Original is king and vintage pickups are gold right now, that’s a hard combination to beat. A top trim-level original vintage pickup is even better. The make may not be as important as the condition, although it’s hard to argue with the values of Ford trucks. This 1977 Ford F-150 Ranger XLT pickup can be found here on eBay in Hanceville, Alabama and the seller has a buy-it-now price of $14,900 listed, or you can make an offer.
The sixth-generation F-Series was made from 1972 for the 1973 model year, until the end of the 1979 model year in the U.S., and longer in other countries. Enthusiasts have labeled these pickups as “dentside” due to the indented body line. The previous trucks were known as “bumpside” pickups for the protruding line down each side. This dentside has that “dent” filled in with trim as it’s a Ranger XLT.
And a nice one it is. We’re used to seeing contrasting colors when this fancy trim is used, but the original owner kept it simple, or as simple as a top trim level pickup could be in 1977. I’m almost always a huge fan of whitewall letter tires, but in this case, I would prefer a nice set of white wall tires. These are the Ranger XLT full-sized wheel covers and they’re downright fancy compared to the dog dish caps that our 1969 Ford F-250 Ranger Camper Special had.
This is a long bed truck and it looks great back there, the previous owner/s must not have hauled too many concrete blocks over the last 46 years. You can see how nice the interior is from the photo above, but the seller has provided more than one showing the dash and speedometer and for being older than a good percentage of Barn Finds readers, this truck is in amazing condition if this is truly all original.
A few hours of detailing would have done wonders for the engine and engine compartment, maybe someone would have clicked on the buy-it-now button already if it looked as nice as as the rest of the truck does. This is Ford’s 351-cu.in. OHV V8, which would have had around 145 horsepower by 1977. The owner almost couldn’t give any less information than they do, but they do include a phone number. Hagerty is at $18,000 for a #3 good-condition truck so given that value, this is a good deal. Any thoughts on this F-150?
Allow me to reminisce….
This generation of F-Series trucks is my favorite. Undoubtedly because of the good days in high school and college working the low-budget oil fields of Ohio. The company I worked for had several of this generation of Fords, and as I filled in during the summers for the pumpers (the workers who tended to the day-to-day operations of wells) I drove them all. The final summer I filled in for one of the guys for the entire summer (he had had a heart attack), and he had the newest truck in the fleet: it was a 1977 like this, only a stripper short wheelbase Flareside. I think its only options were the 302 and a radio. Yes, manual steering and a three-on-the-tree. When I got it for the summer it had only 2200 miles. When I think back, imagine me, the college kid, with the newest truck in the fleet. I did take care of it (the best I could, given its not-easy expected tasks).
Back to this example….. Meager write-up but it looks great for the mileage, and would be fun to own. I too would finish the look with whitewalls.
Good job Scotty.
Loved my 76 F250 XLT Camper Special, 2WD 4 spd, locking rear end, metallic blue.
Have 3 sons, it progessively became “their truck”. Guess you know how this story ends.
Even top XLT trim, no pwr windows or locks. Imagine that.
I am not so sure that power windows or power locks were even an option on this generation of Ford trucks. If they were I cannot ever remember seeing one with those options.
Here’s another. When I worked for the body shop supply co( delivering paint to Excalibur), mid 70s, when I started, they had 2 Ford pickups, a ’72, that was mine, and a ’74 was the other drivers. Both bare bones trucks, 302, 3 speeds, and city driving, took a beating. The ’72 was getting tired, so they got a new ’77 F150 just like this, same color. It wasn’t a XLT, but had an automatic, that was a big plus. Since I was the “senior” driver, I got the truck. Now, I drove that ’72 for over a year, in all kinds of weather, city traffic, never had an incident, 2 weeks after I got the truck, a drunk sideswiped me. They fixed the truck, but I quit a short time later.
This truck is right on the edge of old school pickups, and cushy ones that followed. You ask me, they could have stopped right here. Great find.
Agreed: “They could have stopped right there.”
Dad had a ’76 XLT. 360, automatic, vinyl seats and no power anything ‘cept for steering and brakes. I loved that truck, and hoped to make it mine. He worked in the steel mill, and that thing would get filthy. So, I washed that beauty down just about every week. Alas, he sold it while I was away at college. This one, if it’s as it appears? Would be a great deal.
Great looking truck. The only additions that from my eye don’t look “original” would be the dual exhaust and that huge painted work bumper on the rear. I believe the XLT would’ve come with a styled chrome bumper that would compliment the front bumper. If reality of the truck matches the picture, this looks like a solid deal and should get snapped up quickly!
I love these.
*76, former Soil Conservation Service truck, short bed, 300/3 on the tree.
*’74 XLT long bed, 390 w/automatic.
*’79 Custom long bed 302 automatic.
The rear frame of the 79 was rusted badly, so I removed the bed, found a donor frame, and swapped it out from just behind the cab. Any time I say I can’t do something, my wife reminds me “You cut a truck in half!”.
Found the photo. My daughter is 27 now. Time sure flies. That’s my 64 T-Bird in Samoan Coral. I wish I still had both those vehicles.
My father bought a brand new 1977 F100 long box with the Explorer package. It was a beautiful dark brown metallic with light tan Explorer stripes down the side. It came with the 351M engine, with automatic and power steering and brakes. We added a step bumper, sliding rear window and an aftermarket AM/FM 8-track system. He drove it for two years and then bought a new Oldsmobile. I bought the truck from him and drove it another three years until dad retired to Nova Scotia, at which time I gave it back to him so he could use it to go trout fishing in all the back-country streams. It was a great truck and lasted for a long time. This one offered looks to be in excellent shape and should sell quickly.
between my late father and late brother, and myself; all told we’ve owned 7 Ford pickups. From 1973 to 2003 models. So I guess you could say we’re Ford truck guys. Love to see the older ones in nice shape. The good ones get fewer and fewer every year.
Back in college, I worked for an electrical contractor – I was only an apprentice electrician, but my primary job was delivering materials from distributors to the job sites. “My” truck was identical to this one – except for a headache rack and tool box on the back. Brings back a lot of memories, and I’d go pick this one up if I had a space in my driveway to put it (and a really good excuse to give to my wife!). Nice truck.
Great Trucks would love to have another one, Grew up in ford trucks. My first car, I bought was a 55 custom cab shortbox back in high school 52 years ago, which I still have. Have owned a 71, 73 crewcab and a 78 supercab all great trucks Have regretted the sale of them all.
Some great stories here of owning and driving these trucks.
My only experience was in the mid 70s when I worked for the D&H Railroad. I was the driver of the high-rail crew cab Ford pickup truck bringing the repair crew to job sites as well as patrolling twice a week on the main line tracks north of Saratoga. The truck was a 6 cylinder which didn’t always start back up when it was hot, so I was usually told to just leave it running. Often for hours at a time. God bless the Railroad.
The seller is claiming the original paint. However, this was originally a two-tone truck; otherwise, it would not have the race track trim on the side.
Nice truck and not too far from me. I’d prefer the short bed if I were in the market for one. I’ve always liked the bump sides with round headlights better than the later square lights. I guess the price is normal with today’s worthless dollars, just seems like half that much would be reasonable.
I think half the price is realistic. Not just this truck, but the entire vehicle market has gotten out of hand.
Too many people with too much money.
Had 1976 f 150 custom in line 300 six automatic I always loved that truck drove and rode like a dream was a two drive the next f150 I bought was a 1984 short box XLT that one had two gas tanks on it had a 302 got 9 miles to the gallon the last Ford I owned was a 2000 f 150 XLT four wheels drive was like driving a Cadillac down the smooth ride just like a car
Auction update: this one ended with no bids and presumably no offers that enticed the seller to end the listing early.