Looking well-preserved and ready for action, this 1989 Ford F250 XL 4×4 must have lived some kind of charmed life. Many of Ford’s popular F-Series pickups suffer abuse after abuse. Many keep on trucking, but rarely without dents and scars as reminders of their checkered past. Check out the listing here on Craigslist where the Orange County, California 4×4 can be yours for $9950, leaving $50 for fuel after reaching into the glove box for your 9mm and a cool $10,000. Take note of this truck’s Banks-tweaked diesel V8, five-speed manual transmission, eight-bolt steel wheels, manual locking front hubs, single cab, and eight-foot bed. That’s a real truck folks, in case you’ve never seen one. Thanks to reader Tony P. for spotting this California workhorse.
Considered the top F-Series powerplant, the International-sourced 7.3L (444 cid) IDI turbodiesel V8 granted the F250 a two-ton payload capacity and towing up to 8400 lb. The Banks turbo system should produce more power than the 7.3’s original 180 HP and 345 lb-ft of torque. You can still buy a Sidewinder 7.3 package from Banks for $3500, and it surely boosts this truck’s value. This late ’80s F250 may work a little harder on hills that today’s 400 HP, 1000 lb-ft monsters, but it will get the job done.
The Chestnut XL interior looks great for its age, showing some UV deterioration in the plastics. The seller claims “ice cold” air conditioning, perfect for its native California and other warmer climes.
Not only is the tail gate nearly perfect including some shine in the paint, it boasts truly rust-free edges in the bumper valance, something nobody in the rust belt has seen outside a dealer’s showroom. If you’ve never bought a truly rust-free classic from places like California, New Mexico, or Texas, you may not appreciate how it makes nearly every job easier. My buddy John had a 1967 Mercury Cougar shipped from California and said it was the best decision he ever made. I remember people buying these aftermarket chrome bumpers in Pennsylvania and they started rusting before you got home from the truck accessory store. Some years in the ’80s you had to tell the dealer you wanted a rear bumper or your truck came without one. “Uh, yes, I’d like four wheels and tires too, please.”
A five-speed manual gearbox with overdrive makes the icing on this Colonial White cake. After recently acquiring a 1989 Ford F350 bucket truck, I have wondered about the purpose of my blanked-out two-light panel. Apparently it’s diesel-specific for glow plugs (“WAIT TO START”) and “WATER IN FUEL.” Check out the original brochures for the 1989 F-Series pickups at XR793 for more details. What truck would you buy with ten grand?
Considering the cost of trucks, used and new, this looks like a pretty decent deal. Surprised it’s not gone. Maybe the 5 speed is holding it back.
Rather have the manual robj, but I hear ya. Remember seeing the banks stickers on alot of this era trucks.
Nice one, Todd and Tony! I could use that truck and I love the “regular” wheels for a change, no gigantic off-road tires.
Your comment about money and a gun reminded me of the time my wife and I went to look at a car on a weekend that was on CL for $14,000. We met the guy in the parking lot of a defunct restaurant, looked it over, took it for a drive and agreed to purchase it. He said “so you brought the money, right?” I replied that I would be nuts to meet a stranger in an unknown place with that much money. Then he said “let’s go to an ATM.” I said that you can’t get that money from an ATM. We gave him a check for a deposit to hold the car and returned two days later with cash, which I had my wife count out to him in the lobby of the local police department (but only after I stupidly commented that this was about a car, not a drug deal- the desk sergeant was not amused)… 🤫
Love this spec and the Banks upgrades are just the cherry on top!
Would buy this is a minute if it was not on Craigs list.
Love it! I worked for Ford back then and drove many of these brand new and yes as stated this is a real truck that real men and women drive, no snowflakes behind the wheel of this one, they likely wouldn’t know what to do with the extra sticks and pedal.
Nice tow pig, my brother purchased one of these new without the added banks turbo he really loved the truck until one day he was climbing Stevens pass pulling a heavy trailer and a Dodge with the Cummins diesel passed him pulling a bigger trailer. He soon switched to the Dodge when I asked about it his response was more power and when it comes to maintenance it was 6 injectors instead of 8. 5 digit odometer so hopefully the seller is being honest about the mileage
Love it! 7.3 Turbo is bulletproof if maintained, manual, and 4 WD. And a bench seat! What else does a real man or woman need!
Should get 18-19 mpg on the highway. Manual transmission is a plus as far as I’m concerned.