed black carpet (assuming it is available) to keep with the sharp red/black theme.
This generation of Ford pickups is my favorite, probably because they remind me of the several such examples I drove during enjoyable days working summer jobs in the oil fields. Steady girlfriend (now wife), things going well at college, working outside on summer days, not far enough along in life to have all those adult responsibilities, life was good.
Great looking truck but I would be concerned with the the front end with at steering wheel position on the test drive.
Hate to tell you this, but that truck (at least the cab) is ’77 to ’79.
Ad says “Grille inserts from a 1977 F-series were added, along with Ranger-style trim”.
Why all the Bringatrailer reposts? I check their postings also,
as I’m sure many of us do,but the buyers their seem to have WAY-
too much money,& most of us here couldn’t (or wouldn’t) spend that
kind of money on a vehicle.
Aren’t you getting enough submissions?
These trucks always looked nasty to me. This one looks downright evil. Definitely a show truck.
Sharp
I’ve been wanting to ask this community’s opinion on something for a long time but since there’s no forum, it’s kinda hard to do that… therefore, I’ve been waiting for the right vehicle to show up, and this is pretty close!
I’m going to need to get rid of one of my trucks, while keeping the other in the long run, and I’d like to keep the best potential future collectible of the two. At first sight the main factor would be long box vs short box (the latter being better, except maybe in the case of 4×4 trucks…?)
If the long box isn’t a collectibility problem for a 1970s highboy, then maybe it won’t be for mine (a first-generation, factory 4×4, regular cab 7.3 PowerStroke)…?
To recycle the words of BF Staff’s Jeff Lavery, “could this be an emerging modern day collectible?”
https://barnfinds.com/obs-survivor-1997-ford-f-350/
I apologize if it’s poor BarnFinds etiquette to get semi off-topic like this but in my defense the general question applies to the dentside Ford featured here – it’s a longbox, yet it’s still generally desirable, right? ;)
Thanks in advance for the feedback – this community is seriously the single best place on the entire internet to ask this, IMO. :)
Trucks tend to hold their value…they may not always be collectible, but they are always practical. In terms of bed length, short tends to garner higher prices but I believe condition is the key…trucks are more likely to be used hard, notwithstanding the ‘suburban cowboy’ trucks and their wee tiny boxes. Condition and originality will drive your future value, keep it maintained and cosmetically in order and you’ll get top dollar…the nostalgia factor that drives ridiculous values, is an unknown. I have a long bed ’71 F100 and it remains stock, never had anyone comment on the bed length…its condition and the memories it invokes are the wow factor for most.
Don’t believe any F250 had an available short bed.
Very nicely done pickup the changes to the engine are a very nice addition although the 390 in stock form was pretty healthy. The only problem I would have with this is you would have a hard time using it for what’s it’s built for. I had a hi boy with a 390 that was setup as a snow plow truck great power lots of rust but that thing could move mountains of snow!
Beautiful truck. Now that being said I will submit a short story from my experience in1984, Provo, Utah. One fine cold winter day I decided to take my girlfriend and her to kids (who were from Florida) up on the mountain to the east of Provo. We were driving up a logging trail that led high up to a plateau when we came upon a Ford 4×4 truck in the ditch, one front wheel spinning one rear wheel spinning the truck going nowhere. Apparently this particular truck had no locking differential. We drove on past in my 77 AMC Hornet station wagon all the way to the top and watched as hang gliders jumped off the mountain sailing high above the city below. From that day forth I decided if you must have four wheel drive you must have some type of locking differential.
God bless America
In the early 70s having a 4×4 truck was something special, every day people were just not use to people driving customize trucks as their mode of transportation. If you had a 4×4 the first thing you did was, lift it for bigger tires and not many companies made lift kits, but ford had the f250 that already sat high from the factory so all one had to do was slap on a set of wheels and tires and you were a star at the truck gatherings . It didn’t really matter that it was a long bed , Bigfoot was a long bed and everyone wanted that look. This truck takes me back to my old pickup club days “Beds Inc.” El Paso TX. Love it!
Agree with all the comments about practicality. My question is about ergonomics. The location of the tiny tachometer on the steering column abutting the dash must be a tell on the restorer. Not to my taste. In fact, the under dash gauges should include the tach. Also, tan carpet? Was that to reveal without uncertainty that everyone is tracking dirt into the car at every stop?
After watching the video, I wonder why someone would spend all that time and money but not repair whatever is wrong with the front end. It at least needs a wheel alignment, but I would be willing to bet that is not the only problem.
This truck has power assist steering, not integral power steering, as everyone else was using already and Ford did not have until 1977 in their 4 wheel drive trucks. Wondering if steering gear on this is a very slow ratio, say six turns lock to lock instead of four turns or less like in their competitors’ trucks. Reason I mention this is that in the video even the slightest bend in the road takes a huge amount of steering input to stay in the lane. Even when going straight the driver has to constantly provide left or right steering input to maintain a straight line. Perhaps some of this may have to do with an incorrect toe setting up front, or tires that pull left or right with every imperfection in the road. Great looking truck, but as others have mentioned it would not be a good off-road vehicle.
If I didn’t own my Raptor, I would seriously consider bringing this beauty home. Nice restoration! Congratulations to the owner.
A friend of mine had one of these. I think it was a 72′ bought it new. black in and out. black everywhere. 390 4 speed. Great truck. traded off driving to work in the shipyard in Bremerton. PSNS. I know he put alot of miles on it with very little trouble. This truck is so nice. listen to that motor ! I never thought I’d say this but I don’t know just what I’d use it for. Who ever ends up with it needs to take it to one of those 4X4 shops that only work on this type of rig. Get the front end ironed out. there’s many of those shops around the Pacific Northwest. Must be in other places as well. Later……………..JIMMY
Sold for 30k.
I watched the video on my work PC with the sound down, noticed how many turns of the wheel it took just to get out of his driveway! Put earbuds in to hear the sweet sound of the engine as he wiggles the wheel to keep the truck tracking straight. To add insult to injury, we have to suffer through “The Boys of Summer” cranked up in the cab instead of listening to that sweet mill.
A well done restomod truck!! Would be great for pulling a boat or camper and look good doing it!!!