There are time capsules and there are time capsules – if that makes any sense. That term is bandied about a lot when it comes to vintage vehicles and for the record, a 1997 Ford F-250 XLT 4×4 diesel 5-speed pickup would be considered vintage to more than a few sources. This one has a mere 7,090 miles on it and it appears to be a true time capsule. This truck is listed here on eBay in Woodbury, New Jersey and there is a $79,900 buy-it-now price or you can make an offer.
Did you catch the part about the $79,900 asking price? I thought that I may have lost more than a few of you there. Those who are ready for prices to come back to earth again. I’m one of those people. Companies that give vehicle values – and I mention one, in particular, a lot here – those values are just for a general jumping-off point, something to bandy about (ENOUGH WITH THE BANDY!).
Edmunds.com lists an “Outstanding” value for this truck as being $9,513 if I configured it correctly. Did I get close? What did you come up with? Did any of you get $79,900? I know that there’s a chip shortage and things are pretty much on fire as far as values go. Auctions are breaking records, online sites are going crazy with $7,500 Sno Runners and $16,000 Honda 125s and who knows what else.
This is maybe why the seller has that seemingly-high asking price listed. Look at their photos in the eBay listing, in particular the underside photos! This truck almost literally looks nicer than it would have when it rolled off of the assembly line other than in one area that you’ll see in a second.
The interior isn’t fancy compared to a modern luxury truck, although the XLT trim level was one of the highest for the ninth-generation Ford F-Series pickups. They were made for model years 1992 to 1997 in this market. This one has a 5-speed manual transmission and yes, I also zoomed down to the pedal pads to see if the corners are worn off. There is no way this truck could have 107,000 miles on it.
The worn graphic on the top of this 7.3L Power Stroke V8 diesel engine is the only giveaway that this truck isn’t literally brand new to me. This 444 cubic-inch engine is related to the Navistar T444E and I hope that Howard and Geo and other truck experts weigh in on this one for extra details on this powertrain. The manual transmission version pumped out 275 horsepower which isn’t eye-popping but its 525 lb-ft of monster torque sure is. You’ll need 18 quarts of oil when it’s time to change it. Have any of you bought a new vehicle and hidden it away for two or three decades? How much would you pay for this truck in late February of 2022?
Wow. A time capsule F-250, what will they think of next. With a manual transmission even.
As to the elephant in the room, the asking price:
Tomorrow at GAA Auctions in Greensboro NC, something similar will cross the block. It’s a 1995 F-250, manual transmission, with 18k miles. A friend was considering bidding but, after some research, figured the winning price would be more than he was willing to put into it. And his amount wasn’t anything close to this ask. But who knows? Let’s circle back in a couple days.
The one at GAA sold for $42k. So that’s a relevant data point.
But, why? Towing a horse trailer to a horse show? Lookie, another Ford! Woop woop!
Nice truck. I don’t know about the price plus it will need to be gone over replacing seals and who knows wh for the 7.3.
That price is just crazy! Just out of curiosity, I went to Ford’s website and built a new 2022 F250 Super Duty Diesel extended cab long bed with all of the available options, and it was almost $17000 less the ask on this truck. SMH!
I’d rather have the 1997 with less electronics, pollution control, and junk.
This thing will outlast the 2022 Ford and every other 2022 truck, and I am not even a Ford fan!
Putting it on Ebay gets lots of visibility and they can look at the offers coming in to work out a real world value. I do not think they will get near the ask but I would expect someone will get close at 45 or even 50. It is a brand new, pre emissions five seat diesel after all. I would look at what my dollar was buying rather than the model year.
I guess I just haven’t worked hard enough all of my life to make this something that I would even consider at a price of $40,000. Oh well, it does present nicely although. Crazy people.
The crazy people aren’t the ones selling the truck, they’re the ones paying these eye-popping prices. Like David Moore and Terry, I think this generation of pickup was probably one of Fords best designs. I’ve owned mine since ’99 and I’ll keep it until they plant me.
Let’s see here, the body is rock solid, so much so it might as well be new. The drivetrain is probably the best that was ever made, and no urea additive.The Lariat package was no slouch in it’s time,and this looks so nice. No electric crap to go wrong, no.gremlins to work out that will drive you crazy, and no service writers to run and hide, How many of you have said, if I ever had a chance to buy another one? Well here is your chance put up or shut. up. Gorgeous truck.
I always LOVED the looks of this generation F-series. I don’t know why. Yes, the truck is beautiful, but that asking price is simply insane.
Must be a pot of gold in the back of the bed for that price
Sorry, that’s crazy money!
The 92-97 F Series was, imho, the best looking Ford truck since the 40-41. Gorgeous truck that, in this crazy stupid market, might hit 80k. 94 turbo Toyota Supras are bringing $150,000.00 or more!
And to think, in 1997 Ford offered their trucks in this as well as the new body style and this chap chose the better of the two (my opinion). Now, if my numbers come up in the Powerball Lottery tomorrow I’m the new buyer!
In 97 only the f150 had the new body style. The super duty style came out for f250 and f250 in 1998
Brad, I learned my something for the day. Thanks!
They could’ve saved about $100 by ticking the manual hubs option .. and got the rebate…. and by far the superior hub-) win – win. Those ford auto hubs sucked. Backing up to unlock etc. 🚮
What an amazing find. Beautiful truck for a lucky bidder.
Stan, you are right. But the backing up was not the problem. Those auto locking hubs just did not last. They were made from cheap materials. And to replace them was lots of $$.
I got them replaced under warranty my first winter then out manuals on after that.
Current auctions are responsible for the outrageous asking prices on these vehicles. If you want it badly enough, you’ll pay the money.
It must have 60k in cash in the glovebox!
I always try to guess the ask before clicking on the write up on any vehicle I find attractive or interesting to me. I figured high $40’s on this. So I did a double take at let’s just say $80. But given the astronomical asking and SELLING prices in this Alice in Wonderland market; if this sells for the ask I wouldn’t be a bit surprised.
These were nice trucks. I drove one with the same engine, red exterior, betwen Lubbock and Laredo and it was great on the highway, just basting along, eating up miles.
You might get that if you take it to Hawaii. I have a friend spending all winter there with his wife and kid after they sold their Honda suv there.
Huh ummm, I bought a 96 crew F350 long bed new. Let’s see I ordered it in June 95 it was first off the line, test drove on the track where the computer dude tweeked it very nicely ! First time into dealer for fuel pump a month after I bought it they reprogrammed it ! It wouldn’t get out of its own way after that ! Boy was I pissed !
I drove it 488,000 miles, then it burned up. I got a recall it might catch fire 9 months later !!
I bought my 99 in 2018 for 15000$ . $3000 over book. It was clean so I thought. Damage repair is starting to fall apart now.
This 97 has plenty of electronics that can screw up but not like the new ones. And it is usually crank sensor. I’d give 10-12 for this. I find it hard to believe it only has 7000 miles, they are electronic dash on miles. I was never hard on pedal pads so 5 years down the mine still looked pretty new. Nice looking, but I seen one in Idaho I could get for 15,000$ ; really enjoyed that truck tho
Nice truck can’t blame them for trying to get that price make a offer worst they can do is say no
A neighbor of mine brought the same year from e-bay . It is white 4 Dr long box pick up. 4wd auto diesel. With 42,000 beautiful truck when it came off the transportation trailer. Clean under the truck NO RUST anywhere and paid…$15,000. That was a steal. And he’s into Fords and he knows where he’s talking about when he brought this truck. This guy with the red truck is definitely smoking some bones for $79,000.. I know things are bad but come on really. Somebody’s going to be pretty desperate to buy this truck. Let’s see what happens., 🐻🇺🇸
I made a mistake.. it’s a crew cab.. not a 4dr my neighbor has. 🤦
Big Bear , this model did not have back doors. They were solid which keeps the body from flexing in the middle.
The crew cab is the 4 door model. I don’t have a picture of my old 96 but it had a pillar in the middle. My 99 is the ” supercab” which is (same size as this) 1/2 bench seat in back. 99 thru made back doors that swing backwards. Now this model year 97 I don’t know but I have seen that body style with 1 back for but never 2
Had a truck close to this with the auto hubs. When rocking it in a mud or snow pile, the lock to unlock to lock mode made such a Clang! Thought the whole transfer coming out. Didn’t take long to replace them. Great truck, though, best style, IMO.
Since this didn’t sell for 80K on Ebay, the flipper is now trying his luck at BaT, lol.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1997-ford-f-250-94/