When reader Tiffany M was left this 1972 Ford F250 Camper Special by her late father, she wasn’t exactly sure what to do with it. He had started restoring the truck but was never able to finish it. So, she contacted us to see if we could help her find a good home for her Dad’s truck. Unfortunately, she doesn’t know a ton about it but we sent a professional photographer over to take high-quality pictures of it so that we can get a good look at the overall condition. And you know what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words! Before we take a closer look, this truck is located in El Mirage, Arizona and you can bid on it below.
As already stated, Tiffany doesn’t know much about the truck’s history. What she does know is that it’s been parked for the past few years and that it had a new engine installed just prior to her father’s passing. Based on the photos, it looks like the truck might have also received new seat covers and door panels prior to the project stalling. If they are original, then they are in very nice shape. There’s definitely more work to be done on the inside, but parts are readily available for the trucks and reasonably priced. With a new dash cap, floor mats, stereo, and horn button the interior would in very presentable condition.
Beyond knowing that the engine is fresh, Tiffany doesn’t know anything else about the mechanicals. Being a Camper Special means that this truck would have originally shipped with a 360 or 390 cui FE V8 that was paired to an automatic transmission. Based on the VIN, it appears this one shipped with the 360, but since it’s possibly been replaced we can’t confirm that that’s what’s currently sitting in the engine bay, but it certainly looks like a Ford FE. And it definitely has the look of a freshly built engine. Hopefully, the big carburetor indicates that it’s got some internal performance upgrades. A stock 360 was rated at 196 horsepower and 327 ft-lbs of torque, but even with just a few bolt-on upgrades, these engines can be serious powerhouses. It’s hard to say exactly what to expect from this engine, but that carb setup suggests it could be something very menacing and fun! Given that it was installed just a few years ago, it seems likely that it’s in good mechanical condition. Tiffany hasn’t attempted to start it, so there’s no word on if it runs.
The Camper Special trim level included not only special badging but also a heavy-duty cooling system, wiring to plug your camper in, and a higher output alternator to provide enough power to keep the lights on while you were camping. The 8-foot bed means you have plenty of room for your slide-in camper or plenty of space for those weekend trips to the hardware store. Speaking of the bed, it appears to be in solid shape, although there’s definitely some surface rust that should be treated. It also appears that the tailgate has been replaced with one from another truck and will need to be painted to match.
A quick look underneath the truck and we find what appears to be a very solid chassis. It has some surface rust, but being in Arizona means you are unlikely to find anything serious. We also can see what appears to be a brand-new exhaust system, a spotless engine, and clean-looking fuel tanks. That’s right, this truck has dual tanks to ensure plenty of range while packing your camper and equipment. Based on all the work that’s already been done, it would seem the seller’s father was getting close to having this truck ready for regular use.
Other than a few flaws to the exterior, this truck presents quite well. We don’t see any signs of major rust issues and the body looks straight. With a little work, this could prove to be one sweet truck! Will you be finishing this project in time for spring? If so, be sure to bid below. And if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments section.
- Location: El Mirage, Arizona
- Mileage: 100,104
- Engine: V8
- Transmission: Automatic
- VIN: F25YRN65000
- Title Status: Clean
Bid On This Auction
RockMoto bid $6,200.00 2022-11-23 11:41:56
Oldschooler21 bid $6,000.00 2022-11-23 09:29:53- RockMoto bid $5,600.00 2022-11-22 18:47:55
- Oldschooler21 bid $5,000.00 2022-11-22 16:28:14
Jeremy_Schultheiss bid $4,401.00 2022-11-22 13:53:06- RockMoto bid $4,300.00 2022-11-22 09:34:59
beardog99 bid $3,800.00 2022-11-22 06:34:02
Jnl519 bid $2,400.00 2022-11-16 11:51:40
dosperros bid $1,800.00 2022-11-16 11:39:52- RockMoto bid $1,200.00 2022-11-16 10:23:51
drmedders bid $700.00 2022-11-16 10:17:28
Sean Gilligan bid $600.00 2022-11-16 10:13:40
Barry1 bid $500.00 2022-11-15 16:22:04
Not bad looking truck for it’s age. The engine looks good. Yeah it’s a big block Ford. Not dual carbs but dual feed. That’s a big Holley sitting there. This motor putting out some good horsepower. No problem smoking those tires up. Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
How do you know what the current bid is and how do you find out what the reserve is and it says history one bid and Barry1 $500 Reserve not met how do we find out what the reserve is thank you for your time
@Mark Figler – The auction just started so the current high bid is $500. It will go up. Just like all other auctions, we do not reveal the reserve. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Thanks!
Beau-ti-ful !!!
The Vin F25Y The Y =360 from factory
If I remember correctly, I drove one of these on a western Kansas pheasant hunt many years ago. The gas bill was higher than the motel!
New here to the comments section. Just thought that I’d throw in my 2 cents today.
A good looking truck. I might point out, though, that a 390 could have been had on a Camper Special of this vintage, but it was an option. I have 2 ’70 and 3 ’72 Camper Specials and all five came from the factory with a 360.
They are great trucks, and not afraid to work hard.
The reserve is off!
This could be my late Gpa’s truck,
If so, it is a warmed over 390-4v sold sometime in the 1990s in Sun City, AZ.
It is worth much more to me.
Hey JBD, I recently acquired the truck from the auction winner in NY. I did some searching to find the original listing. How sure are you that it was your Grandfather’s?
I’m sorry but I’ve had a Camper Special.. Mine was the F-350 with a 460 and C-6 tranny. Camper Specials had the rear axle moved 7″ further to the rear at the factory. And 2 fuel tanks which were filled from the drivers side holding 12 and 18 gallons if I remember correctly. And, because the rear axle was moved further to the rear than normal F-250 and 350 trucks, The spare tire was carried in a separate compartment on the passenger’s side on the bed, and accessible from the outside. I see the plate saying “Camper Special”, but I’ve seen Ford hoods that said B-250 on pickups because someone needed a hood and found one off a school bus.
I don’t see these features on this truck.
You’re commenting on an old auction, disputing features that this truck obviously has (two fuel tanks and an original paint matching hood). What are you going on about?